From one friend to another

First, let me set up my street-cred within Austrian economics. I am no Trojan horse; I am truly a strong supporter of advancing Austrian economics. Whether other people will label me as an Austrian is up to them.

First, I am an Adam Smith Fellow at the Mercatus Center, which is THE heart of academic Austrian economics in the world. My job literally involves discussing Hayek and Mises with some of the best in the business. I believe they would vouch for me as a friend of Austrian economics.

Second, my research is clearly Austrian-inspired. One paper I’m working on examines the boom/bust Panic of 1907. The second looks at Hayek’s theory of spontaneous order, specifically when that spontaneous order breaks down. I see my research as following in the footsteps of the greats.

Third, look at this blog. It’s called EconPointOfView.com, a reference to Israel Kirzner’s first book. The site’s banner has Rothbard, Mises, and Kirzner- my way to show respect to those who I think are superb economists.

While none of what I’ve written makes me an expert on Austrian economics, I hope Austrians will be more willing to accept my point, coming from a friendly stance. I won’t belittle those who choose to do a more literary form of economics. Do your thing. But along the way, pick up a math book.

I agree with many of your criticisms.

I, as a good student of Austrian economics, accept the following:

• Economics is a value free science. It can never tell a person what he “should” do. My recommendation is not as an economic scientist but as a person.

• Pure economic theory derives from the action axiom.

• Math or statistics cannot be a source of pure theory.

• Statistical aggregates conceal most of the interesting information about the economic phenomena.

• Radical uncertainty makes point prediction impossible.

• Tacit knowledge, which can never be incorporated into formal theory as “information” or statistics, is the vital part of a functioning society.

I accept these points made by your favorite Austrians. These points invalidate how most economists use math. I still am urging you to study math.

Careful readers will have noticed something by now. I’m not urging Austrian economists to study mathematical economics. No. My central point is smaller. Study math, The Real Thing.

Math is pretty damn cool. Spend the time to learn some of it.

Obviously whether studying math is worth the effort or not, depends on each individual’s opportunity cost. I know that. Instead, my goal here is to convince people that studying math has a higher expected benefit than they originally thought. Therefore, on the margin, some people will decide to study math.

The Beauty of Proofs

While proof-based mathematics is by no means the only form of mathematics, it is the type I focus on here.

Mathematical proofs have aesthetic beauty, in the way music and art does. Once I started to understand proofs, I had a similar feeling to when I read Cicero in Latin; “I know I’m missing the subtleties, but Cicero is beautiful.”

Since Austrian economists are mostly human, I urge learning math as an end in itself- like developing a palette for good food (which you definitely should do.) Math’s pleasurable, in a sick way, and enhances your life, just like Bach.

What is the purpose of a proof?

But you’re more practical. You’re an economist. You want Use. You want Reasons. Well, fine.

Proof-based mathematics attempts to create a solid connection between assumptions and conclusions, laying out every step between. That is not to say each connection is always clear.

I have written many proofs without truly understanding what I am doing. Still, by working to improve my proofs, I have developed a stronger understanding between the assumptions and conclusions. Little by little, I improved.

That’s the main reason for Austrian economists to study math; it helps train the mind in logical connections. You say you love the logic of Man, Economy, and State. Studying proofs has helped me understand Rothbard’s process.

Rothbard and Mises were smart enough to think about these topics in only words. I’m not. Math helped my thinking about the Austrian theory of utility, time-preference, and capital theory.

For example, I was discussing continuous preferences with a classmate. I was going through my basic Rothbardian explanation of the problems with continuous utility functions. Goods are never infinitesimally small, so a consumption set is discontinuous. Consumers either buy 1 apples or 2 apples, not pi apples. Boom, win for the Austrians.

Not quite. My classmate was able to explain to me that I also required an extra assumption: I need to assume the goods are finite. If there were infinite goods, continuous preferences is still workable.

It’s an obscure point, but I was simply wrong in my defense of Austrian economics. Knowing math helped me clarify my thoughts and communicate with a non-Austrian economist. Knowing a little about power sets, infinity, countability, and more was the only way that I could understand his (100% correct) point.

The math forced me to recognize another assumption I was implicitly making. I’m fine assuming finite goods, but now at least I know I am making it. Thank you math. I’m a better defender of Austrian economics because of math.

That doesn’t show whether continuous preferences is a useful abstraction. Such decisions need judgement, something math cannot save our poor souls from needing. However, without an understanding of basic analysis, I would not have understood the connection between my assumptions and my conclusions. Heck, I couldn’t even communicate with my classmate about this topic without proofs.

My example might seem small. But I’m not claiming that studying math will overturn your world. It will simply clarify points of detail. We learn on the margin. That’s when math is most powerful; use it.

Is studying math the only way to connect assumptions and conclusions? Of course not. Economics teaches us that there are multiple means for every end. My point is that rigorous math is an effective way to pursue the end.

My dear Austrian friends: if you want to further your understanding of your own theories, drop the anti-math rhetoric. It’s unbecoming. Pick up a proof-based textbook and get studying. Challenge someone to learn the math with you. I’ll be your partner if need be.

You spend time each day doing Sudoku or the crossword puzzle. Heck, you probably read Kant for fun. You enjoy challenging your mind. Why not learn math too? Plus it helps you communicate with other economists (which is worthy of a whole post).

So if you’re someone who enjoys and wants to study Austrian economics, start reading your math too. Post comments or tweet at me ([@BrianCAlbrecht](https://twitter.com/BrianCAlbrecht)) your thoughts along the journey. I’m going through the same journey with you.

Starting The Journey

It takes time to learn how to write proofs; it does not come overnight. The long process continues for me.

I’m sure there is some expression about a single step and a thousand mile…

Here are my recommendations for a first step:

Basic Proof Books-

• Book of Proof by Richard Hammack (free online)

• How to Prove It by Daniel Velleman

Analysis Books-

• Understanding Analysis by Stephen Abbott

• Principles of Mathematical Analysis by Walter Rudin (the classic)

Over the coming weeks, I plan to write a similar apology for econometrics and computation. Both are tools that Austrians are rightly skeptical of, but wrongly reject outright. I’m partly a devil’s advocate here, but still 100% sincere. (Or maybe it’s just Stockholm Syndrome after my first semester in my PhD.)

Stop being so negative about anything outside of Rothbard and Mises. They weren’t the only people to think about the world. Expand your reading list so that you can become better Austrian economists.