Gene Epstein (born 1944) is an American economist. He worked as the economics editor of Barron's Magazine from 1993 to 2018.[1] He calls himself a follower of the Austrian school of economics[2] and is an associated scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.[3]

Epstein in 2016

Career edit

Epstein earned a BA from Brandeis University and an MA in economics from the New School. He taught economics at St. John's University and the City University of New York. He wrote a book called Making Money in Commodities in 1976[4] and later worked as a senior economist for the New York Stock Exchange.[5]

In 1993 he became economics editor and columnist of "Economic Beat" for Barron's Magazine. His book, Econospinning, was published in 2006.[6] The book was met with some controversy in the blogosphere after Tyler Cowen mentioned it in his blog Marginal Revolution.[7]

 
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He now runs a monthly debate series called The Soho Forum,[1] which "features topics of special interest to libertarians and aims to enhance social and professional ties within the NYC libertarian community."[5][8] In its most widely viewed debate, Gene himself debated Richard D. Wolff on the issues of socialism and capitalism.[9] As of March 2024, the recording of the debate has been viewed over 6 million times.[10]

Personal life edit

Gene Epstein currently resides in downtown Manhattan with his wife and prominent artist, Hisako Kobayashi.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Gene Epstein". Reason.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Epstein: I noticed a book called Man, Economy, and State by Murray Rothbard in the library of the New School. I browsed through it briefly, then bought it. I read it and began to get excited about economic science, realizing that I was an Austrian. The Austrian Economics Newsletter (Summer 2000). "Austrian Watchdog at Barron's: An Interview with Gene Epstein", Volume 20, Number 2
  3. ^ "Senior Fellows, Faculty Members, and Staff." Mises.org
  4. ^ Epstein, Eugene (1976). Making Money in Commodities. ISBN 978-0275226206.
  5. ^ a b "About – The Soho Forum". thesohoforum.org
  6. ^ Leading Authorities. "Gene Epstein – Keynote Speakers". LAI. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Econospinning". Marginal Revolution. August 9, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Fridson, Martin. "Libertarian Stalwart Calls Bitcoin A Speculation". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "Is socialism preferable to capitalism?" Reason Magazine, 2019
  10. ^ "Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate" youtube.com
  11. ^ "Hisako Kobayashi's schedule for FreedomFest 2017". freedomfest2017.sched.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hisako Kobayashi profile — Hisako Kobayashi". Hisako Kobayashi. Retrieved September 22, 2022.

External links edit