Fight against socialism starts with education: Law professor

July 28, 2026 - 10:53

A City University of New York law professor is making the case that the battle against socialist ideas begins in the classroom. Jeffrey Lax, a professor of law at CUNY, argued that a stronger focus on basic economic principles in high school would equip young people to better understand the fundamental differences between free markets and socialism.

Appearing on a national news program, Lax stated that many students graduate without a clear grasp of how markets function, leaving them vulnerable to what he called misleading promises from socialist advocates. He emphasized that the core concepts of supply and demand, private property rights, and the role of profit in innovation are not being taught effectively at the secondary level.

Lax suggested that a mandatory course in basic economics would provide students with the intellectual tools to critically evaluate political proposals. He argued that when people understand the incentives created by different economic systems, they are less likely to support policies that undermine productivity and individual freedom. The professor did not call for specific political advocacy in schools, but rather for a neutral, factual foundation in economic literacy. His comments come amid ongoing national debates over economic policy and the role of government in the marketplace.