弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)生于(yu)紐約市(shi)一(yi)(yi)個工(gong)人階級(ji)的(de)(de)猶太人家(jia)庭，父親是(shi)耶諾(nuo)·紹(shao)爾(er)·弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)（Jeno Saul Friedman），母(mu)親是(shi)薩(sa)拉·埃(ai)特爾(er)·蘭(lan)道（Sarah Ethel Landau，1892年(nian)(nian)-？），兩人從奧匈帝國（今烏(wu)克(ke)蘭(lan)一(yi)(yi)帶）移居美國，在(zai)(zai)當地邂逅，曾(ceng)在(zai)(zai)血(xue)汗工(gong)廠(chang)工(gong)作。弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)是(shi)家(jia)中(zhong)第一(yi)(yi)個孩(hai)子(zi)，也是(shi)唯(wei)一(yi)(yi)的(de)(de)男孩(hai)。他(ta)的(de)(de)三個妹妹包括：蒂莉·F·弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)（Tillie F. Friedman，1919年(nian)(nian)-？）、海倫·弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)（Helen Friedman，1920年(nian)(nian)-？）和(he)露絲·弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)（Ruth Friedman，1921年(nian)(nian)-？）。高中(zhong)時，弗(fu)(fu)里(li)(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)(man)父親逝世(shi)后，舉家(jia)搬到新澤西(xi)州(zhou)的(de)(de)羅威市(shi)（Rahway）。
他(ta)16歲前完成(cheng)(cheng)高(gao)中，憑(ping)獎學(xue)(xue)金入讀羅(luo)格斯(si)(si)大(da)學(xue)(xue)。原打算成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)精算師(shi)的(de)弗里德(de)曼最(zui)初修(xiu)(xiu)讀數學(xue)(xue)，但成(cheng)(cheng)績平平。1932年(nian)(nian)取得文學(xue)(xue)士(shi)，翌年(nian)(nian)他(ta)到芝加(jia)哥大(da)學(xue)(xue)修(xiu)(xiu)讀碩(shuo)士(shi)，1933年(nian)(nian)芝大(da)碩(shuo)士(shi)畢業。上第一(yi)堂經濟課時，座位是(shi)以姓(xing)氏字母(mu)編排，他(ta)緊隨一(yi)名叫(jiao)羅(luo)斯(si)(si)（Rose Director）的(de)女生之(zhi)后(hou)。兩人(ren)6年(nian)(nian)后(hou)結婚，從(cong)此終生不渝。弗里德(de)曼曾說他(ta)的(de)作品無一(yi)不被羅(luo)斯(si)(si)審閱，更笑(xiao)言自己成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)學(xue)(xue)術權(quan)威后(hou)，羅(luo)斯(si)(si)是(shi)唯(wei)一(yi)膽敢跟(gen)他(ta)辯論的(de)人(ren).
畢業后(hou)，他曾為羅斯福新政(zheng)工作以求(qiu)糊口，批(pi)準了(le)許多(duo)早(zao)期的(de)(de)新政(zheng)措施以解決當(dang)時(shi)面臨的(de)(de)艱(jian)難經濟(ji)情況(kuang)，尤其是新政(zheng)的(de)(de)許多(duo)公共建(jian)設計(ji)(ji)劃。輾轉間他到哥倫(lun)比亞大學(xue)繼續修讀經濟(ji)學(xue)，研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)計(ji)(ji)量(liang)、制度及(ji)實踐(jian)經濟(ji)學(xue)。返(fan)回芝加(jia)哥后(hou)，獲亨利·舒爾(er)茨（Henry Schultz）聘(pin)任為研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)助(zhu)理，協(xie)助(zhu)完(wan)成《需求(qiu)理論(lun)及(ji)計(ji)(ji)算》論(lun)文。為美國國家經濟(ji)研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)局(ju)(ju)工作時(shi)，他1940年曾完(wan)成一書(shu)，指(zhi)醫生的(de)(de)壟斷局(ju)(ju)面導致(zhi)他們(men)的(de)(de)收入(ru)遠高于牙(ya)醫，引起局(ju)(ju)方(fang)爭議，令該(gai)書(shu)要在戰后(hou)始能出(chu)版。
弗里(li)德曼在(zai)威斯(si)康辛大(da)學任教了一小段時間，但由于在(zai)經濟學系里(li)碰(peng)上(shang)了反(fan)猶(you)主(zhu)義者的(de)阻撓(nao)而只得返回政(zheng)府部門(men)工作(zuo)。
