Whereas in modern times artistic and cultural freedoms have expanded, freedom of commercial expression has tended to shrink. Many supporters of advertising bans invoke paternalistic and moralistic criteria that they would never dream of applying to artistic endeavour.

In this Occasional Paper, John Gray argues that the paradox reflects the fallacious belief that the economic sphere of life requires security rather than freedom. But liberal democracy and consumer sovereignty are based on the same principles. Current moves in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere to restrict freedom of commercial expression itself. The Australian government’s recent attempt to prohibit some kinds of political advertisements, though unsuccessful, illustrates the dangers of allowing exceptions to the general principle that speech should be free.