Sowell, the Anointed, and the Controversy over the Limits of Social Engineering

This article provides an in-depth analysis of Thomas Sowell's economic thought, focusing on his critique of the intellectual and bureaucratic elites, dubbed "the anointed." The text explores the tension between top-down social engineering and spontaneous order, using the example of the minimum wage as a tool influencing the labor market and social mobility. The author contrasts the Scandinavian model with statutory solutions, analyzing monopsony power and the institutional determinants of development. This is a compelling summary of debates about the limits of state intervention in autonomous social and economic processes, shedding new light on contemporary structural challenges and the definition of poverty.