Decentralization, Absolutism, and the Papal States
[The Pope Who Would Be King: The Exile of Pius IX and the Emergence of Modern Europe by David Kertzer Random House, 2018 xxx + 474 pages] Historian David Kertzer made a name for himself with his 1997 book The Kidnapping
No, Dogecoin Does Not Compete with Bitcoin
Medium of exchange and store of value are very different products. Original Article: "No, Dogecoin Does Not Compete with Bitcoin" This Audio Mises Wire is generously sponsored by Christopher Condon. Narrated by Michael Stack.
What Happens When Governments Force Corporate Boards to Appoint More Women
A controversial new law in California requires publicly traded companies headquartered in the state to include at least one woman on their board of directors. Supporters of those types of laws even contend that gender quotas could boost firm profitability. However, the
Not Even Gretchen Whitmer Wants More of the CDC’s Lockdowns
The political climate that fostered panic and lockdowns a year ago is now changing. Legislatures are turning against governors and the public is no longer hysterical with fear. Politicians aren't sure what to do. Original Article: "Not Even Gretchen Whitmer Wants
The New Deal and Recovery, Part 14: Fear Itself (Conclusion)
(This post completes my three-part discussion of the "regime uncertainty" hypothesis, according to which the New Deal hampered recovery by causing businessmen to fear policy changes that might render their investments unprofitable. Links to the previous posts about regime uncertainty,
Monetary Pumping and Idle Resources
As a result of the recent stimulus policies employed by the US government and the Fed, most commentators are of the view that the risk of a deepening slump in the US economy on account of the covid-19 pandemic has now
You Won’t Learn Much about Fascism in this Book on “Fascism”
Jason Stanley's book on fascism is a jumbled mess which seems primarily to exist for the purpose of smearing everything Stanley doesn't like with the label of "fascism." Original Article: "You Won't Learn Much about Fascism in this Book on "Fascism"" This
Political Competition vs. Market Competition
[Editor's note: In this selection from The Society of Tomorrow, Gustave de Molinari (1819-1912) discusses how competition in the political and natural worlds differ greatly from competition in the marketplace. We find Molinari makes some observations similar to those of Ludwig von Mises
The Ruling Class Only Cares about Democracy When It Helps Them
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan once remarked that ''[d]emocracy is like a streetcar. When you come to your stop, you get off.'' Say what you want about the Turkish president and his extravagant political ambitions, but Erdogan’s statement reveals an
Texas Ended Lockdowns and Mask Mandates. Now Locked-Down States Are Where Covid Is Growing Most
Don’t expect Fauci and his supporters to give up on insisting that New York and Michigan are doing "the right thing" while Texas and Florida are embracing "human sacrifice" as a part of a "death cult." Original Article: "Texas Ended Lockdowns