About Friedman Pop
Who is Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, and author, born on July 31, 1912. A senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, he is renowned for his groundbreaking work on monetary policy, free markets, and individual liberty. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish immigrant parents, Friedman earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and became a leading figure in the Chicago School of Economics. With over 20 books, including Capitalism and Freedom and Free to Choose, he received the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976. Friedman is celebrated as one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, known for his advocacy of economic freedom and limited government.
Milton Friedman’s Main Works
Friedman’s most notable and influential books, frequently referenced for their clarity, rigor, and transformative contributions to economic thought, have shaped modern economics and policy debates.
These works include:
- A Theory of the Consumption Function (1957), where Friedman introduced the permanent income hypothesis, challenging traditional Keynesian views by arguing that consumption patterns are driven more by long-term income expectations than short-term fluctuations, laying a foundation for monetarist economics.
- Capitalism and Freedom (1962), a seminal text co-authored with Rose Friedman, which defends the role of free markets in promoting political and economic freedom, critiques government intervention, and proposes ideas like school vouchers and a negative income tax, influencing policymakers worldwide.
- A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960 (1963), co-authored with Anna Schwartz, a monumental study that links monetary policy to economic cycles, notably attributing the Great Depression to poor Federal Reserve decisions, and solidifying Friedman’s reputation as a monetarist pioneer.
- Free to Choose (1980), another collaboration with Rose Friedman, adapted into a popular PBS television series, this book argues for reducing government regulation, promoting free trade, and empowering individual choice, making complex economic ideas accessible to a broad audience.
These works collectively highlight Friedman’s ability to blend rigorous empirical analysis with accessible prose, cementing his legacy as a thinker who reshaped economic policy and public discourse.
My Audience
The list is based on available records up to May 2025.
- A Theory of the Consumption Function (1957)
- Capitalism and Freedom (1962)
- A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960 (1963), with Anna Schwartz
- The Great Contraction, 1929-1933 (1965), with Anna Schwartz (originally a chapter in A Monetary History, published as a standalone book)
- Essays in Positive Economics (1953)
- Price Theory (1962)
- A Program for Monetary Stability (1960)
- Free to Choose: A Personal Statement (1980), with Rose Friedman
- The Tyranny of the Status Quo (1984), with Rose Friedman
- Money Mischief: Episodes in Monetary History (1994)
- Two Lucky People: Memoirs (1998), with Rose Friedman
- From Galbraith to Economic Freedom (1977)
- There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (1975)
- Unemployment versus Inflation? (1975)
- Social Security: Universal or Selective? (1972), with Wilbur J. Cohen
- Monetary Trends in the United States and the United Kingdom (1982), with Anna Schwartz
- Bright Promises, Dismal Performance (1983)
- Roofs or Ceilings? The Current Housing Problem (1946), with George J. Stigler
- The Optimum Quantity of Money and Other Essays (1969)
- Monetary Statistics of the United States (1970), with Anna Schwartz