Evolving Views on Monetary Policy in the Thought of Hayek, Friedman, and Buchanan

31 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2010 Last revised: 26 Jan 2017

See all articles by Peter J. Boettke

Peter J. Boettke

George Mason University - Department of Economics; Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Daniel J. Smith

Middle Tennessee State University - Department of Economics and Finance; Middle Tennessee State University - Jennings A. Jones College of Business

Date Written: July 2, 2015

Abstract

Attempting to find the technically optimal monetary policy is futile if the Federal Reserve’s independence is undermined by political influences. F. A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, and James Buchanan each sought ways to improve the performance of the Federal Reserve. They each ended up rejecting the possibility that technical refinement or minor reforms might be sufficient. After properly accounting for the concerns of robust political economy, each concluded that a fundamental restructuring of our monetary system was necessary. Friedman turned to binding rules, Buchanan to constitutionalism, and Hayek to competing private currencies. We synthesize their contributions to make a case for applying the concepts of robust political economy to the Federal Reserve through the adoption of professional humility, creative thinking, and an emphasis on the politically possible, not the politically acceptable.

Keywords: Federal Reserve, monetary policy, robust political economy, Austrian economics, public choice, central bank independence

JEL Classification: B53, E58, P16, D73

Suggested Citation

Boettke, Peter J. and Boettke, Peter J. and Smith, Daniel J., Evolving Views on Monetary Policy in the Thought of Hayek, Friedman, and Buchanan (July 2, 2015). Review of Austrian Economics, Vol. 29, No. 4, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1720682 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1720682

Peter J. Boettke (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
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703-993-1149 (Phone)
703-993-1133 (Fax)

Mercatus Center at George Mason University ( email )

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Daniel J. Smith

Middle Tennessee State University - Department of Economics and Finance ( email )

MTSU Box 190
1301 E. Main St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37132-0001
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.danieljosephsmith.com/

Middle Tennessee State University - Jennings A. Jones College of Business ( email )

TN
United States

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