Gene Epstein

Epstein in 2016

Gene Epstein (born 1944) is an American economist. He is best known for his work advancing libertarian principles and promoting free-market policies. He worked as the economics editor of Barron's Magazine from 1993 to 2018 where he wrote the influential "Economic Beat" column, focusing on macroeconomic trends and critiques of government intervention in markets.[1] He calls himself a follower of the Austrian school of economics[2] and is an associated scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.[3] Epstein is also the founder and director of The Soho Forum, a debate series dedicated to discussing and defending libertarian ideas on economic and social issues.[4][5] He frequently lectures on topics such as monetary policy, the role of government, and the ethics of capitalism. In addition to his journalism and speaking engagements, Epstein has authored books on economic policy and has contributed to a variety of academic and popular publications.

Career

Epstein earned a BA from Brandeis University and an MA in economics from the New School. He taught economics at St. John's University and the City University of New York. He wrote a book called Making Money in Commodities in 1976[6] and later worked as a senior economist for the New York Stock Exchange.[7]

In 1993 he became economics editor and columnist of "Economic Beat" for Barron's Magazine. His book, Econospinning, was published in 2006.[8] The book was met with some controversy in the blogosphere after Tyler Cowen mentioned it in his blog Marginal Revolution.[9]

He now runs a monthly debate series called The Soho Forum,[1] which "features topics of special interest to libertarians and aims to enhance social and professional ties within the NYC libertarian community."[7][10] In its most widely viewed debate, Gene himself debated Richard D. Wolff on the issues of socialism and capitalism.[11] As of March 2024, the recording of the debate has been viewed over 6 million times.[12]

Personal life

Gene Epstein currently resides in downtown Manhattan with his wife, the artist Hisako Kobayashi.^[citation needed]

References

1. "Gene Epstein". Reason.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
2. Epstein: I noticed a book called Man, Economy, and State by Murray Rothbard in the library of the New School. I browsed through it briefly, then bought it. I read it and began to get excited about economic science, realizing that I was an Austrian. The Austrian Economics Newsletter (Summer 2000). "Austrian Watchdog at Barron's: An Interview with Gene Epstein", Volume 20, Number 2
3. "Senior Fellows, Faculty Members, and Staff." Mises.org
4. "Soho Forum Debate: Should the Government Fund Basic Research?". February 5, 2024.
5. "The Soho Forum Debates Archives". Reason.com. October 25, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
6. Epstein, Eugene (1976). Making Money in Commodities. Praeger. ISBN 978-0275226206.
7. "About – The Soho Forum". thesohoforum.org
8. Leading Authorities. "Gene Epstein – Keynote Speakers". LAI. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
9. "Econospinning". Marginal Revolution. August 9, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
10. Fridson, Martin. "Libertarian Stalwart Calls Bitcoin A Speculation". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
11. "Is socialism preferable to capitalism?" Reason Magazine, 2019
12. "Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate" youtube.com

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Roberts, Russ (June 2, 2008). "Gene Epstein on Gold, the Fed, and Money". EconTalk. Library of Economics and Liberty.
• Interview on NPR about the unemployment rate