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Milton Friedman could also be of probably the most recognizable economists throughout our Econlib household, and particularly so right here at EconTalk. Friedman was a instructor of our beloved host Russ Roberts (in addition to one among his first podcast interviewees), a Nobel laureate, a preferred political lightning rod, and a best-selling writer. When historian Jennifer Burns undertook her mental biography of Friedman, she was initially most thinking about his position as a pundit. However as she delved deeper into his scholarship, she discovered different parts of Friedman’s life and work extra attention-grabbing. How, she cam to surprise, may somebody so well-known be so underappreciated?
On this episode, Roberts welcomes Burns again to debate her e book, Milton Friedman: The Final Conservative. Roberts and Burns have a wide-ranging dialog about Friedman- the person and his work. Now we’d like to listen to what you took away from the dialog. Depart your solutions within the feedback under, or use our prompts to start out a dialog offline or information your studying of Burns’ glorious e book. As at all times, we love to listen to from you.
1- Burns describes how she labored over the title of the e book. Why did she finally select “the final conservative?” Why does she dub Friedman the final conservative, and the way was his model totally different from conservatism immediately?
2- Each Burns and Roberts are struck by the position of ladies in Friedman’s life; Burns even calls them “his secret weapon.” What did you discover most attention-grabbing in regards to the tales of Friedman’s collaboration with girls corresponding to Anna Schwartz, Dorothy Brady, and Margaret Reid? (You may additionally have an interest this Darwyyn Deyo EconLog publish on economics’ “hidden girls.”)
3- The dialog turns to Friedman’s legacy as an instructional economist about half manner by. How did Friedman handle to go from “crank” to mainstream? What does Burns regard as probably the most important parts on this legacy, and to what extent do you agree together with her evaluation? What particular and basic classes do you suppose Friedman’s tutorial file has left for economists immediately?
4- How would you regard Friedman’s coverage legacy- half full or half empty? What did he obtain? To what extent do you agree with Burns that his “coverage concepts and orientation grew to become influential far past conservatives?” What does Friedman get blamed for immediately, and to what extent is such blame justified?
5- The dialog concludes with Roberts musing on issues he misses about Friedman. He says, “I feel individuals who defend freedom by itself for its personal sake have misplaced the ethical excessive floor.” What do you suppose he means by this, and what does it counsel Friedman might have gotten improper in his method to capitalism and freedom? What are one of the best arguments defenders of freedom could make immediately?
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