A long time ago, in a forum far, far away, there was a subforum gathering research topics for students and economists of the Austrian School. Few were actually chosen, but it was an interesting repository of ideas to toy with. Let this thread continue in this tradition, may it be more successful than its predecessor.
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On the Origin of Ideas:
Ideas have consequences, but they also have their origins. While it is often argued, that a change of purpose is acceptable over years, it would be still interesting to have a collection or important present ideas, and where they came from. Some examples:
...and so on.
I think Austrians need a more comprehensive sociology, and a theory that demonstrates the business cycle as a particular form of a price control in the banking sector.
-Jon
To darkness I condemn you...
Here's a little provocative title, that could be used for a large study or even a book:
"The laws that built America, and it's organized crime."
Peter Sidor:On the Origin of Ideas: Ideas have consequences, but they also have their origins. While it is often argued, that a change of purpose is acceptable over years, it would be still interesting to have a collection or important present ideas, and where they came from. Some examples: origin of the social state/welfare state copyright, that was instituted to censor undesired religious texts the marijuana ban in the US ...and so on.
In the LRC article "Anarchy and the Law of the Somalis", it is mentioned, that criminal law was created in order to confiscate an always greater part of the restitutions for victims of crimes. There are some resource on that matter.
Jon Irenicus: I think Austrians need a more comprehensive sociology, and a theory that demonstrates the business cycle as a particular form of a price control in the banking sector. -Jon
I agree with extending praxeology into sociology, I also think it could be applied to political science successfully.
As for the business cycle being the result of a particular price control, I think anybody with a sufficient understanding of the buisness cycle could make that point, although perhaps a paper might be useful. But really all one needs to understand is that whereas most prices coordinate the use of the scarce goods intratemporally, the interest rate coordinates the intertemporal use of goods. As such when one fixes the prices of any other goods (beer, for example) below the market price one will have excess demand and too little supply for the that good. On the other hand, when one fixes the price of credit (the demand for future goods) too low for the market the result will be too little supply of future goods, and excess demand, however produces will act as if this were the market price and act accordingly, this means that there will be numerous investments made without the underlying preference structure to accomodate this.
I'd like to see an extension of Hoppe's praxeological arguments concerning the nature of a stateless society, meaning, continuing to show why a stateless society will be characterized by largely conservative individuals, on the same note an exposition into the land arrangements of a stateless society is also greatly needed. I'd also like to see a development of the arguments made by Hoppe as concerns the poiltical economic of monarchy, and what the nature would be of various sorts of monarchical arrangments.
I think for the large part, Austrian business cycle is a dead end, except I suppose some empirical illustrations may well be of some use. The same applies for the socialist caclulation debate. Especially now that it seems that the debate between the Hayekians and the Misesians in this regard seems to have taken place.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
"Government estimation index"
It could be fun to crunch a few numbers on large-scale government projects, and compare how much their costs tend to be underrated versus the real costs the programs incur over time. (Sadly, it may turn out to be possible to include only the most direct costs, with many more dire effects left aside - still, it would make for interesting data.)
Thus, you could say "Yeah, that's a nice estimate. But given that the government underestimates its costs on average by a factor of 11.7, the probable cost will be ..." :)
The welfare state is unfortunately an ancient concept, going back to at least the Roman Empire in the old world, and the Inca Empire also was one.
The marijuana ban was put in place because Mexican immigrants smoked it, so it was a way to discriminate against them.
Periodically the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
Thomas Jefferson
hayekianxyz: Jon Irenicus: I think Austrians need a more comprehensive sociology, and a theory that demonstrates the business cycle as a particular form of a price control in the banking sector. -Jon I agree with extending praxeology into sociology, I also think it could be applied to political science successfully.
I've been using it a lot in relation to Anthropology, if that helps at all...
Cam Nedland: I've been using it a lot in relation to Anthropology, if that helps at all...
How are you doing this? I remember Rothbard (re: Höppe's argumentation ethics) saying something like that he wonder what other fields axiology will be adapted to. I always sort of wondered how this would be done. (Maybe I am just dense, sorry.)
Anyhow, I had trouble googling for this a while back and don't have time now to open it again... Mises's Suggested Research Topics, 1950-1968
Why does many a man write? Because he does not possess enough character not to write. ---Karl Kraus.
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