Karl Marx Was Not an Economist
Despite the massive intellectual feat that Marx’s Capital represents, the Marxian contribution to economics can be readily summarized as virtually zero. Professional economics as it exists today reflects no indication that Karl Marx ever existed. —Thomas Sowell If socialists understood economics they
The Political Response to our Banking Crisis
This week on Radio Rothbard, Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop are joined by Peter St. Onge, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a regular contributor to the Mises Wire. This episode looks at the political response to the recent
Libertarian Law by Democratic Means: Utilitarianism and the Demythologization of Authority
Mises saw essentialist values as fallacies because they were unverifiable and saw metaphysical ideas as a key component of authoritarianism. His solution was utilitarianism. Original Article: "Libertarian Law by Democratic Means: Utilitarianism and the Demythologization of Authority" This Audio Mises Wire is generously sponsored by Christopher
Statism Is Destroying Real Wages
When we read about the US economy, we often get wage growth as a signal of a strong labor market. It is hardly a strong market when the labor participation rate and the employment to population ratio are both below
If the WIllow Project is approved and fewer people know about it, are the environmental costs reduced?
One of the big problems of nonmarket valuation of projects that impact the environment is that the benefits and costs from the project depend on how many people know about it. US government officials are expected to make a decision on
Don’t Take Liberties with Liberty
Have you ever thought about the relationship between the words liberty and freedom? Frequently, the words are used interchangeably, but I have always preferred liberty. Perhaps my preference goes back to Thomas Jefferson’s reference to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of
Reparations Are a Statist Cudgel for Bludgeoning Property Owners
San Francisco, as well as the government of California, is calling for millions in "reparations" for black people in that state. Reparations, unfortunately, are fast becoming another anti-property-owner racket. Original Article: "Reparations Are a Statist Cudgel for Bludgeoning Property Owners" This Audio Mises
Silicon Valley Bank and the Failure of Fractional Reserve Banking
The story of the failure of Silicon Valley Bank is the story of nearly every bank failure. Fractional reserve banking invites the risky behavior that brings down the banking system. Original Article: "Silicon Valley Bank and the Failure of Fractional Reserve
How Politicians Use Regulations to Deflect Blame
The pro-life activist Randall Terry has a famous quote that anyone who cares about politics should be familiar with: “He who frames the question wins the debate.” Politicians are well aware of this fact, which is why they spend much of
The Fed Backtracks on Future Rate Hikes as Bank Failures Loom Large
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Wednesday raised the target policy interest rate (the federal funds rate) to 5.00 percent, an increase of 25 basis points. With this latest increase, the target has increased 4.75 percent since