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February 12, 2014 Economics Problems

Does linking to this mean I am now a “Selginite?” He’s spot on.

At the close of my last post here, I referred to myself as a “non-Austrian,” causing one of our regular commentators to wonder why. “Because,” I answered, “belonging means conforming.”

I don’t want to belong to any economic school of thought, or to “do” any sort of economics. I just want to “do” my own sort of economics.

And what sort of economics is that? I can’t tell you–I’ve never thought much about it. But perhaps that’s just it: I don’t “think” about writing any “sort” of economics. I don’t want to have to think about whether what I’m up to qualifies as “praxeology” or not, or whether Mises would mind my using terms like “money” and “inflation” the way most contemporary economists use them, instead of the way Mises himself used them a century ago. Nor am I any more inclined to trouble myself over whether my work fits neatly into any other economic school’s pigeonhole.

Read the rest.

"4" Comments
  1. Great link and post. WC. You should get a load of the Seligmites in Luray, VA, none of whom voted for Terry McAuliffe.

    A great point, as well. Instead of tackling the idea, we call each other names. I think, by the way, that you appear to be a Selig-protoaristotlean, often.

  2. I tend to say that I’m of the Austrian tradition, but not Austrian. That tends to give some wiggle room for what I think in on some topics but still signal some general approach. Although, with my liking of Basiat and others, maybe it could be French.

  3. I’m creeped out at having to stand and remove my toque and then listen to a low-fidelity modern version of an old English drinking song before I can watch young men play ice hockey. Does that disqualify me from the “American school”?

  4. Let’s not diminish being a member of a tribe, WC. Our tribe lives and dies for liberty, as opposed to the other tribe that wants to dominate the waterhole. Our tribe goes out to dig another well.

    In academic life, we all discuss the nuances between men and women over their ideas, as I have had that pleasure with you and your students and other brilliant people. Our pursuit is to make sense of the world, sometimes for me to decide for myself and others what to do to ensure that we do not fall into poverty and fail the people we care for, who are our tribe.

    If we do not encourage others to live in freedom, which has proven to be the only way for a better life for us all, we are, as you might say, doomed.

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