What Milton Friedman thinks about ideas vs execution

@milton-friedman · 20 positions · 0 changes of mind

American economist (1912 to 2006) and 1976 Nobel laureate in economics who argued that competitive markets are a precondition of political freedom and that government power should be limited and dispersed.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

Milton Friedman did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

2 dated positions, c. 1982, in their own words. Our reading of what Milton Friedman has said — not written or endorsed by them.

2 positions so far — this page is not yet offered to search engines.

1. c. 1982

   Our readingIn a crisis, the actions taken depend on the ideas that are lying around

   Their wordsWhen that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.

   ↗Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition)books.google.com All 20 from this book

3. c. 1982

   Our readingThe basic job of policy thinkers is to keep alternatives alive until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable

   Their wordsThat, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes politically inevitable.

   ↗Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 2002 edition)books.google.com All 20 from this book