A Free Market Fighter

David Boaz R.I.P.

A free market fighter

David Boaz who died on Monday at 80 was a leading libertarian intellectual and head of the libertarian Cato Institute for three decades.

The son of Jewish immigrants, Boaz fought in the Haganah during Israel’s war of independence. He then went on to study at the London School of Economics and the University of Chicago, where he became a protege of the free-market economist Milton Friedman.

In 1977, Boaz helped to found the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that has become one of the most influential in the world. He served as Cato’s executive vice president from 1981 to 2012, and as its president from 2012 until his death.

Under Boaz’s leadership, Cato became a leading advocate for free markets, limited government, and individual liberty. Boaz himself was a prolific writer and speaker, and his work helped to shape the libertarian movement.

Boaz was a controversial figure, but he was also a deeply principled and passionate advocate for freedom. He will be missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.