A new book from Independent Institute celebrates one of the most original and fearless voices in modern political thought.

“Robert Higgs is one of the most original political economists of our time—a meticulous economic historian, a penetrating analyst of the state, an unrepentant radical, and a glorious curmudgeon. Expertly edited by Christopher and Rachel Coyne, this reader is the ideal entry into an important body of work—and a reminder of why Higgs remains, in every sense, indispensable.”

—Alex Tabarrok, Director, Center for Study of Public Choice, Mercatus Center, George Mason University

Why did the Great Depression last so long?

Why does government keep growing, crisis after crisis, and never quite shrink back down?

And can markets and private property do more to lift up the disadvantaged than the laws written in their name?

Higgs’s scholarship raises and answers all these questions—and more.

Remarkable not only for its range, but also for its intellectual craftsmanship, his legacy boldly challenges conventional economic analysis by probing the reliability of official data. Higgs was never one to shy away from questioning how, exactly, statistics are gathered, what they omit, and how they shape public understanding. At the same time, he refused to treat numbers as inherently authoritative.

At its core, Higgs’s work centers on the human stakes of political economy: freedom, coercion, and the conditions necessary for human flourishing.

The Indispensable Robert Higgs introduces new readers to his groundbreaking insights while providing longtime admirers with a powerful reminder of his lasting influence.