Ludwig von Mises

The issue is always the same: the government or the market. There is no third solution.

One of the most notable economists and social philosophers of the twentieth century, Ludwig von Mises, in the course of a long and highly productive life, developed an integrated, deduct­ive science of economics based on the fundamental axiom that in­dividual human beings act purposively to achieve desired goals. Even though his economic analysis itself was “value-free” — in the sense of being irrelevant to values held by economists — Mises concluded that the only viable economic policy for the human race was a policy of unrestricted laissez-faire, of free markets and the unhampered exercise of the right of private property, with government strictly limited to the defense of person and property within its territorial area.

Read Mises’ full bio at The Mises Institute Website…

Explore Our Blog Posts Related to Mises

Our own writings about past and present, distilled from a Misesian point of view.

How Society Benefits from the Self-Interest of the Individual

Critics like to characterize individualists as hermits, unwilling to work with the rest of society and preoccupied with their own self-interest. To be sure, self-interest does play an integral role in the classical liberal tradition. But this does not make its followers antisocial by any means. In fact, without society, our self-interests could not feasibly be served. And without self-interest, society’s ends could not be met either.

Mises Knew That Socialism Causes Envy and Suffering

The truth of the matter is, as Mises explains, that most socialists understand that liberalism, and thus capitalism, offers the best medium in which all people have the opportunity to flourish.

Mises Knew That Capitalism is for Everyone

Capitalism has allowed wealth to be created while also creating abundant value in the lives of all those who reap the benefits of innovation: which is every single actor involved in the market process, both consumer and creator.

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