Nation and Nationality
The Nation as Speech Community The concepts nation and nationality are relatively new in the sense in which we understand them. Of course, the word nation is very old; it derives from Latin and spread early into all modern languages. But
“Going Cashless” Isn’t as Easy as It Seems
Many economic commentators are in favor of phasing out cash. They are of the view that cash provides support to the shadow economy and permits tax evasion. It is also held that in times of economic shocks that push the economy
The Criminality of the State
[This essay first appeared in the American Mercury in March 1939.] As well as I can judge, the general attitude of Americans who are at all interested in foreign affairs is one of astonishment, coupled with distaste, displeasure, or horror, according
Is College Worthwhile? A Two-Time Dropout’s Take
Pursuing one’s dreams without a degree requires more self-discipline than serving four years on campus. One of Nietzsche’s best lines offers a warning: “He who cannot obey himself will be commanded.” Original Article: "Is College Worthwhile? A Two-Time Dropout’s Take" This Audio
Has the Rise of Socialism in US Politics Been a Boon to Austrian Economics? Evidence from Social Media and Other Metrics
Abstract: The rise of socialism has been one of the more dramatic movements in US politics in the modern era, with recent Gallup polling indicating that 39 percent of Americans (and 65 percent of Democrats) hold a favorable view of
Should We Get Rid of Guns?
You will not be surprised to learn that my answer is no, but what I’d like to discuss in this week’s column is an argument by an eminent philosopher that we should. Robert Hanna is an authority on Kant (Objectivist
Keynesian Supply Shocks and Hayekian Secondary Deflations
Abstract: In response to the COVID-19 lockdown policies, Guerrieri et al. (2020) developed a new concept: the Keynesian supply shock. A Keynesian supply shock is an aggregate supply shock that leads to an even larger aggregate demand shock. This paper
The Colonization Cost Theory of Anarchic Emergence
Abstract: The paper describes the colonization cost theory of anarchic emergence. The theory states that when the state incurs high costs of directly colonizing land, it may be beneficial for it to allow anarchy to emerge and settle distant frontiers.
Mexico Flirts with Nationalizing Its Electricity Sector
Mexico finds itself in the middle of an energy debate. En bloc, the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), seeks to nationalize the electricity industry. In as many words, AMLO recently said that the essence of his proposed initiative
On the Cause and Effect of Interest Rates
It is a common idea, accepted by all those who have written on commerce, that an increased quantity of money in a state decreases the rate of interest, because when money is abundant it is easier to find some to