Compassionate Libertarians represent the humanitarian wing of the libertarian movement—individuals who believe that free markets and individual liberty are not just economically efficient but morally necessary for human flourishing, especially for the world's most vulnerable people. They see capitalism not as a system that benefits the privileged but as the greatest anti-poverty program in human history.
Where some libertarians emphasize abstract rights or economic efficiency, Compassionate Libertarians lead with outcomes: the billions lifted from poverty by global trade, the innovations that have extended human lifespans, the voluntary associations that solve problems governments cannot. They argue that caring about the poor requires supporting the market institutions that have done more to help them than any government program.
This strain is particularly passionate about immigration. Compassionate Libertarians view borders as arbitrary lines that trap billions in poverty by preventing them from selling their labor in richer markets. They cite research suggesting that open borders could double world GDP, with most gains going to the poorest workers. For them, immigration restriction is one of the greatest human rights violations of our era—a form of global apartheid that condemns people to poverty based on where they were born.
Compassionate Libertarians often find common ground with progressives on social issues while maintaining firm support for markets. They support LGBTQ+ rights, drug decriminalization, and criminal justice reform—not despite their libertarianism but because of it. They oppose occupational licensing as a barrier that keeps poor people from earning a living, and they critique the war on drugs for its devastating impact on minority communities.
At roughly 2.5% of the population, Compassionate Libertarians are influential beyond their numbers, particularly in academic and policy circles. They're associated with institutions like the Cato Institute, the Niskanen Center, and George Mason University's economics department. Their challenge is maintaining libertarian credibility while reaching out to progressives who share their humanitarian concerns but distrust markets.