Government's power to control our lives—its power to tax and spend, and the enormous, but largely cloaked power to print money—has created the “great divide” in America. Unfortunately, it has pitted Americans against each other. "Main Street Uncertainty Reaches All-Time High" (Small Business Optimism Index, September 2024): Mises.org/Minor_93_A Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at...

Prohibition is one way the government swings the fist of violence into our daily lives. Mark Thornton presented this talk at the Mises Institute's Supporters Summit in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on October 12, 2024. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

What explains Bitcoin? Why does it exist, and why is “nothing” worth $70,000 a piece? Moreover, there are millions of owners of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and yet few real transactions take place relatively speaking. How does this relate to the coming of a BRICs currency, the reserve status of the petrol-dollar, and the war on cash? Mark Thornton discusses Gresham’s Law, one of the most ancient and impactful principles of modern human society. Order a free paperback copy of Murray...

Why do people prep? The mainstream media demeans preppers as irrational and out of touch with reality. From a scientific point of view, however, prepping is rational, efficient, and very normal. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Children in the US are raised to be communists. Most of the parents are, too, and don’t even know it. It doesn’t matter if you send them to public or private schools, as all degree-granting schools bias the learning process against the competitive, capitalist, “liberal,” open-minded society—even though its benefits are all around us helping to feed, cloth, house, and protect us. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at...

This Sunday, September 29, marks the birthday of Ludwig von Mises, and all fall campaign donations will be doubled in celebration. Join us! Mises.org/mi5 John Maynard Keynes was an English “economist” who spawned a revolution in economic thinking that emerged out of a cesspool of socialist thinking in Britain, creating a tidal wave of anti-economics that overwhelmed and dominated the economics profession worldwide, known as Keynesian economics. His experience as an investor is very...

This week kicks off the Mises Institute's Fall Campaign. Make a $100+ donation or a recurring donation of $5 or more, and Mark will send you a signed copy of The Skyscraper Curse: mises.org/mi5 The hatred and disparagement of gold as money and the gold standard has become standard dogma of and a pillar of the modern State. Mr. Buffet and Mr. Ramsey don’t know what they are talking about and have failed to look at the facts of history—any kind of history—in voicing their opinions. In complete...

There is good evidence that the Skyscraper Curse is dead. But what does that mean? Mark Thornton digs down to the foundations to see what the ramifications are. It could mean historical changes are in the works! Download The Skyscraper Curse at Mises.org/Curse. Order a free paperback copy of Per Bylund’s How to Think About the Economy at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Federal Reserve seems to have finally publicly committed to its rate-cutting cycle—specifically the federal funds rate or policy rate. The Fed wanted to remain perceived as coming to the economy's rescue, rather than goosing the stock market higher. But the Federal Reserve is playing a confidence game with the general public, and the Fed can't save you. What insights can we learn from Austrian Business Cycle Theory? "10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant...

The phrase, old school economics, is often used positively or approvingly by many, but it's rarely explained. What is this school and where is it located? You can be sure that it is not what is taught in most college classrooms today. It's definitely not Keynesian or Marxist economics. But what is it? Order a free paperback copy of Per Bylund’s How to Think About the Economy at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Mark discusses the issues of homelessness, poverty, technology, and government in two award-winning episodes of the 1995 Star Trek series, Deep Space 9. As in the entire Star Trek genre, the basic condition of scarcity is overlooked, particularly in the cases of issues back on Earth. However, considering the roles of scarcity and incentives, Mark suggests some real-life reforms. Order a free paperback copy of Per Bylund’s How to Think About the Economy at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor...

Massive increases in government debts, much of it to foreigners, a willingness to pay for ongoing bureaucratic expenses with budget deficits, and a tidal wave of interest payments on the national debt. Could a so-called Democratic Socialist government be described as a role model for the United States?  Order a free paperback copy of Per Bylund’s How to Think About the Economy at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

With Mises University over and the stock market showing the first crack in its armor, it's time to check the underbelly of the economy’s mighty growth industry. Check out "Big Tech Doesn't Want You Anymore" with Patrick Boyle: Mises.org/MI_81 Download The Skyscraper Curse by Mark Thornton at Mises.org/Curse. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Mark Thornton reviews Philip Duffy's book about the mysterious Irish banker Richard Cantillon (1680–1734). Many crucial Austrian insights have been found in the economics of Cantillon and his lone surviving publication, Essai sur la Nature du Commerce en General. Indeed, the origins of economic theory itself can be traced to CantilIon. Purchase A Tale of Four Cities: From Invisible Hand to Cancel Culture by Philip G. Duffy at Mises.org/DuffyBook. Download An Essay on Economic Theory by...

The great reckoning seems to be following the course that Mark Thornton has been charting by guesswork. In other words, the great train wreck seems to be happening. Mark shares his current outlook. What the Fed does, what the stock market does, and what the economy does cannot be predicted in the same sense that the mechanical and physical sciences can predict simple relationships of physical bodies and forces. "10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity"...

Trade is under tremendous threat from both major political parties in the United States and their presidential candidates. In this episode, Mark Thornton discusses his new paper, "Ludwig von Mises on Trade, Human Development, and Human Progress," explains how Mises examined trade holistically and integrated it into a powerful social theory. Ideologically, the commitment to free trade must be understood and sustained in order for us to continue to receive the benefits of trade in the...

This 4th of July holiday, take a moment to re-declare independence from your government and commit yourself to being a more appreciative member of your voluntary society—and for the people upon which you depend. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

Mark Thornton looks at the potential for everyone to run for the exits in the financial markets. In the absence of a gold monetary system and full reserve deposit banking, only the Fed can engineer economy-wide liquidity crises or fundamental crises. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

Oklahoma City recently approved the construction of the Legends Tower at a record-setting height of 1,907 feet. Is this the skyscraper curse in the making? Or, could it be an indication of a global stock market boom? Download The Skyscraper Curse at Mises.org/Curse. Follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

Mark Thornton joins Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop on Radio Rothbard to discuss the current state of the economy and what to expect as we near the election. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

As the world heads further down the road to trade protectionism and war, Mark takes a look at what Ludwig von Mises dubbed the "Montaigne Fallacy." This fallacy is based on the illogical idea that with voluntary exchange, one person's benefits come at the expense of the other, or what we call "zero sum thinking." Mark shows exactly why the idea is wrong and explains that Montaigne's other ideas are also wrongheaded.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Order a free...

In this week's episode, Mark reviews several ways to fight the Fed's price inflation. Adopting these strategies proactively can improve our lives economically and psychologically—and even improve our health. They can make your family less vulnerable and improve your self-confidence. Register for the 2024 Mises Institute Supporters Summit in Hilton Head, South Carolina, at Mises.org/SS24 Join the Mises Institute at Freedom Fest 2024! Mises.org/FreedomFest24 Be sure to follow Minor Issues at...

In this week's episode, Mark analyzes the record high price of copper. He explains why Wall Street focuses on the price of copper and why this crucial economic indicator seems at odds with the weak global economy. This has serious implications for our economic future. Get a free copy of Mark's book, The Skyscraper Curse, for the rest of the story: Mises.org/Curse. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done...

In this week's episode, Mark looks at the current state of the commercial real estate market, especially the problematic refinancing requirement in an environment of lower prices and a declining tenant base. Combined with a higher interest rate, this market faces difficult financing over the next three years. This is another negative manifestation of the Fed's control over interest rates in our economy. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Order a free paperback copy of...