Libertarian Free Zones in Honduras

From LvMIC:

From The Economist:

Now, for the first time, libertarians have a real chance to implement their ideas. In addition to a big special development region, the Honduran government intends to approve two smaller zones. And two libertarian-leaning start-ups have already signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the Honduran government to develop them.

One firm goes by the name of Future Cities Development Corporation. It was co-founded by Patri Friedman, a grandson of Milton Friedman, a Nobel laureate in economics, and until recently executive director of the Seasteading Institute, a group producing research on how to build ocean-based communes. The other is called Grupo Ciudades Libres (Free Cities Group) and is the brainchild of Michael Strong and Kevin Lyons, two entrepreneurs and libertarian activists.

Both share a purpose: to build “free cities”. Last April all three spoke at a conference organised by Universidad Francisco Marroquín, a libertarian outfit in Guatemala. In September they and Giancarlo Ibárgüen, the university’s president, launched the Free Cities Institute, a think-tank, to foster the cause.

The same article points out that many of these attempts at libertarian free zones often fail due to a lack of funding or natural disaster. It also looks like the Honduran government won’t be giving free reign to either Friedman or Strong & Lyons.  Citizens will be allowed to vote; on what or who isn’t clear from the article.

Despite the issues with government decree, the non-use of homesteading, and enforced democracy, funding shouldn’t be a problem and these “free” (a better term would be “less regulated”) cities should make interesting case studies.