I haven’t heard any commentator bring up this question. But, it’s the first decision Egyptians has to consider. From all the reports I’ve watched from the protestors in Cairo, I’m not too sure if Egypt is going towards the American model of free market capitalism. Egypt has been around for over 6,000 years. Egypt is even mentioned in the Book of Genesis. However, in all those years of existence the land of the pyramids is still only a third world nation. The United States has been around a scant 235 years by comparison and has achieved more economically for her citizens than any other country in the history of the world. So, it would be foolish of Egyptians not to copy the most successful Western model of free markets, individual liberty, and limited government.
Egypt has a very high unemployment rate that needs addressing. But how will they? What kind of jobs will be produced? Will they be public or private jobs?
If Egypt doesn’t push towards the creation of a thriving private sector economy, they might find themselves in 30 years with another revolution.
Nevertheless I have a strange feeling that progressives in Egypt and around the world want to make the country into the new “socialist Utopia” all progressives have been dreaming about since the beginning of the 20 century. In this way, Egypt might become a giant Petri dish of collectivism.
