He was an ardent defender of free-market capitalism. Hayek is considered by most experts as one of the greatest critics of the socialist consensus.

What did Hayek say about capitalism?

Hayek thought it unwise to defend capitalism by emphasizing the just rewards of hard work, because there simply is no necessary connection between virtue of any kind, on the one hand, and market success on the other.

Is Friedrich Hayek a socialist?

Throughout his life Hayek criticized socialism, often contrasting it with a system of free markets. Although his earlier critiques were based on economic grounds, he later drew upon political, ethical, and other arguments in making his case. His economic arguments themselves had many dimensions.