1941年(nian)(nian)至1943年(nian)(nian)，他出(chu)任(ren)美國財政部顧問，研(yan)究戰時稅(shui)務政策，曾支持凱恩斯(si)(si)主(zhu)義的稅(shui)賦政策，并且協(xie)助推(tui)廣預(yu)扣所得稅(shui)制度。1943年(nian)(nian)至1945年(nian)(nian)在哥倫比亞大(da)學參(can)與(yu)Harold Hotelling及W. Allen Wallis的研(yan)究小(xiao)組，為武器設計(ji)、戰略(lve)及冶金實驗分析數據。1945年(nian)(nian)，他與(yu)后來的諾貝(bei)爾經濟學獎得主(zhu)喬治(zhi)·斯(si)(si)蒂格勒到明尼蘇達大(da)學任(ren)職，1946年(nian)(nian)他獲哥倫比亞大(da)學博士(shi)學位，隨后回到芝加哥大(da)學教授經濟理論，期(qi)間再(zai)為國家(jia)經濟研(yan)究局(ju)研(yan)究貨(huo)幣在商業周期(qi)的角色。這是他學術上(shang)的重(zhong)大(da)分水嶺。
在(zai)(zai)他(ta)的(de)(de)(de)自傳中，弗(fu)里德(de)曼曾描述1941至43年為(wei)羅斯福新政工作時，“當(dang)時我是一個徹底的(de)(de)(de)凱恩斯主(zhu)義(yi)者”。隨(sui)著(zhu)時間過去，弗(fu)里德(de)曼對于經濟(ji)(ji)政策(ce)的(de)(de)(de)看法(fa)也逐漸(jian)轉變，他(ta)在(zai)(zai)芝大成立貨幣(bi)及(ji)銀行研(yan)究(jiu)小組(zu)，借著(zhu)經濟(ji)(ji)史論家安(an)娜·施(shi)瓦(wa)茨的(de)(de)(de)協助，發表(biao)影(ying)響深遠的(de)(de)(de)《美國(guo)貨幣(bi)史》著(zhu)作。他(ta)在(zai)(zai)書中挑(tiao)戰凱恩斯學派的(de)(de)(de)觀(guan)點，抨擊(ji)他(ta)們忽(hu)略貨幣(bi)供(gong)應(ying)、金(jin)融政策(ce)對經濟(ji)(ji)周(zhou)期(qi)及(ji)通脹的(de)(de)(de)重要性。
他(ta)接著在芝(zhi)(zhi)加(jia)哥(ge)大學(xue)(xue)(xue)擔任(ren)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟學(xue)(xue)(xue)教授(shou)，直至(zhi)1976年退休。這(zhe)30年里(li)(li)他(ta)將芝(zhi)(zhi)大經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟系形塑成緊密而完整的(de)(de)(de)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟學(xue)(xue)(xue)派，力(li)倡自由經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟，被稱為芝(zhi)(zhi)加(jia)哥(ge)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟學(xue)(xue)(xue)派。在弗里(li)(li)德(de)曼的(de)(de)(de)領導下，多名(ming)芝(zhi)(zhi)加(jia)哥(ge)學(xue)(xue)(xue)派的(de)(de)(de)成員獲得(de)諾貝(bei)爾經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)濟學(xue)(xue)(xue)獎(jiang)。他(ta)在1953年至(zhi)1954年間以訪問學(xue)(xue)(xue)者(zhe)的(de)(de)(de)身分前往英國劍橋大學(xue)(xue)(xue)岡維爾與凱(kai)斯學(xue)(xue)(xue)院任(ren)教。從1977年開(kai)始(shi)弗里(li)(li)德(de)曼也加(jia)入(ru)了斯坦福大學(xue)(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)(de)胡佛研究所。弗里(li)(li)德(de)曼在1988年取得(de)了美國的(de)(de)(de)國家科學(xue)(xue)(xue)獎(jiang)章。
他(ta)在1980主持了名為“選擇的自由”的節目，并出版了同(tong)名的著作，使得他(ta)廣(guang)泛的被大(da)眾認識。在節目中(zhong)他(ta)以(yi)(yi)一(yi)支(zhi)鉛(qian)筆(bi)說明自由市場的原理的片段(duan)，成為了他(ta)廣(guang)受歡迎的一(yi)段(duan)言論，至今在網絡(luo)上依然可以(yi)(yi)見到其蹤影。
他通常反對政府(fu)干預(yu)的計劃，尤其(qi)是對于市(shi)場(chang)價格的管制(zhi)，他認為(wei)價格在(zai)市(shi)場(chang)機制(zhi)里(li)扮演調度(du)資(zi)源所不(bu)可或缺的信號功能(neng)。在(zai)《美(mei)國貨幣歷史(shi)》一書(shu)中，他提出大蕭條其(qi)實(shi)是政府(fu)對于貨幣供應管制(zhi)不(bu)當所致。后來(lai)他在(zai)2006年(nian)說道：“你(ni)知(zhi)道嗎(ma)？很奇怪的是為(wei)何(he)人們(men)仍以(yi)為(wei)是羅斯(si)福(fu)的政策(ce)讓我們(men)脫離了經濟(ji)大蕭條。當時的問(wen)題(ti)(ti)是，你(ni)有一堆(dui)失業的機器(qi)和失業的人民，你(ni)怎(zen)么能(neng)靠著成(cheng)立產業壟斷集團和提升價格及工(gong)資(zi)來(lai)解決他們(men)的問(wen)題(ti)(ti)？”
