Money and Banking

In a market economy, writes Robert Murphy, the interest rate is not merely a lever to stimulate or depress economic growth.

In recent years an increasing number of economists have understandably become disillusioned by the inflationary record of fiat currencies. They have therefore concluded that leaving the government and its central bank power to fine tune the money supply, but abjuring them to use that power wisely in accordance with various rules, is simply leaving the fox in charge of the proverbial henhouse.

Mark Thornton discusses the irrational fear of deflation at this Austrian Workshop seminar.

If the goal is to increase confidence in money, writes Clifford Thies, putting Reagan's face on it won't do it.

Presented as part of the Mises Institute’s Austrian Workshop seminar series on 22 June 2004 in Auburn, Alabama.

The common wisdom used to be that a person shouldn't go into debt. This view was based upon centuries of experience. Bad things can happen, thus money should be saved just in case, not borrowed. But, now people follow the government's lead, the government will never get out of debt and neither will the people.

Sponsored by the Mises Institute and held in Houston, Texas; September 22-23, 1995.

Deflation was the great threat that never materialized, writes Gardner Goldsmith. The dollar still sinks in value.

Proposals for monetary reform are ubiquitous, but Murray N. Rothbard argued for the 100% gold coin standard.

Recorded in Houston, Texas; October 27, 1984.