Libertarianism holds that individual liberty is the highest political value and that government should be limited to a minimal role, such as protecting people and property.
Key thinkers:Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, Frédéric BastiatTake the test and your match with Libertarianism shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
Libertarians favor low taxes, minimal regulation, open markets and strong civil liberties, including on drugs, speech, privacy and personal lifestyle. They are generally skeptical of both state economic intervention and state moral regulation.
Most libertarians accept a small state (minarchism); a minority want none at all (anarcho-capitalism).
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
Modern libertarianism developed in the 20th century, drawing on classical liberalism and on thinkers such as Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and Robert Nozick.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
American economist · 1912–2006
An American economist of the Chicago school who defended free markets, floating exchange rates and school vouchers, and argued that economic freedom supports political freedom.
“Competitive capitalism separates economic from political power, guarding liberty.”
Austrian-British economist · 1899–1992
An Austrian-born economist who argued that markets carry knowledge no planner can gather, and that central planning leads toward coercion.
“Federalism and local competition restrain the growth of central government power.”
French economist & legislator · 1801–1850
A French economist and member of the National Assembly who wrote satirical essays against tariffs and subsidies, arguing that the law should protect persons and property and do little else.
“Free trade brings prosperity and fraternity; tariffs are legal plunder.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Freedom
95% toward Freedom
Leans very strongly toward Laissez-faire
95% toward Laissez-faire
Leans very strongly toward Privatize
92% toward Privatize
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
