Paul Krugman and the “Ersatz” Theory of Private Currencies
Although I've devoted many essays here to exploding myths about historical private currencies, there's one I've yet to directly challenge. That's the belief that such currencies only thrive in the absence of official alternatives. Otherwise, the argument goes, people would
Why Progressives Love Government “Experts”
In twenty-first-century America, ordinary people are at the mercy of well-paid, unelected government experts who wield vast power. That is, we live in the age of the technocrats: people who claim to have special wisdom that entitles them to control,
The Fair Plan Is the Tax That Will Not Die
Rep. John Linder (R-GA) has retired from Congress and radio talk show host Neal Boortz has been silent for years, but their tax plan just will not die. Writing in the New York Sun, billionaire businessman and Republican Party donor John
Politicizing Mass Shootings Only Guarantees There Will Be More of Them
Mass shootings are bad enough, but progressives have turned them into political events. They then claim that further politicizing these tragedies will reduce their number. Original Article: "Politicizing Mass Shootings Only Guarantees There Will Be More of Them" This Audio Mises Wire
What Is Stagflation and What Causes It?
The occurrence of stagflation is associated with a situation of general strengthening in the momentum of prices while at the same time the pace of economic activity is declining. A famous stagflation episode occurred during the 1974-75 period, as year-on-year
Rothbard vs. the Religion of Progressivism
[Editors note: The following was the opening address from Dr. Joseph Salerno to this week's Rothbard Graduate Seminar. ] Our main text for the Rothbard Graduate Seminar this week is Murray Rothbard’s Power and Market: Government and the Economy, which contains
Liberty, Power, and 2000 Mules
Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop look at the question of election integrity and what it means for the regime. How should we look at the allegations made in the film 2000 Mules? How should we view the concept of election security? What
What Is Wrong with the Fed’s Inflationist Policy?
The Lords of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economyby Christopher LeonardSimon and Schuster, 2022viii + 373 pp. Christopher Leonard’s book brings to mind the familiar line from Faust: “Two souls, alas! dwell in my breast.” Leonard offers
The Great Capitalist Novel
Ignorant politicians who create no wealth can only impede great visionaries like Henry M. Galt from creating wealth with monetary chicanery, antitrust litigation, labor laws, and other regulatory measures. Original Article: "The Great Capitalist Novel" This Audio Mises Wire is generously sponsored by Christopher
Will Punch-Drunk Biden Take America Down with Him?
President Biden often looks like a punch-drunk old fighter sent into the ring once too often. At this point, the only thing lower than Biden’s approval numbers is his energy level. Is Uncle Joe too old to rebound? At this point,