Audio Mises Wire

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  

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  

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  

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  

Supporters of intellectual property laws claim that people will not innovate unless they are protected by such legislation. In reality, people are more likely to be innovative when they encounter real free markets, not markets characterized by artificial scarcity. Original article: How Intellectual Property Laws Stifle Innovation

The outcry from establishment media figures following the decision by the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times to not endorse a presidential candidate shows how out of touch they have become about how much we rely on them.  Original article: The Establishment Media Is Unaware of Its Growing Irrelevance

Capitalism is characterized by the private ownership of capital, coming from Lockean homesteading principles, and not from state coercion and force. Original article: What “Capitalism” Really Means

Capitalism is characterized by the private ownership of capital, coming from Lockean homesteading principles, and not from state coercion and force. Original article: Nine Months of Javier Milei as President of Argentina: A Critical Assessment

As the Federal Reserve engineers one financial bubble after another, we are reminded that the Austrian Business Cycle Theory explains what is happening and how there is a better way.  Original article: Why Austrian Business Cycle Theory Is Better than Keynesianism

Contrary to anti-freedom myths, "greedy" business owners don't decide what prices will be for goods and services.  Original article: Why Austrian Business Cycle Theory Is Better than Keynesianism

Contrary to anti-freedom myths, "greedy" business owners don't decide what prices will be for goods and services.  Original article: Don’t Knock Nock

While it is tempting to think of state power as being maintained by sheer force, it still needs a “theological” justification, be it secular or religious. The US state is no exception. Original article: The Political Theology That Maintains State Power

One of the oldest and most harmful economic fallacies is the belief that, at best, economic exchange is a zero-sum activity. However, free exchange in an unhampered market is always positive. Original article: Exchange is Not a Zero-Sum Game

So-called economic moderates claim to support free-market capitalism, but then say that markets still need “some” government oversight. Free markets, however, don't need government-based rules because markets effectively regulate themselves. Original article: Free Markets Don’t Need Government Regulation

In his failed 1896 presidential campaign, inflationist William Jennings Bryan declared that he would “not crucify mankind on a cross of gold.” But at least even Bryan favored silver money. Today‘s political candidates will crucify us on a cross of paper. Original article: Today’s Pols Are All Bryanites

As with any other government-controlled institution, a high level of public skepticism about elections is healthy. Original article: It’s Good to be Skeptical of Elections

Voting is controversial among Austro-Libertarians for many reasons. However, if one does choose to vote, one should understand that the state is never constrained by the voters and cannot be “reformed.” Original article: How to Vote for Liberty

The iconic Hermès Birkin bag helps illustrate Carl Menger’s “Theory of the Good,” and Ludwig von Mises’s explanation of human action. Original article: The Secret Economic Theory Behind the $100,000 Birkin Bag

Nicolaus Copernicus is best known for his observation that the sun was at the center of our solar system, but he also made a number of astute observations about economics.  Original article: Copernicus Was Also Right in Economics

While men like Murray Rothbard and Ludwig von Mises believed in “just” war, nonetheless, they did not believe that wars lead to “just” outcomes, as war leads to destruction of civilization. The outcome of the American war of secession proved that point eloquently. Original article: Peace as a Prerequisite for Civilization

One of the important points made by Carl Menger in his 1871 Principles is that people ordinally rank their preferences, valuing some things more than others. While this seems to be a common-sense principle, it actually has important implications for economic theory. Original article: Why People Pay Higher Prices for Some Goods Relative to Others    

Long before there was Alan Greenspan to turn the Federal Reserve into Casino Central, there was John Law, France's minister of finance. Original article: The Birth of “Irrational Exuberance”    

Had Republicans not vastly expanded federal criminal law during the infamous Wall Street prosecutions 40 years ago, lawfare would not have become such a potent political weapon. Original article: If Republicans Are Against Lawfare, They Shouldn’t Have Unleashed It    

In this review of Scott Horton's book, Enough Already, we see that the wars the US has waged for the past quarter century in the Middle East have been a disaster. Millions of deaths and a massive refugee crisis later, the unmistakable verdict is in. Original article: Ten Lessons on US Foreign Policy from Enough Already    

David Gordon takes another look at Thomas Nagel's Equality and Partiality. While he finds some of Nagel's arguments appealing, they still are inferior to Murray Rothbard's systematic interpretation of natural rights. Original article: Nagel on Libertarianism and Other Things