Economic discourse is desperately in need of Austrians. Note that I say Austrians rather than Austrian economics. Economics would certainly have much to gain from adopting Austrian economics, but even in the current “Austrian-less” state of economics they would benefit greatly from including Austrians. The reason for this is Austrians’ fascination for, understanding and application of deductive logic, which separates them (us) from all other schools of economic thought.

Another year is under way, and we are in the midst of yet another central bank-induced credit bubble. This time, the culprit is shaping up to be the oil and gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has seen a marked rise in usage in the United States over the last six years. It represented a new and innovative way to extract hydrocarbons from rock formations deep underground. Many may be tempted to say that the emergence of fracking, as well as the jobs it has created, is further evidence of the free market at work.

You can fix your currency or you run independent monetary policy. But you cannot do both at the same time. In spectacular fashion, the Swiss government finally capitulated and decided control over the money supply was more important than a fixed rate against the euro. The Swiss franc rocketed up 30 percent in value minutes after the central bank’s decision to let the currency float.

Patrick Barron writes: 

Imagine you are a promising car mechanic who wants to open a new car repair shop. You would like to provide basic services to low-income citizens at affordable prices. You would charge a bare minimum for your labor, and you would buy used (but decent) replacement parts. This service would be great for people who just want to keep their cars running for a couple more years — nothing fancy, just bare functionality.

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has just launched the Program on Monetary Policy under the direction of  Scott Sumner, Professor of Economics at Bentley University and editor of the influential blog The Money Illusion.