弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)生(sheng)于紐約市(shi)一(yi)個工(gong)人(ren)階級(ji)的(de)猶太人(ren)家(jia)庭(ting)，父親(qin)是耶諾·紹爾·弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)（Jeno Saul Friedman），母親(qin)是薩(sa)拉·埃特爾·蘭道（Sarah Ethel Landau，1892年(nian)-？），兩(liang)人(ren)從奧匈帝國(guo)（今烏克蘭一(yi)帶）移居美國(guo)，在當地邂逅(hou)，曾在血汗工(gong)廠(chang)工(gong)作。弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)是家(jia)中(zhong)第一(yi)個孩(hai)子，也是唯一(yi)的(de)男孩(hai)。他的(de)三個妹妹包(bao)括：蒂(di)莉·F·弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)（Tillie F. Friedman，1919年(nian)-？）、海倫·弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)（Helen Friedman，1920年(nian)-？）和露絲(si)·弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)（Ruth Friedman，1921年(nian)-？）。高中(zhong)時，弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里(li)德(de)曼(man)父親(qin)逝世(shi)后(hou)，舉家(jia)搬到新澤(ze)西州的(de)羅威市(shi)（Rahway）。
他(ta)16歲前(qian)完成高中，憑獎學(xue)(xue)(xue)金入(ru)讀羅(luo)格斯大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)。原打算(suan)成為(wei)精(jing)算(suan)師的(de)弗里德曼(man)最(zui)初修(xiu)讀數學(xue)(xue)(xue)，但成績平平。1932年(nian)(nian)取得(de)文學(xue)(xue)(xue)士(shi)，翌年(nian)(nian)他(ta)到(dao)芝加哥大(da)學(xue)(xue)(xue)修(xiu)讀碩(shuo)士(shi)，1933年(nian)(nian)芝大(da)碩(shuo)士(shi)畢業(ye)。上第(di)一(yi)(yi)堂經濟課時，座位(wei)是以(yi)姓氏字母編排，他(ta)緊隨一(yi)(yi)名叫羅(luo)斯（Rose Director）的(de)女生之后。兩人(ren)6年(nian)(nian)后結婚(hun)，從此終(zhong)生不渝。弗里德曼(man)曾說他(ta)的(de)作品無一(yi)(yi)不被羅(luo)斯審閱，更笑言自己成為(wei)學(xue)(xue)(xue)術(shu)權威后，羅(luo)斯是唯一(yi)(yi)膽敢(gan)跟他(ta)辯(bian)論的(de)人(ren).
畢業后，他曾(ceng)為羅(luo)斯福(fu)新政(zheng)工(gong)作以(yi)求糊(hu)口，批準了許多(duo)早(zao)期的新政(zheng)措施以(yi)解決當時面臨的艱(jian)難經濟情況，尤(you)其是新政(zheng)的許多(duo)公共建設計劃。輾轉間他到哥倫(lun)比亞大學(xue)繼續修讀經濟學(xue)，研究計量、制度及實(shi)踐經濟學(xue)。返回(hui)芝加哥后，獲(huo)亨(heng)利·舒爾茨（Henry Schultz）聘(pin)任(ren)為研究助理，協助完成《需求理論及計算》論文。為美國(guo)國(guo)家經濟研究局(ju)工(gong)作時，他1940年曾(ceng)完成一(yi)書，指醫生的壟斷局(ju)面導(dao)致他們的收(shou)入(ru)遠高(gao)于牙醫，引起局(ju)方爭議(yi)，令(ling)該(gai)書要在戰(zhan)后始能出(chu)版(ban)。
弗里德曼(man)在威斯康辛大(da)學任教(jiao)了一小段時間，但由于(yu)在經濟學系里碰(peng)上(shang)了反猶主義者的阻撓(nao)而只(zhi)得返(fan)回(hui)政(zheng)府部門工作。
1941年(nian)至1943年(nian)，他(ta)出(chu)任美國財政(zheng)(zheng)部顧問，研(yan)究戰(zhan)時稅(shui)務政(zheng)(zheng)策(ce)，曾支持凱恩斯主義的(de)稅(shui)賦政(zheng)(zheng)策(ce)，并且協助推(tui)廣預扣所得稅(shui)制度。1943年(nian)至1945年(nian)在(zai)哥倫比亞大(da)學(xue)(xue)參與Harold Hotelling及W. Allen Wallis的(de)研(yan)究小組(zu)，為武器設計、戰(zhan)略(lve)及冶(ye)金實驗分(fen)析數據。1945年(nian)，他(ta)與后來(lai)的(de)諾貝爾經(jing)濟學(xue)(xue)獎得主喬治·斯蒂格勒到明尼(ni)蘇(su)達大(da)學(xue)(xue)任職(zhi)，1946年(nian)他(ta)獲哥倫比亞大(da)學(xue)(xue)博士(shi)學(xue)(xue)位(wei)，隨后回到芝加哥大(da)學(xue)(xue)教(jiao)授經(jing)濟理論，期(qi)間再為國家經(jing)濟研(yan)究局研(yan)究貨幣在(zai)商業周期(qi)的(de)角色(se)。這是他(ta)學(xue)(xue)術上的(de)重大(da)分(fen)水嶺。
