Books Nation, State, and Economy: Contributions to the Politics and History of Our Time (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig von Mises) by Ludwig von Mises (Author)

"Nation, State, and Economy: Contributions to the Politics and History of Our Time" by Ludwig von Mises is a seminal work written in the aftermath of World War I. It is Mises’s second book and marks his entry into political themes, focusing on the relationship between nations, states, and economic order in the tumultuous postwar period.

Mises critiques the Treaty of Versailles for its punitive approach to Germany, arguing that it sowed seeds for future conflicts rather than lasting peace. He presents a radical vision combining laissez-faire economics with political self-determination, advocating for smaller, decentralized political units where every people group can choose its governance. Free trade is central to his vision, making smaller states viable economically.