Privateer of Austrian Economics

Walter E. Block was born on August 21, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Brooklyn College and his Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University. Currently, he serves as a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and holds the Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Economics at Loyola University New Orleans. Block is a prominent figure within the Austrian School of Economics, known for his rigorous and often provocative defense of libertarianism, anarcho-capitalism, and radical private property rights.

Block is perhaps best known for his controversial and influential book, “Defending the Undefendable”, in which he applies strict libertarian logic to defend individuals and professions typically scorned by society—such as drug dealers, prostitutes, and slumlords—on the basis that their voluntary exchanges do not violate the non-aggression principle. His economic and moral defense of voluntary transactions, no matter how socially stigmatized, has made him a central figure in debates around libertarian ethics. In “Privatization of Roads and Highways”, Block argues for the complete private ownership of infrastructure, contending that government control over roads leads to inefficiency, coercion, and danger, while market-based solutions would be more innovative and accountable. His book “The Case for Discrimination” challenges anti-discrimination laws from a libertarian property rights perspective, arguing that freedom of association, even for discriminatory reasons, is a critical part of a truly free society.

A consistent advocate of voluntaryism and anarcho-capitalism, Block has written hundreds of articles and academic papers, defending everything from secession, to voluntary slavery contracts, to the right to exclude on private property. While often controversial, his work is marked by an unwavering commitment to libertarian principle, and he has extended his analysis to issues such as environmental policy, foreign affairs, and labor economics. His academic career has been devoted to free-market economics, and he is deeply associated with the tradition of Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and Hans-Hermann Hoppe.

Walter Block remains a fiery and prolific scholar, steadfastly challenging both mainstream economics and state power, pushing the boundaries of libertarian theory with consistency and intellectual rigor.