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The functions of the family in the great society

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  • Steven Horwitz

Abstract

Criticisms by Hodgson and others that Hayek and other Austrians cannot offer a theory of the family are responded to with a discussion of the functions of the family in a market society. The family can be understood as a bridge between what Hayek terms 'organisations', or face-to-face social institutions and 'orders', or the anonymous social institutions of the Great Society. The family's necessary role is then linked to familiar Hayekian themes of knowledge and incentives. Families help us to learn the explicit and tacit social rules necessary for functioning in the wider world, and families are uniquely positioned to do so, because it is those closest to us who have the knowledge and incentives necessary to provide that learning. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Horwitz, 2005. "The functions of the family in the great society," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 29(5), pages 669-684, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:29:y:2005:i:5:p:669-684
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/bei041
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    Cited by:

    1. John Meadowcroft & Mark Pennington, 2008. "Bonding and bridging: Social capital and the communitarian critique of liberal markets," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 21(2), pages 119-133, September.
    2. João Rodrigues, 2013. "Between Rules and Incentives: Uncovering Hayek's Moral Economy," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(3), pages 565-592, July.
    3. Robert Garnett, 2009. "Hayek and liberal pedagogy," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 315-331, December.
    4. Steven Horwitz & Peter Lewin, 2008. "Heterogeneous human capital, uncertainty, and the structure of plans: A market process approach to marriage and divorce," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 21(1), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Steven G. Horwitz, 2014. "Spontaneous order, free trade and globalization," Chapters, in: Roger W. Garrison & Norman Barry (ed.), Elgar Companion to Hayekian Economics, chapter 13, pages 294-313, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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