Variants of Hirschman's thesis run through Mises's argument that, if not for the greater productivity of the division of labour, there would be no sentiments of sympathy or good will, but only 'endless bloody fighting'. It is central to Hayek's description of the market as a 'catallaxy' – a term derived from the Greek verb katallatein, which meant both to exchange and 'to turn from an enemy into a friend'. It informs Röpke's argument that allowing individuals to pursue their interests through the market leads to harmonious social coordination, while the pursuit of interests through the political process brings 'millions of conflicting interests' into play. And it appears even in the positivist Friedman's argument that the use of 'political channels' strains the 'social cohesion essential for a stable society', while the use of the market reduces tensions by making it unnecessary for individuals to agree on ultimate ends.

Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market, loc. 35