Most economic theory assumes a pure capitalism of perfect competition. Even when it is recognized that this does not exist, many politicians and captains of industry pay a great deal of lip service to the idea of the market. This book goes beyond the rhetoric to explore how, even in the United States, the most capitalist of all countries, the market has always been subjected to numerous constraints. As well as discussing the opinions of economists, the book looks at the opinions and practices of figures such as Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and Herbert Hoover.