"The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist"

This quote by Thomas Friedman is an allegory for the suggestion that a free enterprise economic climate requires a particular level of federal government treatment in order to operate properly. The "surprise hand of the market" refers to the unseen forces of supply and also need that drive the economy, while the "surprise hand" is the government's role in regulating and also managing the marketplace. Without the federal government's treatment, the market would be chaotic as well as ineffective. The federal government's function is to guarantee that the market is reasonable and also equitable, and that it benefits the advantage of all citizens. The federal government must likewise provide a safety net for those who are unable to join the marketplace, such as the senior, handicapped, and those residing in hardship. In other words, the quote is a reminder that a free market economic situation requires an equilibrium in between the unnoticeable pressures of the marketplace as well as the visible hand of the federal government.