Audio Mises Wire

Contra critical theorists, who claim human reason is nothing more than a social construct, reason is both understandable and universal. We cannot abandon it, for if we do, we abandon liberty itself. Original Article: Understanding Reason Is Paramount to Understanding Liberty  

The watchword in higher education today is decolonization, which depends upon what Ludwig von Mises called racial polylogism. Mises understood that polylogism undermines the very foundations of scientific thought. Original Article: The Intellectual Poverty of Racial Polylogism  

We are seeing Joseph Schumpeter's concept of creative destruction at work in higher education. The shake-up will continue. Original Article: Creative Destruction in American Higher Education: Schumpeter in Action  

Supporters of the new California minimum wage law for fast-food restaurants claim it will bolster economic opportunity for lower-income people. It actually will be a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. Original Article: The Consequences of California’s New Minimum Wage Law  

Israel’s defenders act like Netanyahu and his allies have had no choice but to react to October 7 in the manner that they have. But that isn’t true. Original Article: What Israel Is Doing to Gaza Is a Choice  

Politicians will invoke the venerable just war theory when they believe they can manipulate the facts in their favor. In truth, it is the rare government that engages in a justified conflict. Original Article: Why Politicians Cannot Be Trusted with Just War Theory  

Do Austrian theories also apply to financial markets? Original Article: Man, Economy, and Financial Markets  

Contrary to mainstream economists, credit expansion that is not backed by real savings leads ultimately to an economic downturn.  Original Article: Lending without Saving Brings Recession and Poverty  

Political and academic elites have successfully convinced the public that they should fear private enterprise. However, people really should fear an out-of-control government. Original Article: They Want to Scare You with Myths of “Unhampered Capitalism”  

Contrary to popular belief, regulatory agencies do not improve the quality of our lives, nor do they provide safety or security. They need to be abolished, as free markets provide their own effective forms of regulation. Original Article: The Case for Abolishing Regulatory Agencies  

Ludwig von Mises was ridiculed for his assertion that “middle of the road” leads to socialism in the end. As the federal government swallows increasing amounts of the economy, we see that Mises was right. Original Article: No, Mises Was not Wrong about the Middle of the Road  

Despite the media definitions of the Trump trial as a “hush money trial,” the actual criminal charges are contrived and legally unprecedented. This is a show trial. Original Article: The Hush-Money Case against Trump Is Ridiculous and Revealing  

Unfortunately, these assaults on the First Amendment continue to find support even among people who pretend to be in support of freedom and opposed to federal power. Original Article: War Hysteria Fuels New Attacks on Free Speech  

Many people are selling their gold to make ends meet. Others are buying gold as insurance against mounting price inflation.  Original Article: As the Dollar Falters, Gold Becomes Insurance, Not Speculation  

For most Americans, the debate is about what size the welfare state should be. But why is there a welfare state at all?  Original Article: Thinking Properly about Public Welfare  

Mainstream economists claim money has purchasing power because the government issuing the money has so declared. That makes no sense. Original Article: How Does Money in Our Possession Acquire Value?  

Despite statements from Biden and other progressives, profits in a market economy are not a form of plunder. Instead, they represent entrepreneurial gains that mostly benefit consumers. Original Article: Profit Is Not Plunder  

The decades of American and European intervention in Africa are coming to an end, and things are even worse for American interests there. Perhaps overthrowing governments and trying to dictate political outcomes wasn’t a good idea. Original Article: Blowback in the African Coup Belt  

In a recent symposium on Murray Rothbard's For a New Liberty, philosopher Matt Zwolinski takes issue with Rothbard on Murray’s views of freedom and property rights. Original Article: Zwolinski Tries to Take Rothbard to the Mat  

While Austrian and feminist critiques of neoclassical economics have some similarities, they also differ strongly on important points. Feminist critiques are based upon what Mises called polylogism, while Austrian critiques are based upon praxeology. Original Article: Can There Be an Alliance between Austrian and Feminist Schools of Economics?  

In publicly opposing apartheid, William H. Hutt saw how legal segregation kept black South Africans from pursuing legitimate economic goals. To Hutt, apartheid deprived people of equality of economic opportunity, which kept them in poverty. Original Article: State Coercion and the Injustice of Apartheid  

Despite the accusations that Javier Milei is a fascist in libertarian clothes, many of his reforms have been successful in reversing some of the damage done to Argentina's economy by real fascists. Original Article: No, Milei Is Not a Fascist  

Somalia is a country invented by European intervention. The region known as Somaliland ought to be free to secede from this imperialist creation.  Original Article: Somaliland Needs Self-Determination  

Progressive historians, journalists, and politicians claim that the Industrial Revolution and the growth of industry brought poverty and exploitation to American workers. The truth is much different, even if it is rarely heard. Original Article: The American Labor Market: Fact vs. Fiction  

Congress claims to have targeted TikTok because China's government allegedly uses it to spy on Americans. Besides dealing with a nonexistent threat, the bill gives the federal government vast new powers to misuse. Original Article: The TikTok Ban Is the Next Patriot Act