George Stigler uniquely blended information economics, orthodox economics, and pro-market activism

Evidence

Stigler would come to occupy an unusual position within the intellectual and political crosscurrents of the Cold War economics profession—we might even characterize his position as unique. He was able to combine an interest in formal models of information, orthodox economics, pro-market politics, and the role of the intellectual in capitalism into something approaching a coherent set of views and practices that he then deployed both inside and outside economics—indeed, inside and outside the academy—all the while claiming to uphold the best traditions of science, and gaining a reputation among even his intellectual antagonists for doing just this. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 104

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces Stigler’s distinctive triangulation of interests as a way to characterize his position within the Cold War economics profession.
• XREF: connects to: George Stigler, not Friedman, was the key neoliberal theorist of the marketplace of ideas; Information-side patches to neoclassical economics remain epicycles never incorporated into the core model — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 1998; George Stigler held that science and ability are inherently elitist, not egalitarian. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 770 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• George Stigler held that science and ability are inherently elitist, not egalitarian. #expands (0.85) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 770
• Information-side patches to neoclassical economics remain epicycles never incorporated into the core model #complicates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 1998
• Chicago antitrust doctrine was refined and broadened by Bork, Stigler, and Posner #exemplifies (0.80) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1134