Reply #18: So "mixed" means "a capitalist economy with liberal government"?

[eallen]

I don't see how the economies of west Europe are "mixed." There are some nations that have a mixed economy. Putin's Russia comes to mind. Saudi Arabia, with its nationalized oil industry. These are mixtures of capitalism and modern state fuedalism. But not the west European nations. Their economies are thoroughly capitalist, with most commerce transacted by privately held businesses or equity companies, and with fully developed capital markets. I doubt the publicly-owned industry in west Europe accounts for even 4% of its produce.

Layering social programs such as universal medical care on top of a capitalist economy does not create a "mixed" economy, in any meaningful sense. Social programs primarily redirect consumption. The underlying economy is still capitalist, including the businesses that provision the medical system.