1992年獲諾(nuo)貝爾經濟獎的(de)加里(li)·貝克形容，弗(fu)里(li)德(de)(de)曼可能是全球(qiu)最為人認識的(de)經濟學家，“他(ta)能以最簡(jian)單的(de)語(yu)言表(biao)達最艱深的(de)經濟理(li)論”。他(ta)亦是極出(chu)色的(de)演說(shuo)(shuo)家，能隨(sui)時即席演說(shuo)(shuo)，極富說(shuo)(shuo)服(fu)力。香港(gang)科(ke)技大學經濟發(fa)展研究中心主任雷鼎鳴形容弗(fu)里(li)德(de)(de)曼思考快如閃電，據(ju)說(shuo)(shuo)辯論從未輸過(guo)。“無人敢(gan)說(shuo)(shuo)辯贏了他(ta)，因與他(ta)辯論過(guo)已是無限光(guang)榮，沒(mei)多少人能與他(ta)說(shuo)(shuo)上兩分鐘(zhong)。”
弗里(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)是學術世家(jia)(jia)。他(ta)妻子羅(luo)絲是經濟學家(jia)(jia)，其妻兄長亞(ya)倫·戴雷(lei)科特(te)是芝加(jia)哥大(da)學聲(sheng)望(wang)顯(xian)赫的(de)法律學教(jiao)授(shou)。弗里(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)育有兩名子女(nv)，包括女(nv)兒珍尼·弗里(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)及大(da)衛(wei)·弗里(li)德(de)曼(man)(man)，大(da)衛(wei)本(ben)身是無政(zheng)府資本(ben)主義學說的(de)重要學者。大(da)衛(wei)的(de)兒子Patri畢(bi)業于斯坦福(fu)大(da)學，2006年時在Google任職。
他于(yu)2006年11月(yue)16日在舊金(jin)山家(jia)中因心臟病發引致衰竭逝世。
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"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
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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)德曼的博士(shi)論文(wen)
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"A Monetary and Fiscal Framework for Economic Stability", 1948, American Economic Review, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jun., 1948), pp. 245-264 JSTOR
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"The Marshallian Demand Curve," The Journal of Political Economy Vol. 57, No. 6 (Dec., 1949), pp. 463-495 JSTOR
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"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)
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A Theory of the Consumption Function (1957)
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"The Supply of Money and Changes in Prices and Output", 1958, in Relationship of Prices to Economic Stability and Growth.
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A Program for Monetary Stability (Fordham University Press, 1960) 110 pp
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"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
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"Should There be an Independent Monetary Authority?", in L.B. Yeager, editor, In Search of a Monetary Constitution
Inflation: Causes and consequences, 1963.
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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.
