Minor Issues

In this episode, Mark explores the psychology and economics of extractive industries, from mining to energy production. Despite their crucial role in advancing civilization—providing everything from metals to fuel—these industries are now vilified, especially by younger generations influenced by environmentalist ideology. But what are the real economic consequences of restricting resource developm...

On this episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton examines the relentless attacks on Amazon, from labor disputes to environmental concerns. Is Amazon truly exploiting workers, or is the unionization push just a case of economic envy? Mark dissects the claims, debunks myths about wages and working conditions, and explores the economic realities behind one of the world’s biggest employers. Tune in for...

There are many important twists and turns in human history, but from the long perspective, the history of humans can be seen as a very positive upward sloping trend in all the important standard of living markers. Why don't Austrian economists talk about trends? "The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs" (Minor Issues Podcast): Mises.org/MI_78 "Ludwig von Mises on Trade, Human Development, and Human Pr...

Can tariff increases make up for the future revenue losses from extending the income tax reductions from President Trump’s first term? This latest political hot potato is a false scenario and a dangerous one. It puts our standard of living at a critical crossroads. Mark Thornton identifies the missing road signs. See also "Why Smart People Are Rightly Confused About Tariffs" (Unanimity Podcas...

It was not long ago that signs for “Help Wanted” seemed to be in every store window. However, they are now being replaced with “Store Closing” signs. This switcheroo tells us volumes about how people in the economy are adjusting to the Fed’s money printing business. See also, "Profit and Loss" by Ludwig von Mises: https://mises.org/library/book/profit-and-loss Enter the raffle to win a ticket to t...

According to a recent Gallup poll , “Americans are far more satisfied with the way things are going in their own life than with the US in general.” Opinion polls and the latest electoral results, however, are at odds with the facts as presented by mainstream media, government statistical offices, and even the stock market. What is going on? Register to attend Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in...

Pundits have labeled piggy banks small change, irrational and wasteful, “just sitting around doing nothing.” As usual, they are wrong. Register to attend Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in Tampa, February 22, 2025, at Mises.org/Tampa25 . Use promo code Minor25 for 10% off the ticket price. Enter the 2025 Bitcoin vs. Gold Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/bitcoin-gold--2025-entry Ord...

In the US, the price of hamburger meat ended 2024 near a record high of $5.60 per pound. Is there a magic wand to solve the problem of high beef prices, as well as high pork and chicken prices? Yes, actually. Mark Thornton explains. Additional Resources "Where’s the Beef?" (Minor Issues Podcast): Mises.org/MI_36 "Average Price: Ground Beef" (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): https://fred.stlouis...

Cuba was once a famous vacation destination for Americans. Although we can now travel to Cuba, most Americans have been deprived of various forms of trading with the Cuban people. Likewise, Cubans have been deprived of trading with Americans and visiting their American relatives. Does anyone think this situation is good for Americans? Does anyone think this impasse is good for Cubans? Enter the 20...

Mark Thornton looks forward to 2025—and a little bit backward at 2024—and projects what we might see in the coming new year. He also shares his economic "wish list" for the younger generation in 2025.  Enter the 2025 Bitcoin vs. Gold Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/bitcoin-gold--2025-entry Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at...

Will Americans slay our Leviathan government and restore the American dream? Or, will we fail, and continue to allow cronies, fat-cat politicians, and bureaucrats to live off the fruits of our productive labor? Mark Thornton discusses some pertinent lessons from the French Revolution. "The Brilliance of Turgot" by Murray N. Rothbard: Mises.org/MI_A The Turgot Collection: Writings, Speeches, and Le...

Is the black-market economy immune to inflation? It would seem that the price of illegal pot has been declining or steady for several years while legal pot is higher in price and everything else has increased in price. We have all been suffering from higher prices, lower quality, and poor service. Is marijuana the magic elixir for economic performance and a cure for the Fed’s inflation? Might it h...

Mark Thornton discusses why increased government spending not only explains ongoing wayward increases in the GDP, employment, and stock price numbers, but also why so many people decided to vote against the incumbent in favor of the challenger, Donald Trump. The key variable is that government spending in GDP statistics does not reflect true economic value the way your personal spending does. "Fed...

In What Has Government Done to Our Money? Murray Rothbard changes your whole view of the world—not just money. He opens our eyes and clarifies the mysteries of money, banking, and the role of government. See also Economic Depressions: Their Cause and Cure by Murray Rothbard: Mises.org/Cure Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/IssuesFr...

The gold standard hampers the growth of government power, which helps people more effectively fight bad policy—like the disastrous War on Drugs. 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 .

Yes, college professors are 10-to-1 Democrats over Republicans. Mark Thornton reviews some of the technical literature on the political ideology of college professors in the United States. "Economics laureates should disclose their political ideologies in policy petitions" by Emre Kuvvet (Economic Affairs, PDF): Mises.org/MI_95_A "Your Kids Are Already Communists, and College Will Make It Wor...

Very difficult economic headwinds of the business cycle are coming right at us. Inflation is still a problem, the employment picture is increasingly difficult, the delinquency rate on credit cards for small banks is at an all-time high, auto loan delinquencies are at a thirteen-year-year high, and asset prices are vulnerable to disappointing business activity levels and profits. Order a free paper...

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...

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 an...

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 paper...

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 pro...

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 f...

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/Min...