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Walter Edward BlockAmerican economist, anarcho-capitalist
Date of Birth: 21.08.1941
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Walter Block
Walter Edward Block, an American economist and anarcho-capitalist, was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1941. His parents, Abraham Block and Ruth Block, were described by Block as "liberals." Block, on the other hand, considered himself a "devout atheist."
Block obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Brooklyn College, where he excelled both academically and in sports as a member of the swimming team. He later enrolled at Columbia University, where he wrote his dissertation and earned a degree in economics.
Work and Ideology
Block is known for advocating for entrepreneurship and limited government intervention in economic activities. He identifies as a representative of libertarianism and advocates for the establishment of an anarchic society based on free markets.
Currently, Block works as a professor of economics at Loyola University in New Orleans. From 1979 to 1991, he served as a senior economist at the Fraser Institute. Additionally, Block is an economist in the Austrian School and a senior faculty member at the Ludwig von Mises Institute for Austrian Economics.
Block has furthered the study of the Theory of Externalities, expanding on the ideas of renowned philosopher and economist Murray Rothbard. This theory explores cases where the benefits or costs of economic activities affect third parties. The problem of externalities has become an active field of scientific research within the realm of welfare economics.
Notable Works
Block's most famous work is "Defending the Undefendable," a book that has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. Alongside Murray Rothbard, Block is considered one of the leading economists and thinkers of the Austrian School and anarcho-capitalism.
Prior to pursuing his academic career, Block worked as a real estate investor in New York. He is married to Mary Beth, and their family resides in New Orleans. They also own homes in Louisiana, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. Block and Mary Beth have two children: Matthew, a programmer at Microsoft, and Hannah, a student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 2006, Block authored the book "The Privatization of Roads and Highways: Human and Economic Factors." He has written a total of eight books, with "Defending the Undefendable" being the most well-known.
