Bastiat-Proudhon Debate Online

03/12/2008 Mises Wire Ryan P. Long

Over the course of several months from late 1849 through early 1850, French classical liberal economist Frédéric Bastiat and French anarcho-socialist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon conducted a lengthy debate on the nature and legitimacy of interest. In 1879, an English translation (by American individualist anarchist Benjamin Tucker) appeared but incomplete, and in an obscure venue. Thus most of this debate has not been widely available in English since 1879; and parts of it (including Bastiats final reply to Proudhon) have never been translated into English until now. Check out the Bastiat-Proudhon Debate.

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