Justin Wolfers Recognizes His "Libertarian Friends Were Right" About Government Power
By Ilya Somin · Oct 1, 2026, 4:35 PM CDT
NA In a recent post , prominent left-liberal economist Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan) concedes that his "libertarian friends" were right about the dangers of government power: My libertarian-leaning friends have consistently argued against a powerful federal government in favor of individual freedoms. I had — somewhat naively — never taken their views seriously enough. My friends who work
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Layer 1 · Claims & fact checks
AI analysisLayer 3 · Reporting analysis
AI analysisAppeal to AuthorityThe author invokes Wolfers’ academic credentials to lend weight to the argument, but provides no direct quotation from Wolfers’ own writing.
Fear AppealThe piece suggests imminent danger from federal power, using vague language to evoke concern without specific examples.
Partisan FramingThe article frames both extreme right and left movements as enemies of liberty, aligning with the publication’s libertarian stance.
Historical ReferenceCiting Madison is used to give historical legitimacy to the claim that government power can become abusive.
Policy PrescriptionThe author moves from critique to specific policy recommendations without providing evidence that these measures would achieve the stated goals.
Context
AI analysisMissing context
The article does not include the full text or a direct link to Wolfers’ original post, nor does it provide any counter‑arguments or perspectives from other scholars about the role of federal power, immigration policy, or land‑use regulation. It also omits any discussion of the broader scholarly debate on libertarian versus liberal views of government authority.
Important context
Reason Magazine is a libertarian‑leaning publication, and the piece is written as an opinion editorial. It positions Wolfers’ alleged shift as validation of libertarian critiques of federal power and uses contemporary political events (Trump’s presidency and a projected 2024 return) to bolster its argument for rolling back federal authority.
Opinion vs. reporting
AI analysisThe text is primarily opinion and commentary; it interprets Wolfers’ statements, offers normative arguments about government size, and does not present independent reporting or verification of the claims made.