Hoppean sociology

I often like Hans Hoppe's presentations of pure economic theory, whereas I am significantly less a fan of his sociology. His social theory often challenges my prejudices, but also often has me wishing I could more directly challenge his.

This weekend, however, my reactions are reversed. I quite liked his "Economics of Taxation" article on Friday, but the Mises.org weekend read -- "The Sociology of Taxation" -- is just phenomenal. None of it offends me. Doesn't even prickle. With Hoppe, that's really saying something.

But if that sounds like damnation by faint praise, let me clarify: I think Hoppe's summary of taxation as a social phenomenon (in the context of his summary of taxation as an economic phenomenon) is one of the best things I've ever read on the topic of government.

The two articles together comprise chapter 2 of The Economics and Ethics of Private Property, newly published by the Mises Institute.

I guess I'll have to read the whole thing.



Between this weekend's read and last Monday's "Stateless in Somalia, and Loving It" by Yumi Kim, I think it's been a banner week for anti-political reading.