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By the way, there aren't that many libertarian anarchists that have written popular works. The only one I can think of besides David is Murray Rothbard, who wro

By the way, there aren't that many libertarian anarchists that have written popular works. The only one I can think of besides David is Murray Rothbard, who wrote "For a New Liberty" detailing his anarchist vision. It's available in its entirety online. However, he is not a utilitarian, and I don't remember Murray being as convincing as David. As the libertarian movement has grown it has become more ideologically diverse and more moderate on average. There are few fire-breathing anarchists around any more (David is not a "fire-breating anarchist". Murray was.).

walterk 18y ago
I guess what I'm looking for are works with a strongly empirical basis (doesn't have to be popular). Stuff that, at the very least, deals with the wealth of research on collective action problems and economic psychology. I'm hoping David's book does some of that.
- Prrometheus 18y ago
  No, I don't think David's book is what you're looking for. It's more of an argument that anarchy is a plausible and desirable arrangement for society given the current state of microeconomic thought. He offers a theoretical basis for private law enforcement and law making, as well as other functions that are normally performed by the state. On the empirical side, he does have a very nice chapter on Iceland, which went without a public bureaucracy for a few centuries. Law enforcement was essentially a private business for awhile. It's a good read. I know that one of the big Public Choice guys did some writing on the feasibility of anarchy (Buchanan, I think). However, I'm not sure if it's the kind of work you are looking for. There's been few functional anarchies on this planet that we know about, and it's not a topic that gets most economists published. I'll let you know if I find anything. If you're looking for information on the problems of collective action, then the Public Choice guys are definitely the place to start (Buchanan, Tullock, etc.).
  - walterk 18y ago
    Much thanks. I'll keep this comment bookmarked.

walterk 18y ago

I guess what I'm looking for are works with a strongly empirical basis (doesn't have to be popular). Stuff that, at the very least, deals with the wealth of research on collective action problems and economic psychology. I'm hoping David's book does some of that.

Prrometheus 18y ago
No, I don't think David's book is what you're looking for. It's more of an argument that anarchy is a plausible and desirable arrangement for society given the current state of microeconomic thought. He offers a theoretical basis for private law enforcement and law making, as well as other functions that are normally performed by the state. On the empirical side, he does have a very nice chapter on Iceland, which went without a public bureaucracy for a few centuries. Law enforcement was essentially a private business for awhile. It's a good read. I know that one of the big Public Choice guys did some writing on the feasibility of anarchy (Buchanan, I think). However, I'm not sure if it's the kind of work you are looking for. There's been few functional anarchies on this planet that we know about, and it's not a topic that gets most economists published. I'll let you know if I find anything. If you're looking for information on the problems of collective action, then the Public Choice guys are definitely the place to start (Buchanan, Tullock, etc.).
- walterk 18y ago
  Much thanks. I'll keep this comment bookmarked.