The twenty-one essays in this book provide an overview of the contributions of Nobel laureate Hayek to the fields of economics, political theory, history and philosophy. A leading member of the Austrian School of Economics and a defender of the free market and the liberal social and economic order, Hayek has written on such diverse subjects as the business cycle, monetary theory, capital, economic and social organization, law history, epistemology, the theory of science and government. His writings in various fields are unified by two fundamental ideas -- the limitation of knowledge and the spontaneous formation of systems. ISBN 0-8179-8011-3 : $27.50.

Here is a readable presentation of the essential thought of F. A. Hayek, Nobel prizewinner in 1974 and author of the bestselling The Road to Serfdom. Hayek is one of the great thinkers of the 20th century, but up to now there has been no book for the nonspecialist that describes his ideas and explains their significance. Eamonn Butler's clear, systematic, perceptive study fills this gap. Starting with a short survey of Hayek's life, Dr. Butler goes on to analyze all the main elements in his thought under six basic headings: Understanding how society works, The market process, Hayek's critique of socialism, Criticism of social justice, The institutions of a liberal order, The constitution of a liberal state. Hayek's influence in helping a generation to understand the nature of society and the errors of collectivism goes far beyond that of any other writer of his period. Having been decades ahead of his time when he began to write, Hayek is proving to be one of the most seminal thinkers of our age. - Back cover.

The twenty-four essays that appear in this volume exemplify the scholarly brilliance and intellectual curiosity that has marked the world of Nobel laureate George J. Stigler, who has been acknowledged as one of the foremost architects of twentieth-century economic thought. Stigler has said that "the purpose of economics is not to preach, nor is it to build elaborate theoretical models of hypothetical economies; its purpose is to study the world around us in order to better understand its workings." Stigler's writings indicate a lifetime spent in that pursuit. He has continually questioned accepted theories and infused those theories with his own unique perceptions; his writing and lecturing have always been marked with clarity, humor, and style. The essays published here are small but significant part of his work, which can only indicate the breadth of his intellect and the extraordinary scope of his interest, which embraces microeconomics, the history of economic thought, and all aspects of political economy.

Karl Popper and Friedrich von Hayek are remembered as two of the twentieth century’s greatest proponents of open society. However, over the years, Hayek’s ideas have tended to be favoured over Popper’s in both academic and political discussions. This book aims to improve understanding of Popper’s and Hayek’s philosophies by explaining their differences, and whilst doing so, to encourage liberal political philosophers to take a better-informed and more sympathetic look at Popper’s ideas about open society. Popper and Hayek differed in subtle but fundamental ways about rationality, economism, and democracy. They thus differed about whether and to what extent society is well served by deliberate attempts at social engineering and government intervention in the economy. They also differed about whether democracy is better served by institutions designed to elect the best leaders, or by institutions designed to protect us against the leaders we elect. And they differed, perhaps most importantly, about whether we should value freedom as a means to prosperity or an end-in-itself. This book argues that Hayek’s views about rationality, economism, and democracy are fundamentally at odds with Popper’s3⁄4 and perhaps even with open society itself—and that the unintended consequences of Hayek’s views may actually pose a threat to Popper’s vision of a liberal and free open society.

Originally published in 1960, The Constitution of Liberty delineates and defends the principles of a free society and traces the origin, rise, and decline of the rule of law. Casting a skeptical eye on the growth of the welfare state, Hayek examines the challenges to freedom posed by an ever expanding government as well as its corrosive effect on the creation, preservation, and utilization of knowledge. In distinction to those who confidently call for the state to play a greater role in society, Hayek puts forward a nuanced argument for prudence. Guided by this quality, he elegantly demonstrates that a free market system in a democratic polity—under the rule of law and with strong constitutional protections of individual rights—represents the best chance for the continuing existence of liberty. Striking a balance between skepticism and hope, Hayek’s profound insights remain strikingly vital half a century on. This definitive edition of The Constitution of Liberty will give a new generation the opportunity to learn from Hayek’s enduring wisdom.

Management is a craft - a universal discipline, the most important one of the 21st century. In this book, the leading author in the field of general management gives an overview of the principles and foundations that general management is based on. Looking far ahead into the information age, Malik explains the factors for success which can be verified both scientifically and practically. Fredmund Malik's general management theory is system-oriented and therefore valid all over the world at any given time. It works in all areas and industries of any society, irrespective of changing trends, of national or of cultural differences. With his consistent and well-grounded alignment along the natural phenomena of complex systems - phenomena that both executives and managers have to cope with every day - Malik sets the standard for sound management in the era of knowledge. "One of the best management books. It contains wise and exceptional ideas." WirtschaftsWoche

Economics as Ideology: Keynes, Laski, Hayek and the Creation of Contemporary Politics explores the lives and thought of three powerful theorists who shaped the foundations of the center, left, and right of the political spectrum in the 20th century. Noted scholar Kenneth R. Hoover examines how each thinker developed their ideas, looks at why and how their views evolved into ideologies, and draws connections between these ideologies and our contemporary political situation. Similar in age, colleagues in academic life, and participants in the century's defining political events, the story of Keynes, Laski, and Hayek is also the story of how we in the west came to define politics as the choice between government and the market, between regulation and freedom, and between the classes and the masses.