Political Theory

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

s burgess — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:21:16 GMT

russel the first settlement in new zealand had no government .it was mainly a whaling ship town supply post set up under the protection of a local tribe of Maori.mostly bars and brothels.the local Maori liked it as a trading post the local maori did well of it.farm steads were set up by whiteys under their protection.it was known as the hell hole of the pacific but i think that was more to the fact that whalers would spend all there money on piss and prostitutes.no wars conflict between maori and settlers until 162 years ago tomorrow when we introduced our worst import government suddenly settlers became seen more often as a threat not a opportunity.

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

Chyd3nius — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:39:34 GMT

People of Zimbabwe and Somalia stopped using their legal tender money after things got wild and instead made their money transactions with US dollars. I think they still use dollars today.

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

Jackm — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:17:06 GMT

How about chile?

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

MatthewWilliam — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:21:16 GMT

Countries without a fiat monetary system?

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

whitespiral — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:14:37 GMT

That's a good list but it's not one whose criteria necessarily correspond with Austrian theory.

For example, is there, or has there ever been something closer to a liberalized banking system? More private or quasi-private judicial system? (arbitration, intermediation etc. perhaps?)

Less restrictive competition rules?

More private property rights?

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

MacFall — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:36:06 GMT

MatthewWilliam:

Where it went wrong for them I don't know.

Oh, that's easy. They created a Federal government with the explicit power to tax and legislate.

Re: Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

MatthewWilliam — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:10:42 GMT

Here is the list of the Top 10 countries by Economic Freedom according to The Heritage Foundation:

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/topten.cfm

Switzerland is in there but not Number 1.

As for social freedom, I think Switzerland loses out (for reasons such as compulsory military service, having an ID card,etc).

I think that the freest countries today are the non- European OECD nations, but for a fine historical example you could look at the United States, just after its foundation by libertarian thinkers. Where it went wrong for them I don't know.

Countries closest to Libertarian / Austrian principles

whitespiral — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:26:07 GMT

Are there any?

Switzerland maybe?

If not today, have there ever been any?

If there are or were some, what are/were the major defects you see? (either departures from liberal principles or weaknesses of their quasi-libertarian system)