Human Action

work by Mises

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July 15, 2026

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Human Action is a seminal work by Ludwig von Mises, a prominent Austrian economist. Published in 1949, the book is a comprehensive treatise on economics, grounded in the principles of praxeology, the study of human action. Mises argues that economic laws are derived from the logical analysis of purposeful human behavior, rather than empirical observation alone. He emphasizes the subjective nature of value and the importance of individual choice in economic decision-making, a core tenet of the Austrian school of economics. The work critiques central planning and advocates for free markets, asserting that only through market prices can the complex information needed for rational economic coordination be conveyed.12

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Ludwig von Mises
… (1947), concerning socialist totalitarianism, and Human Action (1949; rev. ed. 1966), a treatise on economics.
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… (1947), concerning socialist totalitarianism, and Human Action (1949; rev. ed. 1966), a treatise on economics.
Read More