Saifedean Ammous explains that Austrian economics prioritizes individual choice and voluntary exchange as the most effective means of allocating resources. The emphasis is not on achieving “efficiency” in a mechanical sense but on safeguarding individual freedom, allowing people to act according to their own preferences and needs. Ammous highlights “the socialist calculation problem”, a concept developed by Ludwig von Mises. This problem arises in socialist systems where the absence of price signals—such as those found in free markets—makes it impossible to allocate resources effectively. Without tools like a stock market to determine the value of capital goods, central planners cannot accurately assess demand, supply, or the best use of resources. Using the NHS as an example, Ammous critiques government-controlled systems for suppressing market mechanisms, which he argues leads to inefficiencies, waste, and unintended consequences. He points to NHS dietary guidelines, which he believes have been shaped by corporate interests and contribute to widespread health issues. The lack of market accountability, he contends, allows such inefficiencies and poor outcomes to persist unchecked. While Ammous acknowledges the importance of helping the less fortunate, he stresses that such aid should be voluntary. He is critical of state-enforced wealth redistribution through taxation, which he equates to “theft” since it involves coercion under threat of force. Ammous also rejects the concept of “efficiency” as a central goal in economics. He argues that framing society as something to be optimized—like a machine or a farm—ignores the individuality and unpredictability of human action. Instead, Austrian economics champions a system that maximizes personal freedom and respects the diverse goals and choices of individuals.