Tyrants inevitably work to destroy private associations. Such associations are outside of their control and are an alternative pole of allegiance, and therefore must be eliminated.
Economists who have written on punishment find Rothbard's “double restitution” idea puzzling, because they think about it only in terms of economic efficiency. But Rothbard's theory is based on a moral principle.
In a free market, goods pass to those who are willing to pay the most to get them. A legal system that allows people to bid against each another for the goods they want displays equal concern for its citizens.
One of the standard criticisms of the free market point of view is that it treats individuals as isolated atoms who view other people only as means to the pursuit of their selfish ends.
The political theorist Douglas W. Rae argues that to get the advantages of Hayekian freedom, everybody should be guaranteed a minimum amount of resources so that they can fully participate in the market.
