Sovereignty Friction Theory: When Economic Rights Become Difficult to Exercise

Sovereignty Friction Theory: When Economic Rights Become Difficult to Exercise examines the distance between a legal economic right and a person’s practical ability to use it. Herbert R. Sim defines sovereignty friction as the cumulative burden of cost, delay, complexity, limited information, institutional dependence, restricted exit and opaque decisions that can make a lawful choice difficult to exercise.

The article considers how these burdens affect small producers and individuals more heavily than large institutions. It argues that economic freedom should be assessed through usable capabilities: the ability to own, save, exchange, build, challenge decisions and leave unfair arrangements. Reducing unnecessary friction requires clear rules, proportionate requirements, meaningful alternatives and accessible ways to correct errors, while preserving individual responsibility.