Fact: The Austrian School is a classic example of crank science.
Summary
The Austrian School of Economics is a tiny group of libertarians at war with mainstream economics. They reject even the scientific method that mainstream economists use, preferring to use instead a pre-scientific approach that shuns real-world data and is based purely on logical assumptions. But this is the very method that thousands of religions use when they argue their opposing beliefs, and the fact that the world has thousands of religions proves the fallibility of this approach. Academia has generally ignored the Austrian School, and the only reason it continues to exist is because it is financed by wealthy business donors on the far right. The movement does not exist on its own scholarly merits.
Argument
To describe and critique an entire school of economic thought in one short essay is impossible. Therefore, we'll do it in several short essays.
Introduction
The Scientific Method
Statistics
Methodological Subjectivism
Methodological Individualism
Starting Assumptions
The Market Process
Monopolies
The Gold Standard and Business Cycle
The History of the Austrian School
The Politics of the Austrian School
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