Barnyard Economics: The Little Red Hen Is Right

"Barnyard Economics" explains the market behavior of individuals and small firms in a most rudimentary way. It highlights the example set in the nursery story of the Little Red Hen. The Occupy Wall Street economist will say the Red Hen is a fascist in that the hen controls the resources, the means of production, and the manner of distribution.

But, that is not the whole story. In the economics of the barnyard, the Red Hen gives every animal the opportunity to help make bread. They refuse, ye...