Remembering Peter Bauer.

• Author: Dorn, James A.
• Position: INTRODUCTION - Biography

I regard the extension of the range of choice, that is, an increase in the range of effective alternatives open to people, as the principal objective and criterion of economic development.

--Peter Bauer (1957: 113)

The Princeton Conference

On May 6-8, 2004, the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University hosted a prestigious conference in tribute to the late Peter (Lord) Bauer. Many of Peter's longtime friends attended the conference, including three Nobel laureates, and Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell prepared a special video in which they reflected upon Peter's contributions to development economics. The inspiration for this important meeting came from Nancy Upham, a person who was a great help to Peter and to whom he dedicated his final book, From Subsistence to Exchange and Other Essays (Princeton University Press, 2000). In organizing the event, Nancy worked closely with Robert P. George, director of the James Madison Program and McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence in the Department of Politics at Princeton. The conference was made possible through the generous support of the Earhart Foundation and cosponsored by the Ogden Fund at Princeton University.

The Cato Institute is honored to be able to publish several of the conference papers and speeches in this special issue of the Cato Journal. I thank Nancy Upham and Robby George for their assistance, as well as Judi Rivkin and Madison Kitchens. Peter Bauer no doubt would have been pleased to see that his ideas are alive and well.

The Princeton conference was intended to both remember Peter Bauer and reflect upon his work. It was a small, intimate meeting that allowed participants to discuss the many aspects of Peter's work as well as to relate his ideas to current research. Peter's closest associate and collaborator Basil Yamey opened the conference with a thoughtful discussion of the man and his work. The first formal session was devoted to a discussion of "Resources, Institutions, and Attitudes: How Does Development Happen?" James Buchanan chaired the session and speakers included Basil Yamey, Amartya Sen, and Israel Kirzner. Session two dealt with "Colonialism, Imperialism, and Development," and was chaired by John O'Sullivan. Niall Ferguson and George Ayittey made presentations, and Martin Hutchinson commented. John O'Sullivan presented a luncheon talk on "Peter Bauer and the English Class System." The final panel of the day, chaired by Amartya Sen, returned to the theme of "Institutions and Development." Speakers included James Buchanan, Douglass North, and John McGinnis, with comments by Mary O'Grady. In a very insightful dinner address, Anthony Daniels, who had worked as a medical doctor in Africa, discussed the "anti-Bauerist" policies practiced in that country.

The next morning, the conference began with a session on "Trading Places: Migration, Nations, and Development." Allan H. Meltzer chaired the panel and speakers included Anthony Daniels, Nicholas Eberstadt, and me, with comments by Andrew Alexander. In the next session, chaired by Herbert London, Allan Meltzer, Enrique Ghersi, and Razeen Sally discussed "Democracy, Equality, and Development," with comments by William Niskanen. Robert George presented summary remarks, followed by Peter Brimelow's luncheon address. To conclude the conference, participants were treated to the Friedman-Sowell video, "Peter Bauer and His Ideas." (1)

This special issue of the Cato Journal--Remembering Peter Bauer--contains eight articles by some of Peter's closest friends who give us...