The Myth of the “Robber Barons”: James Hill versus the Crony Competitors

Tags: Cronyism and Corporatism, The Entrepreneur, U.S. History

10/24/2025 Joshua Mawhorter

As a true market entrepreneur, as opposed to a political entrepreneur, James J. Hill successfully built a transcontinental railroad, outcompeting his government-subsidized competitors.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/myth-robber-barons-james-hill-versus-crony-competitors

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