The Human Action Podcast

Economist Peter St. Onge summarizes some of the major financial and government news stories of the day. Bob's Mises University Talk 'Price Inflation: Corona vs. QE': Mises.org/HAP432a   Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on February 17: Mises.org/Tampa2024 Use code "Action24" for 15% off admission.   Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Murray R...

Bob goes solo to discuss a recent Twitter controversy, in which opponents of a proposed tax argued that unrealized capital gains couldn't possibly be a form of income. Bob cites both Austrian theory and corporate accounting practice to respond that all capital gains are income, which is not to say that they ought to be taxed. The dispute is important because understanding the definition of "income...

Economic giant Robert Solow died in December 2023. He was a Nobel laureate, and four of his PhD students went on to also receive the Nobel. He is known for the growth model named in his honor.  Garett Jones of GMU joins Bob to discuss the work of Solow, focusing on the possible tension between the Solow model's conclusions about capital accumulation vis-à-vis the Austrian School. Join Tom DiL...

Murray Sabrin joins Bob to discuss his upcoming online course on the economics of the US healthcare system, including practical solutions. The course begins in mid-January 2024.   Dr. Sabrin's New Online Course:  Mises.org/HAP429a IPAK-EDU.org is offering the following discounts: 50% off until Jan 6th with code: COUNTMEIN  25% off after January 6th with code: JACKSAYS75  ...

Tyler Cowen is Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics and chairman of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. With Alex Tabarrok, he runs the popular economics blog Marginal Revolution. Tyler joins Bob to discuss his latest book. Tyler's New Book for Free:  Mises.org/HAP428a Tyler's Blog:  Mises.org/HAP428b  Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on Febru...

On a recent installment of the Pynx debate series, Bob had a friendly debate with Dean Baker on a soft or hard landing in 2024. In this episode of the Human Action Podcast, Bob comments on the key disputes, underlying the differences between the Austrian and Keynesian frameworks. Bob's Debate with Dean Baker:  Mises.org/HAP427a Bob's Paper on the Inverted Yield Curve:  Mises.org/HAP427b...

Daniel Miller, founder and president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, joins Bob to discuss the exciting developments in the push for a referendum on Texas secession. Daniel explains the prospects and then answers common objections to the idea. Daniel Miller's Website:  Mises.org/HAP426a Bob's Pamphlet on Texas Independence:  Mises.org/HAP426b   Human Action Podcast listeners can g...

Ivory Tower economists continue to tell us that the US economy is booming, but consumers disagree. Paul Krugman has a new explanation for the economic gloom: Republicans. In a recent New York Times article, Krugman touts that partisanship and media bias drive a wedge between consumer sentiment and economic reality. But is this actually what’s going on? Dr. Jonathan Newman is back with Bob to break...

The US Government will face another round of federal debt expansion in 2024, but will there be enough creditors to allow their continued spending? Investors are not buying Treasury Debt at forecasted rates, foreign investors are exiting federal debt, and even the Federal Reserve is reducing its treasury holdings. Dr. Jonathan Newman recently wrote for the Mises Wire on this topic, and he joins Bob...

Nicolás Cachanosky was a co-author on the dollarization proposal for Argentina that Javier Milei publicly endorsed. Nicolás explains to Bob the outlines of the proposal, which involves replacing pesos with USD for bank deposits, currency in circulation, and central bank liabilities. How to Dollarize Argentina:  Mises.org/HAP423a Rear More from Nicolás:  Mises.org/HAP423b The Human A...

Murray Sabrin has a long history with the Austrian movement and is one of two people who had Murray Rothbard on his PhD committee. He talks with Bob about his memoir, From Immigrant to Public Intellectual: An American Story. Murray Sabrin's Substack:  Mises.org/HAP422a From Immigrant to Public Intellectual: An American Story:  Mises.org/HAP422b Rothbard's America's Great Depression:...

Mises' work explains how laissez-faire economies have incentives to be peaceful with each other, and how, inversely, tariffs and protectionism create isolation, instability, and war. His words are especially prescient today as conflicts rage and tensions between superpowers continue to rise—mirroring the rise in state power across the globe. Dr. Jonathan Newman joins Bob to break down the history...

"Econ Bro" (who wishes to remain anonymous) is a Nigerian scholar who realized the limits of his conventional economics training and then discovered the work of Murray Rothbard and other Austrians. He now seeks to help his country and the world by spreading the truth. Econ Bro's Article on The State as a Rejection of God Part 1:  Mises.org/HAP420a Econ Bro's Article on The State as a Rejectio...

