About Us
Empowering Free Markets, Protecting Taxpayers
Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) is a coalition of businesses and community groups committed to advancing the principles of free markets and economic growth. At AFFM, we stand as a unified voice against government overreach and interference that hinders the prosperity and economic freedom of all Americans.
Our Principles
America’s financial system has long been the envy of the world, with institutions of all sizes competing to deliver the products and services clients and communities need to thrive, from supporting small business growth to financing critical infrastructure projects such as building new roads, bridges, airports, or schools.
Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) is a coalition of business and community groups in support of free markets and economic growth. AFFM recognizes that a strong banking and financial system, free from governmental interference and political motives, is the backbone of a robust free market and a prosperous, thriving economy; critical to our national security; and instrumental in advancing American competitiveness around the world.
As such, AFFM advocates for policies that empower businesses to make decisions in the best interests of their customers and shareholders without fear of government micromanagement or retribution, and opposes policies that restrict competition, increase costs, and weaponize government against business to score political points, all to the detriment of taxpayers and consumers.
What We Are Fighting For
Supporting Competition
Competition in the financial and pension markets and the broader economy promotes growth and saves consumers and taxpayers money while supporting businesses. Meanwhile, limiting competition increases costs and dampens pro-business environments critical to a thriving economy. We need sensible laws and regulations, in the financial sector and other industries, that support competition and lower the burden on taxpayers, especially during difficult economic times when millions of Americans are already contending with the impacts of high inflation.
Protecting Taxpayers
Lawmakers and regulators are entrusted to act in the best interest of those they represent – taxpayers. Anti-competitive policies, including in the municipal bond market, can increase the cost to finance critical infrastructure and public projects key to supporting economic growth, costing taxpayers and wasting their hard-earned money on unnecessary and politically-motivated policies and regulations. We all benefit when state and local governments get the lowest competitive rate to finance projects and there are not unnecessary burdens on the financial sector, paving the way for critical community investments in projects such as schools and roads.
Championing Capitalism
Free market and limited government principles promote economic freedom and growth, and increase consumer choice. Lawmakers and regulators should loosen their grasp on taxpayers’ choices and let consumers make their decisions themselves, in accordance with these principles, rather than allowing politically-motivated politicians to make those choices for them.
Preventing Government Overreach
When the government is given leeway to meddle with free market dynamics and micromanage businesses, hardworking families and job creators pay the price. These interventionist policies also set a dangerous precedent and are difficult to reverse.
