When I met Milton Friedman alongside Rose late in the 1990's (I believe it was at Cato's 10th anniversary dinner), I told him he was my hero. (I had actually, in anticipation of seeing him there, stopped biting my nails for an entire month). He threw back his head and laughed and said "You need to get a younger hero." Along with John Locke, his "Free to Choose" series brought me to free markets long ago. And so many others.

Generally, it is hard to see anything heroic in classical economics. It is all models. But Milton Friedman struck me as always remembering that perspective, using the models not as an end in themselves but as ingenious can openers to pry open a variety of human problems, and able to set them aside as reality and humanity demands. And with good humor.

Goodbye.

posted by Solveig Singleton @ 8:52 AM | Markets: Business, Investment & Innovation

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