Ludwig von Mises Is Latin America’s Leading Economist
What do Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina and Nayib Bukele of El Salvador — as well as UFC champion Renato Moicano — have in common? They all admire an obscure libertarian economist.
Ludwig von Mises FTW.
Photographer: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCThe Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises is having a moment, especially in Latin America. Argentine President Javier Milei admires Mises, and he has adopted some Misesian ideas, such as the notion that “the middle of the road leads to socialism.” Milei used to be an academic economist and knows the ideas of Mises well.
More colorfully, on Saturday the Brazilian UFC fighter Renato Moicano delivered an on-camera polemic (warning: audio in link NSFW) in praise of Mises and defending free speech and private property. His impromptu lecture pointed listeners to Mises and what he called the six lessons of the Austrian School of Economics, as well as his forthcoming podcast. Those lessons — as well as a G-rated version of Moicano’s economics lecture, and a Mises-inspired speech on business-cycle theory by President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador — are available on the website of the (US-based) Mises Institute.
Lea la nota en español.