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"Interest Rates and the Demand for Money," Journal of Law and Economics Vol. 9 (Oct., 1966), pp. 71-85 JSTOR
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"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.
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The Counter-Revolution in Monetary Theory 1970.
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"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
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“Lessons from the 1979-1982 Monetary Policy Experiment, ” Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association. pp. 397-401. (1984).
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"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(jing)濟(ji)學論文集》（Essays in Positive Economics）
《消費函數(shu)理論》（A Theory of the Consumption Function）
《資(zi)本主義與(yu)自由》（Capitalism and Freedom）
《自由選擇》（Free to Choose）
《價(jia)格理論》（Price Theory：A Provisional Text）
《美國貨幣史》（A Monetary History of the United States，1867一1960）與(yu)施瓦茲（Anna J.Schwartz）
弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里德曼最知名的(de)(de)理論(lun)，是(shi)他(ta)(ta)提出的(de)(de)貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給作為決(jue)(jue)定(ding)生(sheng)產(chan)價值基準的(de)(de)因素，通貨(huo)(huo)(huo)膨脹在根本(ben)上(shang)源自于貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給量的(de)(de)主(zhu)張(zhang)。貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)主(zhu)義(yi)是(shi)現(xian)代經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)學(xue)在貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)數量理論(lun)的(de)(de)重(zhong)要(yao)觀點之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)，這種理論(lun)的(de)(de)根源可以(yi)追溯至(zhi)16世紀西班牙的(de)(de)薩拉曼卡學(xue)派(pai)，弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里德曼的(de)(de)貢獻(xian)則是(shi)現(xian)代化了(le)(le)這種理論(lun)，將(jiang)其(qi)推廣為現(xian)代經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)學(xue)的(de)(de)主(zhu)流貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)學(xue)說。他(ta)(ta)在1963年(nian)與Anna Schwartz合著(zhu)的(de)(de)A Monetary History of the United States一(yi)(yi)書中檢驗了(le)(le)美國歷史上(shang)貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給和經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)活動(dong)之(zhi)間的(de)(de)關聯。他(ta)(ta)們(men)得出了(le)(le)驚人結(jie)論(lun)：貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給一(yi)(yi)向是(shi)經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)活動(dong)起伏的(de)(de)唯一(yi)(yi)影(ying)響來源。又(you)或(huo)者如(ru)同美國聯邦儲(chu)備(bei)系(xi)統的(de)(de)主(zhu)席本(ben)·伯南克在2002年(nian)慶祝弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里德曼90歲生(sheng)日時所描述的(de)(de)：“有(you)關大(da)蕭條(tiao)，你是(shi)正確(que)的(de)(de)，我們(men)（聯邦儲(chu)備(bei)系(xi)統）當(dang)時的(de)(de)確(que)做錯了(le)(le)。我們(men)真的(de)(de)很抱歉。”