在他(ta)的(de)自(zi)傳中，弗里(li)德曼曾描述1941至43年為(wei)羅斯(si)福新政(zheng)工作時(shi)(shi)，“當時(shi)(shi)我是一個(ge)徹底的(de)凱恩(en)斯(si)主義者”。隨著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)時(shi)(shi)間過去，弗里(li)德曼對于(yu)經(jing)濟(ji)政(zheng)策的(de)看法也逐漸轉變，他(ta)在芝大成立貨幣(bi)及(ji)(ji)銀行研究(jiu)小組，借(jie)著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)經(jing)濟(ji)史論家安(an)娜·施瓦茨的(de)協助，發表影響深遠的(de)《美國貨幣(bi)史》著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)作。他(ta)在書中挑戰凱恩(en)斯(si)學派的(de)觀點，抨擊(ji)他(ta)們忽略貨幣(bi)供(gong)應、金融(rong)政(zheng)策對經(jing)濟(ji)周(zhou)期及(ji)(ji)通脹的(de)重要性。
他接著在(zai)(zai)芝加(jia)哥大學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)擔任經濟(ji)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)教授，直至(zhi)1976年(nian)退休。這30年(nian)里他將芝大經濟(ji)系形(xing)塑成(cheng)緊密而完整的經濟(ji)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)，力倡自由經濟(ji)，被稱為芝加(jia)哥經濟(ji)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)。在(zai)(zai)弗里德(de)曼的領導下，多(duo)名芝加(jia)哥學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)的成(cheng)員獲得諾(nuo)貝爾經濟(ji)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)獎(jiang)。他在(zai)(zai)1953年(nian)至(zhi)1954年(nian)間(jian)以訪(fang)問學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)者的身分前往英國(guo)劍橋大學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)岡(gang)維爾與凱斯(si)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)院任教。從1977年(nian)開始弗里德(de)曼也加(jia)入(ru)了斯(si)坦福大學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)的胡佛(fo)研究所。弗里德(de)曼在(zai)(zai)1988年(nian)取得了美國(guo)的國(guo)家科學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)獎(jiang)章。
他在(zai)1980主持了(le)名為“選擇的(de)自(zi)由”的(de)節(jie)(jie)目，并(bing)出(chu)版了(le)同(tong)名的(de)著作，使得(de)他廣泛的(de)被大眾認(ren)識。在(zai)節(jie)(jie)目中他以一支鉛筆說明自(zi)由市場的(de)原理的(de)片段，成為了(le)他廣受歡迎的(de)一段言論，至(zhi)今在(zai)網(wang)絡上依(yi)然可以見(jian)到其蹤影。
他(ta)通常反對政(zheng)府干預的(de)計(ji)劃，尤其(qi)是(shi)(shi)對于市場價格的(de)管(guan)制(zhi)，他(ta)認(ren)為(wei)價格在(zai)市場機(ji)制(zhi)里扮演調(diao)度(du)資源所(suo)(suo)不(bu)可或缺的(de)信(xin)號功能。在(zai)《美國(guo)貨(huo)(huo)幣歷史》一書(shu)中，他(ta)提(ti)出大蕭條其(qi)實是(shi)(shi)政(zheng)府對于貨(huo)(huo)幣供應(ying)管(guan)制(zhi)不(bu)當所(suo)(suo)致。后來(lai)他(ta)在(zai)2006年(nian)說道(dao)：“你(ni)知道(dao)嗎？很奇(qi)怪的(de)是(shi)(shi)為(wei)何人們仍以為(wei)是(shi)(shi)羅(luo)斯福的(de)政(zheng)策讓我們脫離了經(jing)濟大蕭條。當時的(de)問(wen)題是(shi)(shi)，你(ni)有一堆(dui)失業(ye)(ye)的(de)機(ji)器(qi)和失業(ye)(ye)的(de)人民，你(ni)怎么(me)能靠(kao)著成(cheng)立產業(ye)(ye)壟斷集團和提(ti)升價格及工資來(lai)解決(jue)他(ta)們的(de)問(wen)題？”
1992年(nian)獲諾貝爾經濟獎(jiang)的加(jia)里(li)·貝克(ke)形(xing)容(rong)，弗里(li)德曼可能是全(quan)球最為人(ren)認識的經濟學家(jia)，“他能以最簡單的語言表達(da)最艱深(shen)的經濟理論”。他亦是極出(chu)色的演說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)家(jia)，能隨時即(ji)席演說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)，極富說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)服(fu)力。香(xiang)港科技大學經濟發(fa)展研究中心主任雷鼎鳴形(xing)容(rong)弗里(li)德曼思考快如閃電，據說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)辯論從(cong)未輸過(guo)。“無人(ren)敢(gan)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)辯贏(ying)了(le)他，因與他辯論過(guo)已是無限(xian)光(guang)榮，沒多少人(ren)能與他說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)上(shang)兩分鐘。”
