The Christmas Truce of World War I
Never forget the Christmas truce of World War I, when troops refused to be pawns of empire for one blessed day. Original article: The Christmas Truce of World War I
Dec 24, 2024•Ep. 2596
Audio Mises Wire
Audio recordings of Mises Wire articles, offering contemporary news and opinion through the lens of Austrian economics and libertarian political economy.
Episodes
The American Addiction to Transfer Payments
Original article: The American Addiction to Transfer Payments
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2596
Thanksgiving Day
The great free-market classical liberal William Leggett believed that Americans do not need politicians telling us on which days Americans ought to be thankful. Original article: Thanksgiving Day
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2595
“NAFTA Fever” and the Myth of Government-Created Free Markets
Critics of free markets claim that the 1980s and 90s were near-pure laissez-faire when, in reality, the regulatory state only got stronger. Original article: “NAFTA Fever” and the Myth of Government-Created Free Markets
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2594
Caplan’s Errors on the UAE and Open Borders
Economist Bryan Caplan has held up the United Arab Emirates as an example of how open borders can be successful. Caplan clearly does not understand how immigration works in the UAE. Original article: Caplan’s Errors on the UAE and Open Borders
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2593
The Relevance of the Natural Sciences Methods in Economics
Modern academic economics is based upon the methodologies used to study the natural sciences. However, such methodologies are inappropriate to study economics, which must be based upon causal-realism. Original article: The Relevance of the Natural Sciences Methods in Economics
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2592
Destroying Creative Destruction: The DMA against Innovation
As Joseph Schumpeter noted, markets need “creative destruction” to survive and advance. However, Europe‘s Digital Market Act (DMA)—while written to ostensibly protect competition—gives the digital economy uncreative destruction. Original article: Destroying Creative Destruction: The DMA against Innovation
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2591
Post-Election Prospects for Ending DEI
With the demise of the Biden administration, it is time to take a hard look at the DEI programs it imposed. While divisive, simple removal will not solve underlying problems. Original article: Post-Election Prospects for Ending DEI
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2590
Wealth and Income Inequality Are Essential for Social Cooperation
Murray Rothbard wrote that egalitarianism is a “revolt against nature.” Progressives claim that inequality harms society and is morally unacceptable, but in reality, it is necessary for division of labor, which enables social cooperation. Original article: Wealth and Income Inequality Are Essential for Social Cooperation
Dec 18, 2024•Ep. 2589
Totalitarianism Begins with a Denial of Economics
Totalitarianism is not compatible with a functioning economic system based upon free exchange and private property. Such regimes depend upon historicism and logical relativism. Original article: Totalitarianism Begins with a Denial of Economics
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2588
Wanted: Critics of Austrian Economics
Austrian economics today needs critics. It doesn‘t need the critics (like Paul Krugman) who cannot give valid and accurate criticisms, but rather people who actually understand the concepts upon which Austrian thinking is built provide a real challenge. Original article: Wanted: Critics of Austrian Economics
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2587
The Context Behind Donald Trump’s “Takeover” of the American Right
While it is often framed in the media as a battle between principled conservatives and an angry, non-ideological movement focused solely on personal loyalty to Trump, the current civil war on the American right is only the latest chapter in a much older story. Original article: The Context Behind Donald Trump’s “Takeover” of the American Right
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2586
The Battle on Lake Geneva—Mises vs. the Statists at Mont Pelerin
The original Mont Pelerin Society meeting in 1947 featured Ludwig von Mises, whose warnings about the dangers of socialism and totalitarianism had gone unheeded. In the wreckage of World War II, the truth of his message should have been obvious. It wasn't. Original article: The Battle on Lake Geneva—Mises vs. the Statists at Mont Pelerin
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2585
The Corrupt Nature of DEI
Even though DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) has taken a beating in some state legislatures, it still has a corrupting influence, especially in higher education. As Murray Rothbard pointed out, egalitarians are “at war with nature.” Original article: The Corrupt Nature of DEI
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2584
Your Kids Are Already Communist, and College Will Make It Worse
Modern American culture is statist to the core. The typical school curriculum tells students that capitalism is evil and socialism is good. This only gets worse in college. Original article: Your Kids Are Already Communist, and College Will Make It Worse
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2583
Assumptions in Economics and in the Real World
