Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises (29 September 1881 – 10 October 1973) was a prominent Austrian-American economist, philosopher, and a leading figure in the Austrian School of Economics throughout much of the twentieth century. He earned his doctorate in law and economics from the University of Vienna in 1906.

In 1926, Mises founded the Austrian Institute for Business Cycle Research. From 1909 to 1934, he served as an economist for the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. Before the Anschluss in 1934, Mises left for Geneva, where he was a professor at the Graduate Institute of International Studies until 1940. He emigrated to New York City that year to escape the Nazis, who had invaded Austria and confiscated his library and papers.

From 1948 to 1969, Mises was a visiting professor at New York University. He wrote and lectured extensively on the societal contributions of classical liberalism and the power of consumers. He is best known for his work in praxeology, his analysis comparing communism and capitalism, and his defense of classical liberalism against rising authoritarianism in Europe during his time.

Mises influenced both libertarian movements and economics, with students like Friedrich Hayek, who viewed Mises as a pivotal figure in the revival of classical liberalism after World War II. Mises's Private Seminar in Austria cultivated future economists, many of whom, including Hayek and Oskar Morgenstern, later emigrated to the United States and Great Britain.

He received numerous honors, including honorary doctorates from Grove City College, New York University, and the University of Freiburg. In 1969, he was named "Distinguished Fellow" by the American Economic Association.