弗里(li)(li)德曼是學(xue)術世家。他(ta)妻(qi)子(zi)(zi)羅絲是經濟學(xue)家，其(qi)妻(qi)兄長亞倫·戴雷科特(te)是芝(zhi)加哥大(da)學(xue)聲(sheng)望顯赫的(de)(de)法律學(xue)教授。弗里(li)(li)德曼育有(you)兩名子(zi)(zi)女，包括(kuo)女兒珍尼(ni)·弗里(li)(li)德曼及大(da)衛·弗里(li)(li)德曼，大(da)衛本身是無政府資本主義學(xue)說的(de)(de)重要(yao)學(xue)者(zhe)。大(da)衛的(de)(de)兒子(zi)(zi)Patri畢業(ye)于斯坦福大(da)學(xue)，2006年時在Google任職。
他于2006年11月(yue)16日(ri)在(zai)舊金山家(jia)中因(yin)心臟病發引(yin)致衰竭逝世。
"Professor Pigou's Method for Measuring Elasticities of Demand From Budgetary Data" The Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 50, No. 1 (Nov., 1935), pp. 151-163 JSTOR
"Marginal Utility of Money and Elasticities of Demand," The Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 50, No. 3 (May, 1936), pp. 532-533 JSTOR
"The Use of Ranks to Avoid the Assumption of Normality Implicit in the Analysis of Variance," Journal of the American Statistical Association Vol. 32, No. 200 (Dec., 1937), pp. 675-701 JSTOR
"The Inflationary Gap: II. Discussion of the Inflationary Gap," American Economic Review Vol. 32, No. 2, Part 1 (Jun., 1942), pp. 314-320 JSTOR
"The Spendings Tax as a Wartime Fiscal Measure," American Economic Review Vol. 33, No. 1, Part 1 (Mar., 1943), pp. 50-62 JSTOR
Taxing to Prevent Inflation: Techniques for Estimating Revenue Requirements (Columbia U.P. 1943, 236pp) with Carl Shoup and Ruth P. Mack
Income from Independent Professional Practice with Simon Kuznets (1945), 弗里(li)德(de)曼的博士論(lun)文
"Lange on Price Flexibility and Employment: A Methodological Criticism," American Economic Review Vol. 36, No. 4 (Sep., 1946), pp. 613-631 JSTOR
"Utility Analysis of Choices Involving Risk" with Leonard Savage, 1948, Journal of Political Economy Vol. 56, No. 4 (Aug., 1948), pp. 279-304 JSTOR
"A Monetary and Fiscal Framework for Economic Stability", 1948, American Economic Review, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jun., 1948), pp. 245-264 JSTOR
"A Fiscal and Monetary Framework for Economic Stability," Econometrica Vol. 17, Supplement: Report of the Washington Meeting (Jul., 1949), pp. 330-332 JSTOR
"The Marshallian Demand Curve," The Journal of Political Economy Vol. 57, No. 6 (Dec., 1949), pp. 463-495 JSTOR
"Wesley C. Mitchell as an Economic Theorist," The Journal of Political Economy Vol. 58, No. 6 (Dec., 1950), pp. 465-493 JSTOR
"Some Comments on the Significance of Labor Unions for Economic Policy", 1951, in D. McC. Wright, editor, The Impact of the Union.
