---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Austrian theory of subjective value…"
description: "\"The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or induce someone to commit an action for you: y..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png"
---

#  The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that…

![“The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or induce someone to commit an action for you: you can promise sexual favors, promise to pay money, hire someone, and so on. Also, there is no reason to think that both the boss and his underling…” quote by Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png)

> “The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or induce someone to commit an action for you: you can promise sexual favors, promise to pay money, hire someone, and so on. Also, there is no reason to think that both the boss and his underling cannot both be 100% responsible: in the law this is called joint and several liability.”

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People can be motivated by many incentives, and legal systems can hold multiple parties fully responsible for an outcome.

**In simple terms:** Multiple incentives and shared legal responsibility exist.

Key Takeaway

Consider diverse motivations and joint liability.

Themes

economics law motivation responsibility

Mood

analytical critical

Type

legal economic

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- contract drafting
- policy making
- legal disputes

Key Concepts

subjective value theory joint and several liability

Questions to Reflect On

- What incentives align best with ethical goals?
- How does joint liability affect power dynamics?

A Different Perspective

Complex incentives may clash, creating ethical dilemmas.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/)

## Related quotes

> [Bernoulli's real contribution was to coin a word. The word has been translated into English as "utility". It describes this subjective value people place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-poundstone/bernoulli-s-real-contribution-was-to-coin-a-word-the-word-has-been/)

[William Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-poundstone/)

> [When I was young, I was teased mercilessly by my classmates for being a redhead. I wasn't particularly well coordinated either, which made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-olstead/when-i-was-young-i-was-teased-mercilessly-by-my-classmates-for-being/)

[Renee Olstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-olstead/)

> [A man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-man-of-true-honor-protects-the-unwritten-word-which-binds-his/)

[Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/)

> [Theoretically, I grant you, there is no possibility of error in necessary reasoning. But to speak thus "theoretically," is to uselanguage in a Pickwickian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/theoretically-i-grant-you-there-is-no-possibility-of-error-in/)

[Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/)

> [“For every liability you have, you are somebody else’s asset. If a home loan is a liability for you, it is an asset for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-arora/for-every-liability-you-have-you-are-somebody-else-s-asset-if-a-home/)

[Manoj Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-arora/)

> [I do not think there should be a limit on the rig's liability, because they are sitting on top of unlimited amounts of oil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chafee/i-do-not-think-there-should-be-a-limit-on-the-rig-s-liability-because/)

John Chafee

> [Experts said public companies worry about the loss of customer confidence and the legal liability to shareholders or security vendors when they report flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/experts-said-public-companies-worry-about-the-loss-of-customer/)

[Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/)

> [Yet a personal God can become a grave liability. He can be a mere idol carved in our own image, a projection of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/yet-a-personal-god-can-become-a-grave-liability-he-can-be-a-mere-idol/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [The world keeps moving, the world keeps turning, and people get older, and young people become older and more important and cooler and interesting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/the-world-keeps-moving-the-world-keeps-turning-and-people-get-older/)

[Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/)

> [Liability is being assessed against companies who inadvertently have shipped a virus to another company. Rather than risk the incredibly bad PR, these companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/liability-is-being-assessed-against-companies-who-inadvertently-have/)

[John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/)

> [A static hero is a public liability. Progress grows out of motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-byrd/a-static-hero-is-a-public-liability-progress-grows-out-of-motion/)

[Richard E. Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-byrd/)

> [Civilization is in no immediate danger of running out of energy or even just out of oil. But we are running out of environment-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-v-vaitheeswaran/civilization-is-in-no-immediate-danger-of-running-out-of-energy-or/)

Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran

> [If you're a poor worker - this is for new workers coming into the workplace - your benefits will increase at the current rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-re-a-poor-worker-this-is-for-new-workers-coming-into-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Cops must be unleashed, and allowed to administer instant punishment, subject of course to liability when they are in error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/cops-must-be-unleashed-and-allowed-to-administer-instant-punishment/)

[Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/)

> [Corporations are created by the people, acting through their governments. We grant them corporate charters that confer certain legal rights and privileges, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcgovern/corporations-are-created-by-the-people-acting-through-their/)

[Jim McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcgovern/)

## More by Stephan Kinsella

> [Because the state necessarily commits aggression, the consistent libertarian, in opposing aggression, is also an anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/because-the-state-necessarily-commits-aggression-the-consistent/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [I was always interested in science, truth, goodness and fairness. I have always been strongly individualistic and merit-oriented. This is probably because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/i-was-always-interested-in-science-truth-goodness-and-fairness-i-have/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [The libertarian view is that human actors are self-owners and these self-owners are capable of appropriating unowned scarce resources by Lockean homesteading − some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-libertarian-view-is-that-human-actors-are-self-owners-and-these/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [The roots of copyright lie in censorship. It was easy for state and church to control thought by controlling the scribes, but then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-roots-of-copyright-lie-in-censorship-it-was-easy-for-state-and/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [The basis of self-ownership is the fact that each person has direct control over the scarce resource of his body and therefore has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-basis-of-self-ownership-is-the-fact-that-each-person-has-direct/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [To be an anarchist only means that you believe that aggression is not justified, and that states necessarily employ aggression. And, therefore, that states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/to-be-an-anarchist-only-means-that-you-believe-that-aggression-is-not/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [Artists are just entrepreneurs. It's up to them to figure out how or if they can make a monetary profit from their passion −…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/artists-are-just-entrepreneurs-it-s-up-to-them-to-figure-out-how-or/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [We’re against the state, not government. The state just happens to monopolize the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/we-re-against-the-state-not-government-the-state-just-happens-to/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [The libertarian approach is a very symmetrical one: the non-aggression principle does not rule out force, but only the initiation of force. In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-libertarian-approach-is-a-very-symmetrical-one-the-non-aggression/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [There are any number of models artists can use to profit off of their talent and artistry. It is not up to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/there-are-any-number-of-models-artists-can-use-to-profit-off-of-their/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [We must recognize that only scarce resources are ownable; second, that the body is a type of scarce resource; third, that the mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/we-must-recognize-that-only-scarce-resources-are-ownable-second-that/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [In a market economy with the division and specialization of labor, people use others as means to achieve their ends. This is the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/in-a-market-economy-with-the-division-and-specialization-of-labor/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

> [My basic approach is to recognize that mainstream legal theories of contract have been muddied by unlibertarian and positivistic conceptions of law and rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/my-basic-approach-is-to-recognize-that-mainstream-legal-theories-of/)

[Stephan Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

[Explore all 14 Stephan Kinsella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or induce someone to commit an action for you: you can promise sexual favors, promise to pay money, hire someone, and so on. Also, there is no reason to think that both the boss and his underling cannot both be 100% responsible: in the law this is called joint and several liability.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephan Kinsella"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value-teaches-us-that-there-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value-teaches-us-that-there-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/stephan-kinsella-33542_action_the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value_2147091.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Austrian theory of subjective value teaches us that there are many ways to incentivize or motivate or…” — Stephan Kinsella",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephan Kinsella",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-kinsella/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Austrian theory of subjective value...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value-teaches-us-that-there-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-kinsella/the-austrian-theory-of-subjective-value-teaches-us-that-there-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
