Minor Issues

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...

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/IssuesFre...

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...

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/Is...

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? a...

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...

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 bodi...

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 under...

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/Mi...

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 Mone...

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 ide...

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 M...

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 a...

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 ec...

In this episode, Mark Thornton discusses Consumer Confidence as a reliable indicator of the current economy. Individual components of the index are declining, but do not yet indicate a looming crisis or recession. Mark thinks that it does indicate, along with other economic statistics, of a clear worsening in the economy and his predictions for 2024. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/Min...

In this week's episode, Mark examines the Chocolate Crisis of 2024.  Cocoa prices have skyrocketed. The media is trying to paint this as another example of the ravages of Climate Change, but the market is making all of its typical adjustments to ensure that chocolate products continue to flow to consumers, and also making adjustments to improve the long-term conditions. Be sure to follow Mino...

In this week's episode, Mark takes another look at the Producer Price Index. As suggested in an episode from September 2023 (see Mises.org/MI_35 ), the PPI has indeed leveled off and is no longer "contributing" to the Federal Reserve's "Immaculate Disinflation." Mark points out that wholesale price increases are already in the long PPI "pipeline" and will likely make the Fed's announced plans fall...

The inflation news from the Federal Reserve is once again disappointing. All the measures were up and higher than predicted by the experts. Mark recaps this news and compares his guesses about the economy to the forecasts of the Federal Reserve and Wall Street economists. Mark also reiterates his predictions about rate cuts and the economy.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIs...

What happens when war shuts down the Strait of Hormuz? Mark looks at the economics and causes of a growing list of problems with the "chokepoints" of international trade: the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and Baltimore harbor. Will these chokepoints become scapegoats for the Federal Reserve, and could war closing the Strait of Hormuz become a genuine world crisis? Be sure to follow Minor Issues at...

In this week’s episode, Mark links the Global Climate change agenda to the old “Population Bomb” of the 1970s. He shows that climate alarmists are really de-populationists in environmentalist clothing—both of which run counter to science and promote personal, irrational agendas. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues . Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation...

In this episode, Mark shares the latest video in the Mises Institute's The Costs of the Progressives series, "The Drug War," which cites Mark's research on the economics of prohibition. "The Costs of the Progressives" is a historical series that focuses on great leaps in Washington's consolidation of power on a variety of issues that affect our day-to-day lives, and the costs we pay with our taxes...

In this week's episode, Mark looks at the opportunities ahead of us for significant reforms and dismantling the State. Increasingly, more people realize that the government has been lying to them and working against their interests. Many also realize that Austrian economists, in contrast with Mainstream economists, have been presenting the true picture of the State. The political landsca...

In this week's episode, Mark examines Ludwig von Mises's important contributions to free trade theory. Free trade is more important than people think, and most government intervention is protectionist—or aids the promoters of protectionism. Trade causes civilization to come about. Protectionism is the greatest threat to our way of life, and a danger to human life, itself. Be sure to follow Minor I...