"Commodity-Reserve Currency," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 59, No. 3 (Jun., 1951), pp. 203-232 JSTOR
"Price, Income, and Monetary Changes in Three Wartime Periods," American Economic Review Vol. 42, No. 2, Papers and Proceedings of the Sixty-fourth Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association (May, 1952), pp. 612-625 JSTOR
"The Expected-Utility Hypothesis and the Measurability of Utility", with Leonard Savage, 1952, Journal of Political Economy Vol. 60, No. 6 (Dec., 1952), pp. 463-474 JSTOR
The Methodology of Positive Economics (1953)
Essays in Positive Economics (1953)
"Choice, Chance, and the Personal Distribution of Income," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 61, No. 4 (Aug., 1953), pp. 277-290 JSTOR
"The Quantity Theory of Money: A restatement", 1956, in Friedman, editor, Studies in Quantity Theory.
A Theory of the Consumption Function (1957)
"A Statistical Illusion in Judging Keynesian Models" with Gary S. Becker, Journal of Political Economy Vol. 65, No. 1 (Feb., 1957), pp. 64-75 JSTOR
"The Supply of Money and Changes in Prices and Output", 1958, in Relationship of Prices to Economic Stability and Growth.
"The Demand for Money: Some Theoretical and Empirical Results," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 67, No. 4 (Aug., 1959), pp. 327-351 JSTOR
A Program for Monetary Stability (Fordham University Press, 1960) 110 pp
"Monetary Data and National Income Estimates," Economic Development and Cultural Change Vol. 9, No. 3, (Apr., 1961), pp. 267-286 JSTOR
"The Lag in Effect of Monetary Policy," Journal of Political EconomyVol. 69, No. 5 (Oct., 1961), pp. 447-466 JSTOR
Price Theory ISBN 0-202-06074-8 (1962), college textbook
"The Interpolation of Time Series by Related Series," Journal of the American Statistical Association Vol. 57, No. 300 (Dec., 1962), pp. 729-757 JSTOR
"Should There be an Independent Monetary Authority?", in L.B. Yeager, editor, In Search of a Monetary Constitution
Inflation: Causes and consequences, 1963.
"Money and Business Cycles," The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 45, No. 1, Part 2, Supplement (Feb., 1963), pp. 32-64 JSTOR
A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960, with Anna J. Schwartz, 1963; part 3 reprinted as The Great Contraction
"Money and Business Cycles" with A. J. Schwartz, 1963, Review of Economics & Statistics.
"The Relative Stability of Monetary Velocity and the Investment Multiplier in the United States, 1898-1958", with D. Meiselman, 1963, in Stabilization Policies.
"A Reply to Donald Hester", with D. Meiselman, 1964
"Reply to Ando and Modigliani and to DePrano and Mayer," with David Meiselman. American Economic Review Vol. 55, No. 4 (Sep., 1965), pp. 753-785 JSTOR
"Interest Rates and the Demand for Money," Journal of Law and Economics Vol. 9 (Oct., 1966), pp. 71-85 JSTOR
The Balance of Payments: Free Versus Fixed Exchange Rates with Robert V. Roosa (1967)]
"The Monetary Theory and Policy of Henry Simons," Journal of Law and Economics Vol. 10 (Oct., 1967), pp. 1-13 JSTOR
"What Price Guideposts?", in G.P. Schultz, R.Z. Aliber, editors, Guidelines
"The Role of Monetary Policy." American Economic Review, Vol. 58, No. 1 (Mar., 1968), pp. 1-17 JSTOR presidential address to American Economics Association
"Money: the Quantity Theory", 1968, IESS
"The Definition of Money: Net Wealth and Neutrality as Criteria" with Anna J. Schwartz, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb., 1969), pp. 1-14 JSTOR
'Monetary vs. Fiscal Policy with Walter W. Heller (1969)
"Comment on Tobin", 1970, Quarterly Journal of Economics
"Monetary Statistics of the United States: Sources, methods. with Anna J. Schwartz, 1970.
