Why Economics Matters

Entrepeneurs and Uncertainty: Back to the Future

Matthew McCaffrey — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind the markets and prices that provide goods and services to consumers. Human action looks to the future. Uncertainty is always with us. We don't want to make awful decisions about our scarce resources. Entrepreneurs shoulder risks and, if they guess right, collect profit as rewards. If wrong, they lose.

A private seminar presented at the Mises Institute on 21 February 2012.

Economics and the Power of Ideas

Dan Sanchez — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Private property is the only foundational institution that society needs to build a civilization. The 99% had rotten lives until there was a revolution in ideas in the 1700s. Laissez-faire ideas changed the ideas of the 99%. The industrial revolution flowered.

A private seminar presented at the Mises Institute on 21 February 2012.

Where Did the iPhone Come From?

Mark Thornton — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Mainstream economics is fixated on market failure. The solution for mainstream economists is always heavy regulation. Capitalism permits global scale enterprises to thrive despite bureaucratic red tape. A private seminar presented at the Mises Institute on 21 February 2012.

Question and Answer Period

Mises Institute — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0500

Some responses to questions included: Trends in economics are dangerously negative. Keynesians are more unrealistic than ever. Mises says you only have two choices in coordinating resources: socialism or capitalism. Prohibition of drugs leads to violence and death.Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 20 June 2013. Featuring Daniel Sanchez, Matthew McCaffrey and Mark Thornton.

From The Art of War to the Science of Economics

Matthew McCaffrey — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0500

How can The Art of War help you think like an economist? Because resources are scarce we have to put the goods we do have to the best use. Sun Tzu understood that war is destruction and resources must be preserved. The only good war is one won without fighting.

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 20 June 2013. Includes an introduction by Mark Thornton.

The Life and Works of Ludwig von Mises

Dan Sanchez — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0500

What did the diamond and water paradox have to do with an important Austrian tenet that reversed economic thinking?

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 20 June 2013. Includes an introduction by Mark Thornton.

World Currency War

Mark Thornton — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0500

Societies' transactions are generally based upon money. Thus, putting control of money, banking and credit in the hands of a monopoly cartel like our Federal Reserve is a major intervention in free markets. Keynesians believe that all crises can be resolved by throwing money at them and protecting local economies by throwing up walls against trade. Beggar thy neighbor policies are now called Quantitative Easing. Just like regular protectionism this currency war approach will lead to real wars.

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 20 June 2013.