Daniel B. Klein
Encyclopedia
Daniel B. Klein is a professor of economics
at George Mason University
and an Associate Fellow of the Swedish Ratio Institute
. Much of his research examines public policy
questions, libertarian
political philosophy, and the sociology of academia
. He is the chief editor of Econ Journal Watch
.
Klein received his doctorate in economics from New York University
in 1990.
and Richard Thaler
, as oxymoronic. He argued against what he perceived as an overly loose and weak definition of libertarianism
on the grounds that Thaler and Sunstein made no meaningful distinction of between liberty and coercion. In failing to define the concepts of liberty and coercion as fundamentally dissimilar processes. Libertarian paternalism uses a hyperrational behavior model of human nature as a definition for libertarianism, and neglects alternative definitions such as those advanced by Adam Smith
and F.A. Hayek.
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
and an Associate Fellow of the Swedish Ratio Institute
Ratio Institute
The Ratio Institute is an independent Swedish research institute focusing on the conditions for enterprise, entrepreneurship and market economy and political change. The institute's infrastructure is financed by the Swedish Free Enterprise Foundation, but various research projects have financiers...
. Much of his research examines public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
questions, libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
political philosophy, and the sociology of academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
. He is the chief editor of Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch is a triannual peer-reviewed electronic journal established in 2004. It is published by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation on behalf of the American Institute for Economic Research...
.
Klein received his doctorate in economics from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1990.
Debates
In an article appearing in the August 2004 Econ Journal Watch he criticized libertarian paternalism, espoused by Cass SunsteinCass Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein is an American legal scholar, particularly in the fields of constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and law and behavioral economics, who currently is the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration...
and Richard Thaler
Richard Thaler
Richard H. Thaler is an American economist and the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business...
, as oxymoronic. He argued against what he perceived as an overly loose and weak definition of libertarianism
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
on the grounds that Thaler and Sunstein made no meaningful distinction of between liberty and coercion. In failing to define the concepts of liberty and coercion as fundamentally dissimilar processes. Libertarian paternalism uses a hyperrational behavior model of human nature as a definition for libertarianism, and neglects alternative definitions such as those advanced by Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
and F.A. Hayek.
Selected publications
- "The Voluntary Provision of Public Goods?: The Turnpike Companies of Early America" in Economic Inquiry vol. 28 (1990)
- "Promise Keeping in the Great Society: A Model of Credit Information Sharing" in Economics and Politics vol. 4 (1992)
- Curb Rights: A Foundation for Free Enterprise in Urban Transit (co-authored with Adrian T. Moore and Binyam Reja) (1997)
- "Discovery and the Deepself" in Review of Austrian Economics vol. 11 (1999)
- "The Demand for and Supply of Assurance" in Economic Affairs vol. 21 (2001)
- "Economists' Policy Views and Voting" (co-authored with Charlotta Stern) in Public Choice vol. 126 (2006)
- "Knowledge Flat-talk: A Conceit of Supposed Experts and a Seduction to All" in Independent Review vol. 15 (2010)