Libertarianism, from a to Z

by Miron, Jeffrey A.

• ISBN13: 9780465019434
• ISBN10: 0465019439
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-05-04
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

Libertarian principles seem basic enough-keep government out of boardrooms, bedrooms, and wallets, and let markets work the way they should. But what reasoning justifies those stances, and how can they be elucidated clearly and applied consistently? InLibertarianism, from A to Z, acclaimed Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron sets the record straight with a dictionary that takes the reader beyond the mere surface of libertarian thought to reveal the philosophyrs"s underlying and compelling logic. Tackling subjects as diverse as prostitution and drugs, the financial crises and the government bailouts, the legality of abortion, and the War on Terror, Miron takes the reader on a tour of libertarian thought. He draws on consequentialist principles that balance the costs and benefits of any given government intervention, emphasizing personal liberty and free markets. Miron never flinches from following those principles to their logical and sometimes controversial ends. Along the way, readers get a charming and engaging lesson in how to think like a libertarian. Principled, surprising, and thought provoking,Libertarianism, from A to Z, has everything a bourgeoning libertarian-or any responsible citizen-needs to know.

Author Biography

Jeffrey A. Miron is a senior lecturer in the economics department at Harvard University and the former chair of the economics department at Boston University. He has appeared as a commentator on CNN and PBS, and has written for the New York Times and Forbes magazine. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.