This has led to a surge of interest in Austrian economics and Austrian-inspired libertarianism in the blogosphere:
Matthew Yglesias, “What is ‘Austrian Economics’?”, Slate.com, January 6, 2012.Matthew Yglesias’s “What is ‘Austrian Economics’?” provoked a response from Sheldon Richman (“Austrian Economics Hits the Headlines”).
Sheldon Richman, “Austrian Economics Hits the Headlines: Critics ought to understand it first,” Freeman Online, January 13, 2012.
Sophie Roell, “Peter Boettke on Austrian Economics,” FiveBooks Interviews, January 12, 2012.
Although I don’t disagree in principle with Yglesias’s critical post on Austrian economics, there are some other points to be made:
(1) A distinction should be made between (1) Mises’s economic and political version of Austrianism and (2) that of Murray Rothbard. Rothbard was an anarcho-capitalist who wanted the abolition of the state; Mises was a Classical liberal who believed in an important role for government as a minimal state. Ron Paul, although he supports a radical reduction in government, seems to be more like a Misesian Classical liberal than a Rothbardian anarcho-capitalist, as Paul accepts the idea of a minimal state.BIBLIOGRAPHY
An important point is that there is considerable diversity within the Austrian school on both political and economic issues. Important divisions can be made, as follows:(1) The Anarcho-capitalistsIn fact, on policy and political issues, there was also a clear split in the early Austrian school. Some were Classical liberals; others were what we would now call progressive liberals or even sympathetic to Fabian socialism, including the following:
E.g., Murray Rothbard, Hans-Hermann Hoppe and Jörg Guido Hülsmann;
The Anarcho-capitalists support praxeology, and usually natural rights or Hoppe’s argumentation ethic.
(2) The minimal state/classical liberal Austrians in the tradition of Mises
This variety supports praxeology too, but often utilitarianism as an ethical theory;
(3) Hayek’s economics, with a minimal state;
Hayek rejected Mises’s apriorism and strict Misesian praxeology for a more empirical Popperian method for economics.
(4) Moderate subjectivist Austrians
E.g., Israel Kirzner and Roger Garrison;
(5) Radical subjectivists like Ludwig M. Lachmann (1906-1990), and Austrians influenced by him.
See “The Different Types of Austrian Economics,” December 5, 2010.(1) Eugen von Philippovich, a leader of Austrian social liberalism and Fabian socialist;The connection with Fabian socialism that some of the early Austrians had is not something much discussed by their modern descendants, the worst of whom – the anarcho-capitalists – are little better than a cult.
(2) Friedrich von Wieser, sympathetic to Fabian socialism;
(3) the early Hayek, sympathetic to Wieser's mild Fabian socialism, and
(4) Richard von Strigl, who was, according to Hayek, “if anything, a socialist” (Nobel Prize-Winning Economist: Friedrich A. von Hayek, pp. 54–56).
See “Friedrich von Wieser and Eugen von Philippovich von Philippsberg: Austrian Economists and Fabian Socialists,” October 21, 2010.
“Why are there no Austrian Socialists?,” June 3, 2011.
(2) Yglesias states that “Austrians reject the idea that there is anything at all the government can do to stabilize macroeconomic fluctuations.” This is indeed the view of the most extreme Austrians, yet there were Austrians who supported government interventions in the depression: Hayek was the most notable example. Hayek allowed for monetary and fiscal stabilization during depressions, and, by the late 1930s, gave (qualified) support for government public works in a depression and monetary stabilization:“Did Hayek Advocate Public Works in a Depression?,” September 25, 2011.The Austrian radical subjectivist Ludwig Lachmann allowed an important role for government “interventions for stability,” and accepted that Keynesian macroeconomic expansion would have ended the Great Depression (hear Lachmann say so here):“A Startling Admission from Ludwig Lachmann,” July 11, 2011.(3) Yglesias could have looked at other critiques of the Austrian business cycle theory (ABCT); in particular the damaging attack of Piero Sraffa (Sraffa 1932a and 1932b) of the Hayekian theory, and the collapse of the Hayekian version of the ABCT once it is seen to be an equilibrium theory requiring Walrasian fantasy notions of stationary equilibrium and the failure to consider uncertainty and subjective expectations:
“Ludwig Lachmann on Government Intervention,” July 9, 2011.“Hayek’s Trade Cycle Theory, Equilibrium, Knowledge and Expectations,” January 4, 2012.Secondly, Sraffa destroyed Hayek’s flawed concept of the unique natural rate of interest:
“Austrian Business Cycle Theory: The Various Versions and a Critique,” June 21, 2011.“Robert P. Murphy on the Sraffa-Hayek Debate,” July 19, 2011.Eventually even Hayek himself came to see his original ABCT was increasingly irrelevant to the modern world where credit flows to consumers were important:
“Hayek’s Natural Rate on Capital Goods, Sraffa and ABCT,” December 27, 2011.
“Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT) and the Natural Rate of Interest,” June 18, 2011.“Hayek on the Flaws and Irrelevance of his Trade Cycle Theory,” June 29, 2011.Furthermore, even prominent Austrians like Kirzner and Lachmann never thought the ABCT was a universal theory of cycles:“Lachmann on Trade Cycle Models,” August 27, 2011.(4) Yglesias notes that “developed countries that have done best in the recession—places like Israel and Sweden—are the ones that have pursued the least ‘Austrian’ courses of action.” That is correct.
One could add that in the 1930s those nations that pursued the course of fiscal contraction had the worst depressions. Weimar Germany engaged in a highly deflationary policy of budget cuts, as did a number of other countries. Yet such policies did not lead to recovery. By contrast, the nations in the 1930s that used large-scale monetary and, above all, fiscal expansion got out of the depression quickly:“Keynesian Stimulus in New Zealand: 1936–1938,” September 23, 2011.
“Fiscal Stimulus in Germany 1933–1936,” September 3, 2011.
“Takahashi Korekiyo and Fiscal Stimulus in Japan in the 1930s,” August 27, 2011.
Nobel Prize-Winning Economist: Friedrich A. von Hayek. Interviewed by Earlene Graver, Axel Leijonhufvud, Leo Rosten, Jack High, James Buchanan, Robert Bork, Thomas Hazlett, Armen A. Alchian, Robert Chitester, Regents of the University of California, 1983.
Sraffa, P. 1932a. “Dr. Hayek on Money and Capital,” Economic Journal 42: 42–53.
Sraffa, P. 1932b. “A Rejoinder,” Economic Journal 42 (June): 249–251.
I am not sure why a philosopher-by-training like Yglesias is writing a commentary on economics.
ReplyDeleteHad I been in his place and were I writing a published column, I would simply quote what other economists say, or what various published papers conclude, rather than authoritatively giving the rundown on economic theory.
But such is the distinct attitude of people who work in advocacy organisations such as Center for American Progress - they are experts on everything.
Excellent roundup on a subject that you've pursued with admirable patience and perseverance, LK. I hope that this post will bring your site to Yglesias's attention. He is beholden to some of the most annoying tautologies of the neoclassical dogma.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, although I've read your posts quoting Hayek on his early attraction to Fabian socialism. Some other sources assert that Hayek was initially drawn to economics by Henry George's work. Do you happen to know whether this is accurate and whether Hayek addressed it in later life?
Will
The economic movement is called "Austrian" economics, but I don't think it means every Austrian economist was an "Austrian" economist.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, these days we also have "Austrian" economists who are not Austrians.
I just wonder if these early Austrian economists that are of socialistic leanings should really be included in the group of "Austrian" economists.
"Austrian" economics is an unfortunate name.
"The minimal state/classical liberal Austrians in the tradition of Mises
ReplyDeleteThis variety supports praxeology and utilitarianism;"
Hoppe, Rothbard, and other anarcho-capitalists also approach economics from praxeology. Hoppe for example wrote the book "Economic Science and the Austrian Method", which was a defense of praxeology and critique of positivism.
You say classical liberals support praxeology as if ONLY classical liberal Austrians support praxeology.
Please update your post.
You say classical liberals support praxeology as if ONLY classical liberal Austrians support praxeology.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't: that is your mistaken misinterpretation.
I am well aware Hoppe uses praxeology.
This is a minor point.
praxeology is nothing but a word game; its sole purpose is to conceal several false premises and, thus, to turn ipse dixits into rules or laws, when in fact they are not.
ReplyDeleteany calling labeling itself a science would have no room for someone who uses "praxeology."
Take the most simple, but important, rules of economics: Where there is no vision the people perish.
Try to square that with praxeology.
Lord Keynes you are a bright person, with lots to say. Stop wasting time