In order to make the data “talk,” economists utilize a range of statistical methods that vary from highly complex models to a simple display of historical data.

It is generally held that by means of statistical correlations one can organize historical data into a useful body of information, which in turn can serve as the basis for assessments of the state of the economy.

It is held that through the application of statistical methods on historical data, one can extract the facts of reality regarding the state of the economy.

Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 19, no. 2 (Summer 2016)

This ambitious new book on the foundations of money and monetary institutions, based on the the author’s Ph.D. disseration defended in 2011 at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, Spain (supervised by Gabriel Calzada), is an impressive interdisciplinary exercise. Part I of the book, “Metaphysics,” dwells into the nature, origin, and valuation of money.

Many Americans have received more telemarketing and scam calls than usual over the past few months, and they are wondering what their number is doing on the National Do Not Call Registry, maintained by the FTC.

Some of the calls are clearly only meant for the most gullible, like those from some generic “card services” who somehow represent Visa, Mastercard, and all of the major banks and want to increase credit limits.

Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 19, no. 2 (Summer 2016)

In Finance Behind the Veil of Money, Eduard Braun (2014, pp.