This is partly influenced from the Libertarians Think Differently? thread. If you have this thinking (or a libertarian way of thinking) that maybe this would influence your career choice. It seems that a lot of libertarians enter more technical fields (compared to the arts). I’ve been pursuing engineering (even though I’m not as passionate about that as reading economics books, and have been rethinking this due to the falling demand in that field).
I also notice people on this forum have mentioned switching majors over to economics (probably due to their rising interest in the subject).
Has anyone noticed a specific field with a lot of libertarians?
The vast majority of so called ‘economists’ are state apologists…or ‘value-free’ automata.
As nicely as this may fit your worldview, it doesn’t fit the facts quite so much. Like I said, if you take a reasonably broad (and conventional) definition of libertarianism that essentially implies support for free markets and socially liberal policies, you’ll find that many, if not most, economists would fit the definition.
"As nicely as this may fit your worldview, it doesn’t fit the facts quite so much. Like I said, if you take a reasonably broad (and conventional) definition of libertarianism that essentially implies support for free markets and socially liberal policies, you’ll find that many, if not most, economists would fit the definition. "
I think you’re right insofar as economists, moreso in the US than Europe are vaguely “pro market”, but only compared to most other state hired intellectuals. As a profession overall, I highly doubt it. My pick would be small business owners, especially since they feel the pain of regulations first and most.
You can doubt it all you like, the fact remains and has been documented by Bryan Caplan, economists are generally pro-market and pro-choice. I’m not claiming that many of them support the market on principled grounds, but generally they’re extol the efficiency of markets whilst holding socially liberal views. I’d guess part of this simply comes from learning about the virtues of the markets, first welfare theorem and all that, but I’d also guess that part of it simply comes from thinking like an economist. That means thinking of unintended consequences and perverse incentives, whereas the layman or other intellectual will only see the “seen”, so to speak.
Yes of course. If you take a reasonably broad definition that includes everything, then you can prove anything. Isn’t quibbling an amazing art?
I can play that game too. Anything you say just fits your ‘worldview’, which is, of course, as biased as my ‘worldview’ - Now, go look up “special pleading”.
Production of raw milk, homeschooling, intellectual entreprenuership, IT related jobs, natural medicine, smuggling from abroad. We need more libertarians in IT and education in order to advance the intellectual revolution.