2026 is the 50th anniversary of Milton Friedman receiving the Nobel Prize in economics. His replies to Phil Donahue, in the YouTube clip above, provide evidence of his effectiveness. What made Friedman so effective? Part of the answer is that he was clear, confident, glowingly cheerful, and friendly. He comes across as criticizing ideas, not the person expressing the ideas. Gary Becker also emphasizes Friedman’s intelligence and intellectual integrity.
(I am grateful to David Hyman for sending me the clip of Donahue interviewing Friedman.)