Thomas Schelling

Peter Boettke (The Austrian Economists)

True, the award didn't go to Kirzner or to Tullock, but it went to perhaps the next best choice for those of us interested in invisible hand explanations and a broader notion of economics and political economy. I've been using one of Schelling's book in my graduate seminar in Austrian economics for several years.

My original fascination with Schelling came from Kenneth Boulding, who stressed Schelling's contribution in The Strategy of Conflict. Then Jim Buchanan emphasized to us the power that game theory had in addressing questions in political economy. And finally, Dan Klein (who I believe has impeccable judgment in these matters) kept saying how insightful Schelling was so I read him more carefully and became even more convinced. I would say that Schelling's style of thought is very Hayekian, though one that stresses the dark side of invisible hand processes rather than the bright side that seems to be emphasized in Hayek (and Adam Smith). Schelling is a methodological individualists, and one who models choice as if it was being done by humans.

Anyway, it is indeed a good day for economists and political economists.

Também recomendo os posts de Tyler Cowen sobre Schelling (com quem trabalhou em Harvard) e Aumann.