Hayek's Modern Family

Steven Horwitz is Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics at St. Lawrence University, USA, and an Affiliated Senior Scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, USA. He is the author of two books on monetary economics, and has written extensively on the social thought of F.A. Hayek and the Austrian school of economics.

"Hayek's Modern Family: Classical Liberalism and the Evolution of Social Institutions introduces a theoretical frame that not only explains past trends in family formation, but also suggests productive directions for future scholarship. As such, Horwitz's contribution is recommended for anyone with an interest in the study of the family, from students seeking their first introduction to the 'how' and 'why' of family in the Western world to scholars seeking research inspiration." (Jayme Lemke, Review of Austrian Economics, June, 2016) "Hayek's Modern Family is a truly wide-ranging book. It combines political theory, economic analysis, historical overview, constitutional analysis, and public-policy recommendations. ... Hayek's Modern Family is a welcome ... addition to the contemporary discussion of the modern family. ... the author's Austrian economic analysis of the factors affecting contemporary family decisions is a helpful conceptualization of difficulties facing young people today." (Caleb Henry, Journal of Markets & Morality, Vol. 19 (1), May, 2016) "Horwitz has been developing his ideas about classical liberalism and the family for decades. The wait is now over, and it has been well worth it. This highly original and well argued book provides a formidable challenge to all those whose knee-jerk reaction is that a free market society must be bad for families. Let the debates begin!" - Bruce Caldwell, Professor and Director, Center for the History of Political Economy, Duke University, USA "Thank goodness for an economist who understands that all parenting decisions involve risks and rewards, and who defends those of us who refuse to parent from a place of total risk aversion. What a refreshing outlook!" - Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, blog and book

• PART I: CLASSICAL LIBERALISM AND THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS 1. Introduction: The Family and Classical Liberalism 2. Two Sorts of Worlds at Once PART II: CAPITALISM AND THE CREATION OF THE MODERN FAMILY 3. The Family in a World of Poverty 4. Capitalism and the Emergence of the Modern Family 5. Gender and Family in the Twentieth Century PART III: THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FAMILY 6. Marriage, Divorce, and the Market Process 7. The Family in a World of Abundance 8. Why Parenting Matters: The Importance of Play, Risk, and Failure for Classical Liberalism PART IV: CLASSICAL LIBERALISM AND FAMILY POLICY 9. Knowledge, Incentives, and Parental Rights: A Framework for Classical Liberal Family Policy 10. Classical Liberalism and the Contemporary Evolution of Marriage