Classical Liberalism in Australian Economics

Chris Berg

Econ Journal Watch, 2015, vol. 12, issue 2, 192–220

Abstract: Classical liberalism, the tradition of free markets and individual liberty, has an outsider status in the Australian economics profession. This paper surveys the origin of Australian classical liberal economics in the nineteenth century, its sharp decline in the first half of the twentieth century, and its revival and growth in recent decades. Despite a period of successful market-oriented economic reform in the 1980s and 1990s, surveys suggest that classical liberalism is a minority viewpoint among Australian economists. The classical liberal tradition is sustained only by a small number of institutions and individuals. To the extent that it is influential, it is influential thanks to a political culture that prioritises public engagement. Classical liberal economists have a high degree of participation in political and economic debate outside the academy.

Keywords: Australian economics; history of economic thought; economic history; classical liberalism; libertarianism; think tanks; academic economics; economic education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 A20 B2 B53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ejw:journl:v:12:y:2015:i:2:p:192-220

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