The free market and regulation could be friends

In the aftermath of the financial crisis, voices have been raised to regulate the economy more tightly. Contrary to the current right/left political jargon, regulation per se is not the left wing enemy of free markets. Protectionism and barriers of entry are and often regulation is used as a stealthy vehicle to achieve these ends.

Any society needs rules and regulations both for social interaction and economy or we would see web sites for assassination services or similar, which would make economic sense but are not desireable. Good rules and regulations create an even playing field boosting innovation and competition. Regulations should preferrably be global to extend the playing field even further. Good regulation deal primarily with the "what" and not with the "how".

When some incumbent is crying for more regulation to prevent unknown, and in particular new (disrupting) ways of working, extreme caution should be exercised because this regulation is probably not good for the economy as a whole. Often this is disguised as "business friendly" from right wing sources too fool us economic liberalists into believing that the best interest of the economy is being served. Politicians, don't fall into this trap (unless that is what you are paid to do :()