F. A. Hayek’s Law, Legislation and Liberty is one of the key texts of classical liberalism. It provides a subtle argument that the social structures on which civilisation is built are not the product of state plans or activist dreams, but instead emerge from a Darwinian process of ‘cultural evolution’. Yet despite its influence on politicians from Ronald Reagan to Javier Milei, to a non-specialist Law, Legislation and Liberty, published in three volumes from 1973 to 1978, can seem a daunti...

If you could instantly make the world’s poor twice as rich – but at the same time make the world’s rich twice as prosperous – wouldn’t you do it? This intriguing question lies at the core of An Introduction to Economic Inequality. Inequality has been blamed for many things, from causing lower life expectancy, poor education and political instability, to sparking more suicide, obesity, mental illness and murders. And the claim that the world’s richest 1% own 40% of the planet’s wealth – and...

Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in boosting progress, productivity and prosperity. They drive economic growth and create new opportunities. Their innovations transform people’s lives. Yet their enormous contribution is not widely understood – and is often completely overlooked in economics textbooks. Here, author Eamonn Butler sets the record straight – explaining the vital role of entrepreneurship, exploring its economic and social significance, and examining the conditions needed for i...

The Mont Pelerin Society is an august, admired, yet strangely enigmatic organisation. Perhaps that’s because it holds no official views, formulates no policies and publishes no manifestos. Or because it doesn’t publicise the results of its discussions – and doesn’t even seek agreement among its members. So why does this singularly low-profile organisation attract distinctly high-profile members – including distinguished politicians, Pulitzer Prize–winning writers and journalists and Nobel ...

Should economists be concerned with questions of morality? Can economic ideas be applied to social phenomena like divorce rates and crime? What even is economics? Ask an economist these questions and his answer will differ greatly depending on the school of economic thought to which he belongs. Yet too many textbooks ignore the fascinating debates and history that have shaped the modern discipline. In this book, award-winning author Eamonn Butler provides a clear, jargon-free guide to the ...

Friedrich Hayek was one of the leading economists of the 20th century and the leading contemporary critic of Keynes. He did pioneering work on monetary theory and trade cycles, but achieved international fame through his 1944 critique of totalitarian socialism, The Road to Serfdom.He went on to map out the principles of a free society in a series of books including Law, Legislation and Liberty and became the leading proponent, along with Milton Friedman, of economic and po...

International trade has created a highly interdependent world. Everyday products – such as phones, trainers or cars – are designed, manufactured and assembled across several different countries, by countless different companies, both large and small, involving millions of people of all nationalities, creeds and cultures. We take much of this creativity and competition for granted. But it wouldn’t be possible without the peaceful collaboration of millions of people around the planet – a muc...

The Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises is increasingly recognized as one of the most important originators of modern economic thought. This book studies his ideas in a clear and systematic way and pulls out from Mises’ own writings the main themes of his work. With an emphasis on microeconomics, Mises argues that all real economic decisions are made by particular people at particular times and places; the motivating forces, therefore, are personal and psychological. In this view, economic...

The purpose of this book is to move beyond the approach which views energy as a purely geopolitical tool of the Russian state and assumes a 'one size fits all' approach to energy security in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It argues that in order to fully understand Russian involvement in the regional energy complex, the CEE-Russian energy relationship should be analysed in the context of the political and economic transitions that Russia and the CEE states underwent. The chapters on ind...

Drily witty, based on 9 years of research from the vantage point of the Adam Smith Institute, Britain's oldest and most prestigious think tank, "The Rotten State of Britain" describes it as it is: under Gordon Brown leadership, Britain has achieved that sinking feeling. In this biting analysis of the government's reputation for economic and social prudence, Eamonn Butler shows how over 12 years a way of thinking has settled in that has caused the rot.

"One of the most important economic thinkers of all time"– Paul KrugmanMilton Friedman changed the world. From free markets in China to the flat taxes of Eastern Europe, from the debate on drugs to interest rate policy, Friedman's skill for vivid argument and ideas led to robust and often successful challenges to a dizzying amount of received wisdom.Relying on big-picture economic analysis and an insistent faith in human freedom, he took on the economic and political...

This primer aims to provide a straightforward introduction to the principles, personalities and key developments in classical liberalism. It is designed for students and lay readers who may understand the general concepts of social, political and economic freedom, but who would like a systematic presentation of its essential elements.