In a few threads I have been on it seems like this forum is filled almost exclusively with anarchists with the odd minarchist thrown in. Maybe I’m wrong but I can’t help feeling that perhaps some of the more famous Austrian economists are not quite so fundamentalist as they guys here. I thought I’d test this out with the following question. For each person in the list below, please append the percentage of GDP that you estimate that each person would ideally like to be spent on the public sector (police etc). I know this is very unscientific and you’ll be guessing to a large degree, but I’m curious to see if everyone will insist its zero for all of them.
Ludwig von Mises …?%
M Rothbard…?%
Tom Woods…?%
Peter Schiff…?%
Ron Paul…?%
Henry Hazlitt …?% (I know its not zero for him)
The list may seem strange to you - it simply corresponds to the ones I’ve heard of or have watched on youtube. Feel fee to add names.
On page 69 of economics in one lesson he talks about public sector “policemen, firemen, street cleaners, health officers, judges, legislators and executives” playing an important role. Do you think you could get all that for 0.05% of GDP? 0.05% of GDP corresponds to around 1 person in 2000.
Let me make it easier for you. These calculations are nonsense due to the Calculation problem of Socialism. There is no amount of GDP that can satisfy any “public” good. The consumer will never be satisfied even if you reach %100 of GDP. So your question remains purely hypothetical. Attempting to calculate is therefore futile.
If the Austrian on the list is an anarchist then the “calculation” is easy. Its just 0.
If they support the idea of police and fire services etc then I think it is reasonable to ask “what if that Austrian was put in power (by decree from god if necessary)? What would they spend on these services?” Just a ball park figure, no need to get your calculator out.