Bachelor of Libertarian Economics

Aaron Clarey was born on February 24, 1975, in Wyoming, USA. He studied economics at the University of Minnesota, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Economics. While not affiliated with any university or think tank in an academic role, Clarey has carved out a niche as a self-styled economist, social commentator, and independent author, primarily working under the brand “Captain Capitalism.” He has taught economics and finance at the college level but is best known for his writing, speaking engagements, and consulting services directed toward young men seeking financial independence, personal responsibility, and ideological clarity in a rapidly shifting cultural environment.

Clarey’s work is often described as libertarian-conservative, with elements of Austrian economics, cultural criticism, and anti-establishment individualism. His most well-known book, “Worthless: The Young Person’s Indispensable Guide to Choosing the Right Major,” offers a harsh critique of the American higher education system, arguing that most degrees are financially and intellectually bankrupt, leading to underemployment and personal frustration. In “Bachelor Pad Economics”, Clarey combines economics, finance, and life advice into a broad guide for men to navigate modern society, emphasizing minimalism, early retirement, entrepreneurial thinking, and freedom from traditional social expectations. He also authored “Enjoy the Decline,” which promotes a stoic and rational outlook on the cultural and economic decline of the West, urging individuals to “enjoy life anyway” while remaining realistic about society’s trajectory.

Though frequently confrontational in tone, Clarey’s underlying goal is to help individuals, particularly young men, make practical, financially sound, and ideologically consistent life decisions. He criticizes government intervention, feminist orthodoxy, the public education system, and corporate careerism, advocating instead for self-employment, geoarbitrage, and mental sovereignty. His approach has earned him a dedicated following in online circles focused on liberty, masculinity, and economic realism.

Aaron Clarey remains an independent voice outside the mainstream economic and academic establishment, wielding sharp humor and a firm ideological compass to promote self-reliance in a world he sees as increasingly unmoored from truth and consequence.