My Time with the FBI
The FBI’s power and federal legitimacy are far more tenuous than Washington recognizes. Beyond the nation’s big cities, federal authority hinges largely on the consent of local citizens. Original Article: "My Time with the FBI" This Audio Mises Wire is generously sponsored
Rothbard’s History of Economic Thought from Greeks to Physiocrats
Was Adam Smith the founder of modern economics? Not so, says Murray Rothbard in his staggering two-volume An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought. Dr. Patrick Newman joins the show for a look at Rothbard's treatment of economics
The Debt Ceiling: An Affectionate History
Remember the movie Groundhog Day? The protagonist, played by Bill Murray, is stuck in a cycle where he relives the same day, February 2, every time he awakens in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The same events happen throughout
How the “Respectable” Media Serves the Political Elite
[Editor's note: Two interviews from August 1992 given by Murray Rothbard to the Swedish student publication Svensk Linje (continuously published since 1942) were recently discovered in the Rothbard Archives and translated by Sven Thommesen for the first time. In this interview, Rothbard offers
Join Us in the Battle of Ideas by Doubling Your Gift Today!
Double your gift today. Today, the ideas of Ludwig von Mises are as important as ever. During his career, he discredited the ideas of socialism, identified the role central banks play in creating financial booms and busts, and established himself as
Defaulting on the Debt Is the Moral Thing to Do
The US is in the midst of yet another “debate” over the debt ceiling. In the twenty-first century, this is a ritual that Washington politicos and journalists go through every few years when the prospect of default and government shutdown
Should War Be Made “Humane”?
Moyn fears that "humane warfare" along with programs of global surveillance, would subject the world to hegemonic control by one or a few dominant superpowers. Original Article: "Should War Be Made 'Humane'?" This Audio Mises Wire is generously sponsored by Christopher Condon.
It’s Not Good Enough to “Look at the Data”
According to popular thinking, it is held that by means of statistical and mathematical methods one can organize historical data into a useful body of information. This in turn can serve as the basis for the assessments of the state
Currency Debasement and Social Collapse
Knowledge of the effects of government interference with market prices makes us comprehend the economic causes of a momentous historical event, the decline of ancient civilization. It may be left undecided whether or not it is correct to call the economic
Is an Educated Population Really Necessary for Innovation and Growth?
The example of England in the Industrial Revolution suggests enormous amounts of innovation and growth can be achieved even without high levels of education among the general population. Original Article: "Is an Educated Population Really Necessary for Innovation and Growth?" This Audio