Murray Rothbard

Date of Birth: March 2, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: January 7, 1995

Biography

Murray Newton Rothbard was a notable American economist, historian, and political theorist who became one of the most influential figures in the modern libertarian movement. Born in the Bronx, New York, he was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Russia. Rothbard’s academic career began at Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. He later obtained a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in 1956. Rothbard was a prominent advocate of Austrian economics, a school of thought that emphasizes the spontaneous organizing power of the price mechanism. He was deeply influenced by Ludwig von Mises, under whom he studied at New York University. Rothbard’s most significant contributions to economics include his work on praxeology, the study of human action, and his expansion of Austrian economic principles. In addition to his economic theories, Rothbard was known for his staunch advocacy of anarcho-capitalism, a political philosophy that argues for a stateless society where all services, including law enforcement and courts, are provided by the free market. He authored numerous books and articles, including “Man, Economy, and State,” “Power and Market,” and “For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto.” Rothbard was a co-founder of the Cato Institute and later the Ludwig von Mises Institute, where he continued to promote Austrian economics and libertarian political philosophy until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Murray Rothbard

1. Murray Rothbard was a prolific writer, producing more than 20 books and thousands of articles during his lifetime.

2. He was a co-founder of the Cato Institute but later distanced himself from it due to ideological differences.

3. Rothbard was an outspoken critic of both Keynesian economics and mainstream neoclassical economics.

4. He coined the term “anarcho-capitalism” to describe his vision of a stateless society governed by market principles.

5. Rothbard was heavily involved in various political movements, including the Old Right and later the Libertarian Party.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Murray Rothbard

1. “It is easy to be conspicuously ‘compassionate’ if others are being forced to pay the cost.”

2. “Libertarians make no exceptions to the golden rule and provide no moral loophole, no double standard, for government.”

3. “The greatest danger to the State is independent intellectual criticism.”

4. “In the free society, the State is conspicuous by its absence.”

5. “War is the health of the state.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Murray Rothbard’s net worth at the time of his death is not well-documented, but his influence in the field of economics and libertarian thought is immeasurable.