"A Theoretical Framework for Monetary Analysis," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 78, No. 2 (Mar., 1970), pp. 193-238 JSTOR
The Counter-Revolution in Monetary Theory 1970.
"A Monetary Theory of National Income", 1971, Journal of Political Economy
"Government Revenue from Inflation," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 79, No. 4 (Jul., 1971), pp. 846-856 JSTOR
"Have Monetary Policies Failed?" American Economic Review Vol. 62, No. 1/2 (1972), pp. 11-18 JSTOR
"Comments on the Critics," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 80, No. 5 (Sep., 1972), pp. 906-950 JSTOR
"Comments on the Critics", 1974, in Gordon, ed. Milton Friedman and his Critics.
"Monetary Correction: A proposal for escalation clauses to reduce the cost of ending inflation", 1974
The Optimum Quantity of Money: And Other Essays (1976)
Milton Friedman in Australia, 1975 (1975)
Milton Friedman's Monetary Framework: A Debate with His Critics (1975)
"Comments on Tobin and Buiter", 1976, in J. Stein, editor, Monetarism.
"Inflation and Unemployment: Nobel lecture", 1977, Journal of Political Economy. Vol. 85, pp. 451-72. JSTOR
"Interrelations between the United States and the United Kingdom, 1873-1975.", with A.J. Schwartz, 1982, J Int Money and Finance
Monetary Trends in the United States and the United Kingdom: Their relations to income, prices and interest rates, 1876-1975. with Anna J. Schwartz, 1982
"Monetary Policy: Theory and Practice," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb., 1982), pp. 98-118 JSTOR
"Monetary Policy: Tactics versus strategy", 1984, in Moore, editor, To Promote Prosperity.
“Lessons from the 1979-1982 Monetary Policy Experiment, ” Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association. pp. 397-401. (1984).
"Has Government Any Role in Money?" with Anna J. Schwartz, 1986, JME
"Quantity Theory of Money", in J. Eatwell, M. Milgate, P. Newman, eds., The New Palgrave (1998)
"Money and the Stock Market," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 96, No. 2 (Apr., 1988), pp. 221-245 JSTOR
"Bimetallism Revisited," Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 4, No. 4 (Autumn, 1990), pp. 85-104 JSTOR
"The Crime of 1873," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 98, No. 6 (Dec., 1990), pp. 1159-1194 JSTOR
"Franklin D. Roosevelt, Silver, and China," Journal of Political Economy Vol. 100, No. 1 (Feb., 1992), pp. 62-83 JSTOR
Chao, Hsiang-ke. "Milton Friedman and the Emergence of the Permanent Income Hypothesis" History of Political Economy 2003 35(1): 77-104. Issn: 0018-2702 Fulltext in Project Muse
A.W. Bob Coats; "The Legacy of Milton Friedman as Teacher" Economic Record, Vol. 77, 2001
Frazer, William. Power and Ideas: Milton Friedman and the Big U-Turn. Vol. 1: The Background. Vol. 2: The U-Turn. Gainesville, Fla.: Gulf/Atlantic, 1988. 867 pp.
Hammond, J. Daniel. "Remembering Economics" Journal of the History of Economic Thought 2003 25(2): 133-143. Issn: 1042-7716; focus is on Friedman
Hirsch, Abraham, and Neil de Marchi. Milton Friedman: Economics in Theory and Practice (1990) his methodology
Jordan, Jerry L., Allan H. Meltzer, Thomas J. Sargent and Anna J. Schwartz; "Milton, Money, and Mischief: Symposium and Articles in Honor of Milton Friedman's 80th Birthday" Economic Inquiry. Volume: 31. Issue: 2. 1993. pp 197+.
Kasper, Sherryl. The Revival of Laissez-Faire in American Macroeconomic Theory: A Case Study of Its Pioneers (2002)
Leeson, Robert, ed. Ideology and International Economy: The Decline and Fall of Bretton Woods (2003)
Powell, Jim. The Triumph of Liberty (New York: Free Press, 2000). See profile of Friedman in the chapter "Inflation and Depression."
