Critique of Interventionism [Paperback]

Ludwig von Mises (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1996

In the sequence Mises's books concerning policy, this book followed Socialism, and was the first to present a new theory of interventionism.

In Mises's view, interventionism is an inherently unstable policy because it creates new dislocations that would seem to cry out for further interventions, which, in turn, do not solve the problem. The end of interventionism is socialism, a fate which can be logically avoided only by a sharp turn towards free markets.

Along with Socialism and the Liberalism, this book stands as a masterpiece of policy logic.

This volume's contents include:

Introduction (Hans F. Senholz) Foreword (F.A. Hayek)

I. Interventionism 1. Interventionism as an Economic System 2. The Nature of Intervention 3. Restrictions of Production 4. Interference with Prices 5. Destruction Resulting from Intervention 6. The Doctrine of Interventionism 7. The Historical and Practical Arguments for Interventionism 8. Recent Writings on the Problems of Interventionism

II. The Hampered Market Economy 1. The Prevailing Doctrine of the Hampered Market Economy 2. The Thesis of Schmalenbach

ISBN 1-57246-058-X 123 pp. (pb)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute (1996)
• ASIN: B001DC4I4S
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,911,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Free Market Theorists, July 28, 2004

By 

Michael A Neulander "Political Philosophy" (VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Austrian Economics: An Anthology (Paperback)

If you want to learn about an economic philosophy that refutes the "Keynesian command economy" then you need to study the "Austrian School" of economic theory. This anthology by Bettina Ben Greaves is a good starting point to learn about the "Austrian" school. The "Austrian " economic school turned the study of economics on its head when it traced market prices to the actions of individual buyers instead of producers. Carl Menger, the founder of this school wrote the breakthrough theory the "classical economists" like Adam Smith missed. "Market price doesn't rely on usefulness, value or supply but on the usefulness the individual expects to derive from the item or the service at a particular time or place, this theory is known as marginal utility". Ludwig von Mises took the school further he rejected the traditional study of economics by looking at historical models and adopted the technique of studying "human action" and social science to come up with a universal economic science. As a free market economists the "Austrians" expertly explain how the system of profit and loss works in a free economy and how wages rise due to an increase in capital invested per worker, which causes an increase in the productivity of labor. "The only means to increase a nations welfare is to increase and improve the output of its products." This book should be read by all whom wonder how economic theory works and what role the government should have on our economic choices.

As a retired Army officer and student of political philosophy, I found "Austrian Economics An Anthology" a great book for anyone who wants to understand basic "Austrian" economic theory. For further reading in free market economics I recommend Von Mises, "HUMAN ACTION" and "PLANNING FOR FREEDOM". F. A. Hayek's, "Road To Serfdom and Milton Friedman's "Free To Choose"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could have been written today, April 9, 2011

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Robert Kirk (Reno, Nv) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Critique of interventionism (Paperback)

Mises' book is a focus on two extremely important subject matters. There can only be socialism or capitalism, no mix of the both. The second point is that when the government intervenes, it usually gets screwed up. Mises' theories are well demonstrated in today's world and this book does a great job of dwelling on the subjects. Austrian economics tell us a lot about the world we live in today and anyone with interest in politics or economics will enjoy this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons from the Past, December 11, 2009

By 

D. W. MacKenzie (New London CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Critique of Interventionism (Paperback)

Mises wrote his Critique of Interventionism to counter the ideology that underlied intervention in Europe during the 1920's. As such, some of the details of this book are of historical interest only. Intervention wrought havoc in Interwar European economies, and this dislocation served as an excuse for further government control.

However, the general principles behind Mises' critique are timeless, and actually quite relevant today. Now that we find ourselves in a situation where intervention has resulted in crisis, the need to debunk the ideologies behind recent intervention is great. This book is a great resource for thoughtful analysis of interventionism. Read it and learn.