Gottfried Haberler (1900–1995)

Gottfried Haberler (1900–1995) was a titan of modern political economy. As this chapter shows, he has been rightfully praised for his unmatched ability to bring together diverse theoretical views on business cycle theory, inflation and international trade, and synthesise them using the tools and techniques of modern economic theory. However, due to Haberler’s intellectual heritage, his whole approach to economic problems was more than the sum of its parts. An honest and principled intellectual, Haberler’s views did not fully align with either monetarism or Keynesianism, and he retained throughout his work an Austrian predilection for economic theory founded on the principle of methodological individualism. Haberler’s unique perspective continues to offer a fresh take on contemporary economic issues.