Mr. Wadley of B.T. said the British government had stifled the company's efforts to innovate.

He was of the opinion that such a government would stifle healthy competition, which is the source of much progress.

If so, we'd probably make this calculation: If their governments had stifled their society, that's the fair trade we make to keep the bearded barbarians and headscarved hordes in check.

Mr. Kovacs denied accusations that Mr. Orban's government had stifled democracy by centralizing power.

It is possible, of course, that dictators will regain power, or that intrusive governments and powerful special interests will stifle freedom and economic growth.

It's harder to argue that government stifles economic growth after a generation of tax-rate reduction and the awesome boom of the 1990's.

But the government, made shy by the region's financial crisis, stifled early enthusiasm with heavy-handed bureaucracy and postponement of structural reforms.

Despite its achievements, Bishop's government would not hold elections and stifled a free press and the opposition.

A despotic or corrupt government can more easily stifle opposition by a series of civil actions than by criminal prosecutions.

The reason for this is because those government funded enterprises would have a unfair trade advantage and would stifle the growth of the import countries leading to a monopoly.