Gordon Tullock died the other day.  He was about 92.  For those who didn’t know, Tullock was a founder of the Public Choice School of economic thought, famous for its use of microeconomic principles applied to problems of government, in particular government failure.

Tullock was known as the “inventor” of the concept of rent-seeking, known more popularly as cronyism.  He was a prolific writer–I once read his curriculum vitae which ran to 50 pages!  And his writings were just so interesting and useful, though–horror of horrors!–he did not have a Ph. D. in economics, but only a J. D. (Law).  That should tell us something.    He was also known as something of a curmudgeon, even a bit irritable.  But all in all most seem to have taken his occasional (frequent?) “attacks” in good humor.  I met the man once, and he would not have remembered me.  But I read dozens of his books and articles and benefited greatly.

God gives common grace in differing measure, and to Tullock He gave much intellectual grace, so to speak.  I could have wished he were a believer, and don’t know anything about that aspect of his life.  But there is no doubt he was a great thinker and economist.  He was one of the last of the great “giants” of Public Choice.  He and his like will be missed.