Rayack; Elton. Not So Free to Choose: The Political Economy of Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan Praeger, 1987; attacks Friedman's policies from the left
Steindl, Frank G. "Friedman and Money in the 1930s" History of Political Economy 2004 36(3): 521-531. Issn: 0018-2702 lecture notes from his 1940 course show he did not criticize the Fed at that time, and did not emphasize money.
Tavlas, George S. "Retrospectives: Was the Monetarist Tradition Invented?" Journal of Economic Perspectives 1998 12(4): 211-222. Issn: 0895-3309 Fulltext in JSTOR
Stigler, George Joseph. Memoirs of an Unregulated Economist (1988)
Wahid, Abu N. M. ed; Frontiers of Economics: Nobel Laureates of the Twentieth Century. Greenwood Press. 2002 pp 109-15.
《實證經濟學論文集》（Essays in Positive Economics）
《消費函數(shu)理論(lun)》（A Theory of the Consumption Function）
《資本主義與自由》（Capitalism and Freedom）
《自由選擇(ze)》（Free to Choose）
《價格理(li)論》（Price Theory：A Provisional Text）
《美國(guo)貨幣史》（A Monetary History of the United States，1867一1960）與施瓦茲(zi)（Anna J.Schwartz）
弗里(li)德曼(man)最(zui)知名的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)理(li)論(lun)，是(shi)(shi)他提(ti)出(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)作(zuo)為(wei)決定(ding)生(sheng)(sheng)產價(jia)值基準的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)因素，通貨(huo)膨脹在(zai)根(gen)本上(shang)源(yuan)自于貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)量(liang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)主張。貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)主義是(shi)(shi)現(xian)代經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)學(xue)在(zai)貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)數量(liang)理(li)論(lun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重要(yao)觀(guan)點(dian)之一(yi)，這種理(li)論(lun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)根(gen)源(yuan)可(ke)以(yi)追溯至(zhi)16世(shi)紀西班牙的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)薩拉曼(man)卡(ka)學(xue)派，弗里(li)德曼(man)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)貢(gong)獻則(ze)是(shi)(shi)現(xian)代化了(le)這種理(li)論(lun)，將其(qi)推(tui)廣(guang)為(wei)現(xian)代經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)學(xue)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)主流貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)學(xue)說。他在(zai)1963年與(yu)Anna Schwartz合著的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)A Monetary History of the United States一(yi)書(shu)中檢驗了(le)美國(guo)歷史上(shang)貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)和經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)活動(dong)之間的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)關(guan)聯。他們(men)得出(chu)了(le)驚人結論(lun)：貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)一(yi)向是(shi)(shi)經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)活動(dong)起伏(fu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)唯一(yi)影(ying)響來源(yuan)。又或者如(ru)同美國(guo)聯邦(bang)(bang)儲(chu)備系統的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)主席本·伯南克(ke)在(zai)2002年慶祝弗里(li)德曼(man)90歲(sui)生(sheng)(sheng)日(ri)時所描述的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)：“有(you)關(guan)大蕭條，你(ni)是(shi)(shi)正確(que)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)，我們(men)（聯邦(bang)(bang)儲(chu)備系統）當時的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)確(que)做(zuo)錯(cuo)了(le)。