Why did early utilitarians often oppose government interference in trade and industry?

Early utilitarians generally opposed government interference in trade and industry based on the belief that the economy would naturally regulate itself to achieve the greatest welfare if left alone. This perspective was rooted in the broader framework of classical economics, which posited that individuals are the best judges of their own welfare and are rationally motivated to minimize costs and maximize gains.123

By allowing individuals the freedom to pursue their own self-interest in a competitive market, utilitarians believed that society as a whole would benefit. They argued that government intervention—such as tariffs, protectionism, or state control—hindered this process, leading to economic stagnation, inefficiency, and exploitation rather than the promotion of general happiness. Consequently, figures like Jeremy Bentham advocated for a limited state role, famously advising the government to "be quiet" in economic affairs.23

It is important to note that this stance was not absolute; while early utilitarians favored laissez-faire policies, later thinkers in the tradition became more willing to support government intervention to correct the abuses of private enterprise.1