Mises’s Concept of Economic Equality-Illustrated by the Occupation of Wall Street Movement

• Main Authors: Hsun-Cheng Hsu, 許訓誠
• Other Authors: 洪鎌德
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7qsh5s

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 國家發展研究所 === 103 === The essay intends to discuss Austrian Scholar- Ludwig Von Mises’s economic thought that include “Human Action theory”, “credit creation and economic bubble”, “free market economy theory” and “individual freedom versus economic equality thinking” . Especially Human Action theory, it is the ultimate Foundation of Von Mises’s economic science thinking. And the theory be used to explain why “Capitalism” always better than “Socialism”. Socialism is frequently considered more equality and humanism. But Von Mises oppose to the general idea and unmask the cowardly cheat of Socialism. I apply Von Mises’s economic thought to explain and criticized “Occupy Wall Street Campaign”, because the campaign participant urge that “99% people against 1% elites” ─ a similar Socialism appeal. The essay take Documentary Analysis and Informational Analysis as research method. First step, I read Von Mises’s articles and essays and other Austrian Scholar’s article (e.g. F. A. Von Hayek, M. Rothbard). Second, I find some articles of “equality and efficiency”, “equality and freedom”, “equality and poverty”, “equality and well-being”, that help me grasp the word-equality- meaning. And how we keep it balance between equality and other moral value. Finally, I gather media materials about “Occupy Wall Street Campaign”. The Essay conclusion: Von Mises’s economic theory clearly express an idea – Capitalism can’t cause the inequality problem, but Socialism do. If we want to solve inequality problem, we’ll obey human action principle, what’s more, choose an economic system which suits with selfish motive. Otherwise, “Socialism ideology” perhaps doomed individual freedom.