<P> Economist Milton Friedman has argued that greed and self - interest are universal human traits . On a 1979 episode of The Phil Donahue Show, Friedman states, "The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests ." He continues by explaining that only in capitalist countries, where individuals can pursue their own self - interest, people have been able to escape from "grinding poverty ." </P> <P> Author and philosopher Ayn Rand defended selfishness on ethical grounds . Her nonfiction work, The Virtue of Selfishness, argues that selfishness is a moral good and not an excuse to act with disregard for others: </P> <Dl> <Dd> The Objectivist ethics holds that the actor must always be the beneficiary of his action and that man must act for his own rational self - interest . But his right to do so is derived from his nature as man and from the function of moral values in human life--and, therefore, is applicable only in the context of a rational, objectively demonstrated and validated code of moral principles which define and determine his actual self - interest . It is not a license "to do as he pleases" and it is not applicable to the altruists' image of a "selfish" brute nor to any man motivated by irrational emotions, feelings, urges, wishes or whims . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> The Objectivist ethics holds that the actor must always be the beneficiary of his action and that man must act for his own rational self - interest . But his right to do so is derived from his nature as man and from the function of moral values in human life--and, therefore, is applicable only in the context of a rational, objectively demonstrated and validated code of moral principles which define and determine his actual self - interest . It is not a license "to do as he pleases" and it is not applicable to the altruists' image of a "selfish" brute nor to any man motivated by irrational emotions, feelings, urges, wishes or whims . </Dd>

Describe the profit motives involved. whose freedom to buy and sell was affected