David Meiselman在1960年(nian)代進行的(de)(de)幾次(ci)研究顯(xian)示了(le)(le)貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給在決(jue)(jue)定(ding)經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)投(tou)資(zi)、以(yi)及政(zheng)府開銷在決(jue)(jue)定(ding)消費及生(sheng)產(chan)總額上(shang)的(de)(de)角色是(shi)至(zhi)高(gao)無上(shang)的(de)(de)。弗(fu)(fu)(fu)里德曼的(de)(de)觀察研究和一(yi)(yi)些學(xue)說進一(yi)(yi)步(bu)推展了(le)(le)這種結(jie)論(lun)，主(zhu)張(zhang)貨(huo)(huo)(huo)幣(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)供(gong)給的(de)(de)改(gai)變(bian)是(shi)影(ying)響經(jing)濟(ji)(ji)生(sheng)產(chan)的(de)(de)首要(yao)原(yuan)因，但(dan)長期的(de)(de)影(ying)響則是(shi)由物價水平決(jue)(jue)定(ding)的(de)(de)。
弗里德曼對于消費(fei)層面的(de)(de)(de)(de)分析也(ye)相當知名，亦即他(ta)(ta)在1957年提(ti)(ti)出(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)恒常所得(de)假說。這(zhe)個理論(lun)(lun)被一(yi)些經濟(ji)學者視為是他(ta)(ta)在經濟(ji)學方(fang)法論(lun)(lun)上(shang)最重要的(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻。他(ta)(ta)其(qi)他(ta)(ta)重要的(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻還(huan)包(bao)括了(le)對菲利普斯(si)曲線的(de)(de)(de)(de)批(pi)評(ping)，以及他(ta)(ta)提(ti)(ti)出(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)失業率的(de)(de)(de)(de)自然比率的(de)(de)(de)(de)概念（1968年）。這(zhe)些學說都(dou)與(yu)貨(huo)幣和金融政策(ce)在對經濟(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)長期及短期影響上(shang)有(you)關。在統計學上(shang)，他(ta)(ta)則創造出(chu)(chu)了(le)知名的(de)(de)(de)(de)弗里德曼測試。
弗里德(de)曼的(de)(de)論文(wen)The Methodology of Positive Economics（1953年）則替(ti)他稍后(hou)幾十年的(de)(de)研究方法論架構(gou)了(le)模型，并(bing)且也成為(wei)了(le)芝加哥(ge)經(jing)濟(ji)學(xue)派(pai)的(de)(de)主(zhu)(zhu)要框架之(zhi)一。他主(zhu)(zhu)張經(jing)濟(ji)學(xue)身(shen)為(wei)一種學(xue)科(ke)，應該(gai)免于客觀的(de)(de)價值衡量。除此之(zhi)外(wai)，一個經(jing)濟(ji)理論有用與否，不應該(gai)是(shi)以(yi)(yi)它對(dui)現實的(de)(de)描述(shu)（例如頭發顏色）作為(wei)衡量標準(zhun)，而是(shi)應該(gai)以(yi)(yi)它能否有效(xiao)作為(wei)對(dui)未來情況的(de)(de)預測(ce)為(wei)基(ji)準(zhun)。
弗里德曼(man)在理論上有三大貢獻，首(shou)先是提出現代貨幣(bi)數量論，即通貨膨脹起源(yuan)于“太多的貨幣(bi)追(zhui)逐(zhu)太少的商品”。政府可(ke)以通過控(kong)制貨幣(bi)增長(chang)來遏制通脹。這(zhe)被視為現代經濟理論的一場(chang)革命。
其次(ci)，他創(chuang)立消費(fei)(fei)函數理論(lun)，對凱(kai)恩斯經濟(ji)理論(lun)中(zhong)的(de)邊際消費(fei)(fei)遞減(jian)(jian)(jian)規律進(jin)行(xing)駁斥(chi)。凱(kai)恩斯認為，隨著社會財富(fu)和(he)個人(ren)收(shou)入的(de)增加，人(ren)們用于消費(fei)(fei)方(fang)面的(de)支出(chu)呈遞減(jian)(jian)(jian)趨勢，與此同時儲蓄則越(yue)來越(yue)多。因(yin)此政(zheng)府可以通過增加公共支出(chu)來抵消個人(ren)消費(fei)(fei)的(de)減(jian)(jian)(jian)少(shao)，從而保證經濟(ji)的(de)持續增長。弗里德曼指出(chu)，這一理論(lun)站(zhan)不住腳(jiao)，因(yin)為人(ren)們的(de)欲望實際上永無止境，原有的(de)得到滿足后(hou)，新的(de)隨即(ji)產生。
第三，1968年，弗里德曼與(yu)美國(guo)哥倫比(bi)亞大學(xue)(xue)經濟學(xue)(xue)家(jia)菲爾普(pu)同時提(ti)出“自(zi)然(ran)率假(jia)說”理(li)論。他們發(fa)現，長期來(lai)看，失業率與(yu)通貨膨脹并沒有必(bi)然(ran)聯系。自(zi)然(ran)失業率永遠(yuan)存在(zai)，是(shi)不可消除(chu)的(de)(de)。因此政(zheng)府的(de)(de)宏觀調控政(zheng)策長期來(lai)看是(shi)不起(qi)任(ren)何作用的(de)(de)。
1951年：約翰(han)·貝茲·克拉克獎(jiang)（John Bates Clark Medal）
1976年：諾貝(bei)爾經(jing)濟學獎
1988年：國家科學獎(jiang)章(zhang)
1988年：總統(tong)自由勛章（Presidential Medal of Freedom）
巧笑倩兮 
