Why the Edinburgh Fringe festival is a great example of Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” in action

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world. But its incredible success isn’t down to careful planning, says Dominic Frisby. It’s the result of pure self-interest.

Edinburgh Fringe street theatre
The Fringe: an accidental success
(Image credit: © Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Anyone who has built up a company or an investment portfolio knows just how long it takes.

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Dominic Frisby

Dominic Frisby (“mercurially witty” – the Spectator) is as far as we know the world’s only financial writer and comedian. He is the author of the popular newsletter the Flying Frisby and is MoneyWeek’s main commentator on gold, commodities, currencies and cryptocurrencies. He has also taken several of his shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

His books are Daylight Robbery - How Tax Changed our Past and Will Shape our Future; Bitcoin: the Future of Money? and Life After the State - Why We Don't Need Government

Dominic was educated at St Paul's School, Manchester University and the Webber-Douglas Academy Of Dramatic Art. You can follow him on X @dominicfrisby