Mainstream economists often base their analysis upon assumptions that do not square with reality. Austrian economics, on the other hand, is built upon realistic assumptions and the acknowledgement that good economics must reflect human action. Original article: Assumptions in Economics and in the Real World
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2582
The Complex Legacy of George Orwell
While most of us know George Orwell as an authoritative critic of totalitarianism, few people know he was a committed socialist and a lifelong defender of communist Leon Trotsky. While he understood totalitarianism, he never understood socialism. Original article: The Complex Legacy of George Orwell
Dec 15, 2024•Ep. 2581
Sound Money Movement Chalks Up Seven State Legislative Victories in 2024
Not all news from the gold and monetary fronts is bad. In fact, gold made a number of advancements in seven states, including exemptions from taxes and attempts by states to restrict Federal Reserve behavior. Gold is alive and well. Original article: Sound Money Movement Chalks Up Seven State Legislative Victories in 2024
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2580
Entrepreneurial Profit Follows Good Decisions, Not Exploitation
Employing the Labor Theory of Value, Marx claimed that entrepreneurial profits arise from exploitation of workers. In reality, entrepreneurs earn profits when they correctly gauge markets. Exploitation has nothing to do with it. Original article: Entrepreneurial Profit Follows Good Decisions, Not Exploitation
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2579
How the Government Created Exorbitant Insulin Prices
Progressives blame the free market for insulin prices and want to impose price controls. But, government regulation is to blame. Original article: How the Government Created Exorbitant Insulin Prices
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2578
The Limits to Public Opinion and the Failure of Democracy
The watchword among progressives this election season is: “Nothing less than our democracy is at stake.” In truth, democracy itself is not in danger, but one can accurately say that “democracy,” as practiced in the US, endangers our lives. Original article: The Limits to Public Opinion and the Failure of Democracy
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2577
Contrived Scarcity and Antitrust Lawsuits—“It’s Not a Bag, It’s a Birkin”
Birkin bags are pricey and the producer restricts its potential buyers. Unfortunately, disgruntled customers who don’t want to follow the company’s rules are now appealing to US antitrust law. Original article: Contrived Scarcity and Antitrust Lawsuits—“It’s Not a Bag, It’s a Birkin”
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2576
Discrimination and Opportunities for Women
Wage differences between men and women often are automatically attributed to sex discrimination against women. However, as research has shown time and again, other factors are at work. Original article: Discrimination and Opportunities for Women
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2575
What Is Consent?
Buchanan and Tullock‘s The Calculus of Consent influentially applies economic ideas to politics, focusing on methodological individual. However, there are a few pitfalls about which readers should be aware. Original article: What Is Consent?
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2574
Historical Revisionism: What It Is and What It Is Not
Historical revisionism is nothing new, and recent attempts to label an “antiracist” approach to history have wrongly been called “revisionist.” To better understand revisionism, one must first be grounded in reality, then apply reality-based thought to studying the past. Original article: Historical Revisionism: What It Is and What It Is Not
Dec 09, 2024•Ep. 2573
Slavery and Collective Guilt
Modern progressives are obsessed with collective guilt, demanding that Americans pay reparations for slavery even though it ended in the US 160 years ago. However, by employing collective guilt and collective punishment, those seeking reparations violate natural law. Original article: Slavery and Collective Guilt
Dec 03, 2024•Ep. 2572
“Victory Plan” or Deadly Delusion? Zelensky’s Perilous Five-Point Plan
The darling of America‘s political elites, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, now touts a “Five-Point Plan” that surely will extend the war and ultimately make his country even worse off. It is time to end this farce. Original article: “Victory Plan” or Deadly Delusion? Zelensky’s Perilous Five-Point Plan
Dec 03, 2024•Ep. 2571
The Indian Rope Trick
The political theorist Anthony de Jasay takes on the left‘s ideas of equality, and David Gordon is there to agree—and disagree. Jasay likens the left‘s view of equality to the Indian Rope Trick. Original article: The Indian Rope Trick
Dec 03, 2024•Ep. 2570
The Economics of Prepping
While people who “prep” for disaster (called preppers) are ridiculed by political elites and their media, their actions are perfectly rational. In this article, economist Mark Thornton explains why prepping for natural disasters makes economic sense. Original article: The Economics of Prepping
Dec 03, 2024•Ep. 2569
Lessons from Reconstruction
Using state power to enforce social orthodoxy is always a recipe for disaster. Radical Republican governments in the post-war South attempted to do just that, sowing seeds of hatred and discord in the process. Original article: Lessons from Reconstruction
Dec 03, 2024•Ep. 2568