Mises Media

Liberalism applied to world affairs: national self-determination, free trade and freedom of movement as the foundations of peace, and critiques of nationalism, imperialism, and colonialism.

The economic case for private property and the free market, including the impracticability of socialism, the failures of interventionism, and the problems of cartels, monopoly, and bureaucracy.

The first principles of liberal politics—private property, freedom, peace, and equality before the law—with a critique of the doctrine of force, fascism, and the proper limits of government.

Mises defines liberalism as a program for material welfare grounded in reason, ties it to capitalism, and examines the psychological roots of antiliberal resentment.

Ludwig von Mises’s preface to the English edition: what classical liberalism is, why its program rests on private property, and how “liberal” came to mean nearly its opposite in America.

Tom Woods frames Ludwig von Mises's book around a single question—when the state may legitimately initiate force—and the classical liberal’s insistence on a very high threshold for it.

Guido Hülsmann examines the interest rate through both economic analysis and moral theology—tracing the debate from Aristotle through Aquinas and Heinrich Pesch to the Austrian School. His conclusion overturns the traditional doctrine: interest income from voluntary lending is intrinsically just and good, both for the contracting parties and for society as a whole, because it funds the division of...

Contrary to a common—and incorrect—critique of Rothbard, he was not a fanciful purist who refused to support any political movement that failed to be perfectly libertarian in every way.  Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-rothbard-sided-american-revolutionaries

In the wake of Alan Greenspan's recent passing, Bob revisits two contested claims about his legacy: did the Fed under Greenspan fuel the housing bubble, and did that bubble cause the 2008 financial crisis?  Related: Bob's Article from October, 2007, "The Worst Recession in 25 years?": Mises.org/HAP557a Peter Schiff was Right (2006-2007 Edition): Mises.org/HAP557b Mark Thornton, 2004, "Housing...

Most readers are familiar with the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They are less familiar with the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/consolidating-federal-power-under-civil-rights-act-1957

Some people seem to think the Constitution of 1787 is pretty much the same thing as the Declaration of Independence. They're wrong. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/dont-confuse-declaration-independence-constitution

In celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we remember names like Jefferson and Washington. Unfortunately, the man probably most responsible for push this nation to independence, Thomas Paine, is mostly forgotten. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/no-paine-no-declaration

Mark Thornton delays part three of his series on American government in favor of something lighter for the 250th: the story of kudzu, the vine that ate the South. Japanese gardeners brought it to America in 1876 as an ornamental plant. Private interest stayed limited. Then FDR's Soil Conservation Service paid farmers to blanket millions of acres with it—to fix erosion and dust bowl conditions that...

The US “celebrates” its 250th birthday today, but not everyone is celebrating. We bring back a classic from 10 years ago that is even more relevant today. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/its-fourth-july-why-am-i-sad

In the deepest sense, the American Revolution was a conscious majority revolution on behalf of libertarianism and against power. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/americas-libertarian-revolution

In this episode of the Radio Rothbard, we look at Murray Rothbard's monumental history of the American Revolution, Conceived in Liberty.  In this work, Rothbard explores the philosophy, tactics, and debates that led to the separation of the American colonies from the British state. In spite of abuses by Patriots against the Loyalists, the revolutionaries were still right. Be sure to follow Ra...

Jean-Luc Mélenchon—the leader of the French far-left party “La France Insoumise”—says it's no problem that the French government's debt now tops more than 100% of GDP. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/french-far-left-downplays-government-debt-order-spend-even-more

Many largely accept Jefferson’s statements about rights, liberty, consent, criminality, and the role of government, however, many come short of adopting Jefferson’s radical libertarian political convictions. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/tracing-jeffersons-libertarian-thought-declaration-independence

Automatic citizenship for the children of foreign nationals on US soil will only further politicize immigration and increase calls for more limits on migrants in the US. Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The dangers posed by a paper fiat currency were well-known even in the early days of the U.S. republic. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/patriotism-shouldnt-apply-debauched-dollar

Bob walks through what Ludwig von Mises wrote about slavery in Human Action, arguing that the institution was not — as the 1619 Project claims — the foundation of American capitalism. Related: Ludwig von Mises, Human Action: Mises.org/HAP556a

As technology and AI grow more sophisticated, people commonly believe that they also are eliminating uncertainty. Nothing could be further from the truth. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-history-refuses-stay-planned

The modern state has become not only the guardian of political order but also the architect of cultural identity. We must separate culture from the state. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/culture-state-and-problem-liberty

Despite the eternal promises of members of Congress, government office space is rapidly deteriorating. Unfortunately, Congress has no plans to deal with the problem. All of this is easily explained by Austrian economics. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/surprise-surprise-government-capital-stock-deteriorating

This decision—as with birthright citizenship in general—will increase political conflict over the presence of foreign nationals—both legal and illegal—within the United States. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/birthright-citizenship-ruling-will-create-more-conflict-over-immigration