Austrian economic readings converted Lippmann against planned economies by 1937

Evidence

By the time Lippmann published The Good Society, which was partially serialized in the Atlantic Monthly before its fi nal publication in the fall of 1937, he had traveled further along the path that the Godkin Lectures had set. The transformation was partially inspired, he acknowledged in the opening pages of the book, by his readings in Austrian economics, and in par tic u lar by a volume edited by Hayek and published in 1935, Collectivist Economic Planning. “In a crude way I had discerned the inherent diffi culty of the planned economy,” Lippmann wrote to Hayek as the fi nal proofs of the book were being submitted to the publisher, “but without the help I have received from you and from Professor von Mises, I could never have developed the argument.” On the American side Lippmann had been “greatly helped” by his readings of Henry Simons’s essays and pamphlets, and the two of them had initiated an active correspondence. — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, 154

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader MPS origin story — these Austrian readings prerun the founding network Burgin charts. — connects to: Austrian economics originated as a reaction against state-led development — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 382; Lippmann’s turn to free-market ideas emerged from a progressive, interventionist career — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 151; Lippmann embraced the socialist calculation critique before his 1937 book — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 722 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Lippmann embraced the socialist calculation critique before his 1937 book #corroborates (0.92) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 722
• Hayek endorsed Lippmann’s The Good Society unreservedly, seeing his views confirmed #corroborates (0.75) — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, 164