The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) was the first modern think tank established in the United States specifically to promote, research and promulgate free-market and libertarian ideas. It continues to do so through its monthly magazine, The Freeman, as well as through pamphlets, lectures, and academic sponsorship. It also publishes reprints of classic libertarian texts, and arranges seminars for American public figures.

History

FEE was founded in 1946 by Leonard Read, general manager of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, for whom "the free-enterprise philosophy had already become almost a religion".[1] The William Volker Fund was instrumental in subsidizing FEE's establishment. FEE's initial officers included Read as president, Henry Hazlitt as vice-president, and B. F. Goodrich chairman David Goodrich as chairman.

Many libertarians have credited Read's effort as one of the bases for the international post-War libertarian movement. For instance, Friedrich Hayek was apparently inspired by partly by FEE when he formed the Mont Pelerin Society in 1947.

In May 2003 Richard Ebeling became the president of FEE. [2]. FEE's previous president, Mark Skousen, served from 2001 to 2002.

References

• Henry Hazlitt, The Early History of FEE, The Freeman, Foundation for Economic Education, March, 1984, Vol. 34, No. 3.
• List of previous trustees of the Foundation for Economic education