History of the Austrian School of Economics

Mainstream economists want us to believe that money gains its value from state decrees. Yet, Austrian economists more than a century ago explained why money has value.

While Aristotle did not have advanced knowledge of economics, his causal-based view of reality set the stage for the development of the Austrian School.

Ludwig von Mises’s first major work was The Theory of Money and Credit in which he explained the role of money in the economy and also pointed out what causes the boom-bust cycle. It remains an important classic in Austrian economics.

Ludwig von Mises’s first major work was The Theory of Money and Credit in which he explained the role of money in the economy and also pointed out what causes the boom-bust cycle. It remains an important classic in Austrian economics.

New scholarly work is appearing regularly in the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. Here are some articles from the latest issue.

Ironically, an acatallactic pseudo-theory of money that emerged from a school of thought that rejected theory in favor of an empirico-realistic, historical theory of money now finds it intellectually acceptable, not only to reject catallactic economic theory, but also empirical history.

Menger said alternative monetary theories were “unhistorical,” but one could argue that Menger’s theory also lacks historical evidence necessary to verify his theory. Did Menger display a double standard or a nuanced view as to what we should expect from different monetary theories?

Bob revisits Böhm-Bawerk’s critique of the exploitation theory of interest to answer modern claims that billionaires like Elon Musk must have “stolen” their wealth from workers who supposedly create 100 percent of a firm’s value.

The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics invites submissions for a special issue commemorating the centennial of the founding of the Austrian Institute for Business Cycle Research, founded in 1927 by Mises and directed by Hayek. Guest editors are Per Bylund and Jonathan Newman.

"A truly free market is totally incompatible with the existence of a State, an institution that presumes to 'defend' person and property by itself subsisting on the unilateral coercion against private property known as taxation."