Neo-classical scholars argue that there are in fact flaws in the market economy. A laissez-faire policy will create a society in which the strong crush the weak. The government thus should employ social welfare to compensate for defects in the market, to achieve a redistribution of wealth, and to increase the overall effectiveness of the whole society.
新古典學派則認為，市場經濟有其缺陷，自由放任的結果會產生弱肉強食的社會，政府必須以社會福利政策來彌補市場機能的缺失，達成財富重新分配，以增進社會的整體效用。