Planning for Freedom

Planning for Freedom

Let the Market System Work

By:

Ludwig von Mises

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Summary

An enduring collection of Mises's essays, some popular and others scholarly, but always engaging and provocative. The first edition came out in 1952, and headlined the essay "Planning for Freedom," which makes the point that the choice isn't between a planned economy and an unplanned one but rather one between government planning and planning by property owners. It was an address given in 1945 before the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Mises had legendarily shocked the audience by contrasting the "Bismarck orthodoxy" and the "Jefferson orthodoxy," and using bad American economists to prove his point.

Other essays include: "Middle-of-the-Road Policy Leads to Socialism," "Laissez Faire or Dictatorship," "Inflation and Price Control," "Economic Aspects of the Pension Problem," "Economic Teaching at the Universities," "Trends Can Change," "The Political Chances Of Genuine Liberalism," "The Gold Problem," "Capital Supply and American Prosperity, and the central contribution "Profit and Loss," presented at the Mont Pelerin Society in 1951. It represents his most mature thinking on the core of the capitalist economy: the price system, calculation, the theory of cost, entrepreneurship, wealth accumulation, and competition.

In general, the essays are more accessible than Mises's Human Action, and cover problems and applications he had not previously covered. This edition includes a very special bonus: "The Essential von Mises" by Murray Rothbard, which has long been regarded as the best short introduction to the life and work of Mises. Also added by the publisher are several tributes to Mises by former students.

See also other books by Mises.

 

Summary courtesy of the Ludwig von Mises Institute. The Mises Institute is the premier organization in support of the free market, peace and prosperity. They provide free educational material, books audio books, lectures and courses that free your mind. This site would not exist were it not for the generosity, hard work and dedication of the Mises Institute, its employees, fellows and its benefactors. Books of Liberty is eternally grateful to all of their work and efforts. Please consider supporting the Mises Institute in any way you can.

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Anarchist traditions would be a great shortcut to find books specifically calling out anarchist principles. The name "anarchist traditions" is purposefully broad, because in addition to anarcho-capitalism and voluntaryism, there are books on anarcho-syndicalism, anarcho-communism or other forms of collectivist anarchism, as well as egoism and other schools of thought.

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