Recently Yaron Brook and Bryan Caplan debated the merits of anarchism at the Soho Forum. Bob critiques Brook's opening statement.   The Soho Forum Debate:  Mises.org/HAP419a Bob's Book on Market Anarchy, Chaos Theory:  Mises.org/HAP419b Rothbard's Book on Natural Rights and the State, For a New Liberty:  Mises.org/HAP419c Hans-Herman Hoppe's Book on Private Defense, The Private...

Brian Albrecht joins Bob to discuss the work of this year's Nobel (Memorial) Prize Winner Claudia Goldin, with an emphasis on the male-female wage gap. Claudia Golden and Tyler Cowan Discuss The Gender Earnings Gap:  Mises.org/HAP418a Claudia Golden's Paper on The Pill:  Mises.org/HAP418b More Content from Brian:  Mises.org/HAP418c   Join us in Fort Myers on November 4 to cut t...

Jonathan Newman rejoins Bob to explore more of the mechanics and political implications of the Fed's current state of insolvency. The Mercatus Article on Quantitative Easing:  Mises.org/HAP417a Furman's Op-Ed in the WSJ:  Mises.org/HAP417b   Join us in Fort Myers on November 4 to cut through the campaign talking points and offer an uncompromising look at what is coming next. Use Cod...

Andreas Granath is a recovering socialist who discovered the truth and beauty of Austrian economics and libertarianism. He joins Bob to discuss his recent article explaining the different definitions of "inflation" and why it matters. Andreas' Mises Wire Article on CPI:  Mises.org/HAP416a The Silly IMF Tutorial on Inflation:  Mises.org/HAP416b Bob's Mises University Lecture on Price Infl...

Alex Pollock has decades of experience in financial markets, including a position as President of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. He explains to Bob the mechanics of the Fed's current insolvency and its implications for ordinary Americans. Join us in Fort Myers on November 4 to cut through the campaign talking points and offer an uncompromising look at what is coming next. Use Code "FL2023"...

Dr. Jonathan Newman joins Bob to break down the data used in a popular productivity vs. pay graph. They show why you should be wary of charts coming from agenda-driven institutions and how you can spot manipulated data. The charts mentioned during this episode are available at: Mises.org/HAP414Charts Gene Epstein on the Bob Murphy Show: Mises.org/HAP414a The Economic Policy Institute 2022 Paper:&n...

Lawyers for two of the Proud Boys convicted for their role in the January 6 assault on the Capitol are filing appeals claiming that they are being subject to a "trial tax," being punished for rejecting a plea deal offer. Bob uses the occasion to explain his long-standing objection to plea deals. Article on the 'Trail Tax' Imposed on the Proud Boys: Mises.org/HAP413a Ex-Proud Boys Leader Sentenced&...

Ryan McMaken joins Bob to discuss the surprisingly negative reaction (from a Reason writer and Tyler Cowen) to Oliver Anthony's hit song, " Rich Men North of Richmond. " Ryan and Bob defend the lyrics, arguing that Anthony doesn't say anything objectionable from either a libertarian or economic perspective. Listen to Oliver Anthony's "Rich Men North of Richmond": Mises.org/HAP412a Christian Britsc...

Peter Lewin joins Bob to discuss his work with Nicolás Cachanosky on uniting Austrian capital theory with mainstream finance. Peter's New Book on Capital and Finance: Mises.org/LewinBook   Join us in Nashville on September 23rd for a no-holds-barred discussion against the regime. Use Code "HA23" for $45 off admission: Mises.org/Nashville23

Peter St. Onge joins Bob to discuss his latest piece at Mises.org on "China's Doom Loop." They cover a wide range of topics, including the contrast in leadership between Xi Jinping and Deng Xiaoping, the dollar as global reserve currency, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Jim Rogers' prediction that the 21st century would belong to the Chinese empire. Peter's Article on China: Mises.org/HAP410a &n...

Jonathan Newman joins Bob to discuss the argument being put forth by Alan Blinder, James Galbraith, and other progressive economists, who claim that the Federal Reserve's rate hikes couldn't possibly be responsible for the quelling of consumer price inflation. Jonathan and Bob stress the important role of expectations as a "transmission mechanism" from Fed policy to impacts on prices. Galbraith's...

Ryan McMaken joins Bob to discuss the recent US Women's World Cup elimination, and to dispel the myth that markets are discriminatory. After defending Megan Rapinoe's failed penalty kick, they dismantle her outspoken views on "equal pay" in sports, and examine the left's claim that law is required to fix prejudice in the labor market. Join us in Nashville on September 23rd for a no-holds-barr...