我們(men)真(zhen)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)很抱(bao)歉。”David Meiselman在(zai)1960年代進行的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)幾(ji)次(ci)研究顯示了(le)貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)在(zai)決定(ding)經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)投資(zi)、以(yi)及政(zheng)府開銷在(zai)決定(ding)消(xiao)費及生(sheng)(sheng)產總額上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)角色是(shi)(shi)至(zhi)高無上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。弗里(li)德曼(man)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)觀(guan)察研究和一(yi)些學(xue)說進一(yi)步(bu)推(tui)展了(le)這種結論(lun)，主張貨(huo)幣(bi)(bi)供(gong)(gong)給(gei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)改變是(shi)(shi)影(ying)響經(jing)(jing)濟(ji)(ji)生(sheng)(sheng)產的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)首(shou)要(yao)原(yuan)因，但長期的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)影(ying)響則(ze)是(shi)(shi)由(you)物價(jia)水平決定(ding)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。
弗里德曼對于(yu)消費層面的(de)(de)分析也相當(dang)知名(ming)，亦即他(ta)(ta)在(zai)1957年(nian)提出的(de)(de)恒常所得假說。這個理論被一些經濟學(xue)者視為是他(ta)(ta)在(zai)經濟學(xue)方法論上(shang)最重要的(de)(de)貢獻。他(ta)(ta)其他(ta)(ta)重要的(de)(de)貢獻還(huan)包括了對菲利普斯曲(qu)線的(de)(de)批評，以及(ji)他(ta)(ta)提出的(de)(de)失業率(lv)的(de)(de)自然比率(lv)的(de)(de)概念（1968年(nian)）。這些學(xue)說都與貨幣和金(jin)融政(zheng)策在(zai)對經濟的(de)(de)長期及(ji)短期影響上(shang)有關。在(zai)統計學(xue)上(shang)，他(ta)(ta)則(ze)創造出了知名(ming)的(de)(de)弗里德曼測試。
弗里德(de)曼(man)的論(lun)文The Methodology of Positive Economics（1953年(nian)）則替他稍后幾(ji)十年(nian)的研究方法論(lun)架(jia)構了模型，并且(qie)也成為(wei)了芝(zhi)加哥經濟學派(pai)的主(zhu)要框架(jia)之一(yi)(yi)。他主(zhu)張經濟學身(shen)為(wei)一(yi)(yi)種學科，應該免(mian)于客觀的價(jia)值(zhi)衡量。除此之外，一(yi)(yi)個經濟理論(lun)有用與否(fou)(fou)，不應該是以它(ta)對現實(shi)的描述（例(li)如頭發顏色(se)）作為(wei)衡量標準(zhun)，而是應該以它(ta)能否(fou)(fou)有效作為(wei)對未來情況的預測(ce)為(wei)基(ji)準(zhun)。
弗里德(de)曼在(zai)理(li)論(lun)(lun)上有三大貢(gong)獻，首先(xian)是(shi)提出現(xian)代(dai)貨(huo)幣數量論(lun)(lun)，即通貨(huo)膨脹(zhang)起源于“太多的貨(huo)幣追逐(zhu)太少的商品”。政府可(ke)以通過控制貨(huo)幣增(zeng)長來遏(e)制通脹(zhang)。這被視為現(xian)代(dai)經濟理(li)論(lun)(lun)的一(yi)場革命。
其次，他(ta)創立消(xiao)費函數(shu)理(li)論(lun)，對(dui)凱恩斯(si)經濟(ji)理(li)論(lun)中的(de)(de)邊(bian)際(ji)消(xiao)費遞(di)減(jian)規律進行駁斥。凱恩斯(si)認(ren)為(wei)，隨著社會財(cai)富和個人(ren)(ren)收(shou)入的(de)(de)增加，人(ren)(ren)們用(yong)于消(xiao)費方面(mian)的(de)(de)支出(chu)(chu)呈(cheng)遞(di)減(jian)趨勢(shi)，與此同時儲蓄則越(yue)來越(yue)多。因此政府可以通(tong)過增加公(gong)共支出(chu)(chu)來抵消(xiao)個人(ren)(ren)消(xiao)費的(de)(de)減(jian)少(shao)，從而保證經濟(ji)的(de)(de)持續增長。弗里德曼指出(chu)(chu)，這(zhe)一(yi)理(li)論(lun)站不住(zhu)腳，因為(wei)人(ren)(ren)們的(de)(de)欲望實際(ji)上永無(wu)止境，原有的(de)(de)得到(dao)滿足后，新的(de)(de)隨即產生。
第三，1968年，弗里(li)德(de)曼與美國哥倫比亞大學經濟學家菲(fei)爾普同(tong)時提出(chu)“自(zi)然(ran)(ran)率假說”理(li)論。他們發現(xian)，長期(qi)來(lai)看，失業(ye)率與通(tong)貨膨脹并沒有必然(ran)(ran)聯系。自(zi)然(ran)(ran)失業(ye)率永(yong)遠(yuan)存(cun)在(zai)，是不可消除(chu)的。因此政(zheng)府的宏(hong)觀調控政(zheng)策長期(qi)來(lai)看是不起任何作用的。
1951年(nian)：約翰·貝茲·克(ke)拉(la)克(ke)獎（John Bates Clark Medal）
1976年：諾貝爾經濟學獎
1988年(nian)：國家科學獎章
1988年(nian)：總統自由勛章（Presidential Medal of Freedom）
巧笑倩兮 
