Here is a first go at a new podcast: “Mises Weekly”, a two-hour discussion of all the previous week’s Mises Daily Articles between myself and Abhi Mallick. Sorry, audio quality on this one is not too good. But let us know if this is something we should pursue further!
Subversive media outlets have become serious problems for the ruling elite. In just a few short years, the Fed has transformed in public opinion from a mysterious, wise, and boring institution into a fascinating engine of corruption and comedy.
Earlier this evening, I attended a seminar on Austrian economics with Peter Boettke sponsored by Fundacion Bases in Argentina. In addition to just wanting to participate, I wanted to see what it was like to be a member of the audience for something like this as it’s a lot like what I expect my Mises Academy course to be like. It was really amazing: I feel like little, if anything, was lost relative to a real classroom even though the audio was a bit spotty at times.
I really wanted to love Inside Job, the film that won the Academy award this year for best documentary. And it is a great film, but to see it that way you have to turn your brain “off” even as you push the “on” button on your DVD clicker. The interviews are personal and interesting. The footage of Wall Street and the offices of big players in the world of finance are absolutely gripping. The narrative has energy that pushes this two-hour film forward. It is easy to watch and tells a great story.
Nicholas D. Kristof wants to improve our lot by attracting top talent to public education. And he has the proof that an excellent teacher will result in students earning an additional $500 per year. But his proof only works because he ignores the potential productivity lost when talent is drawn from other fields by his proposed $65,000 starting salary. Kristoff would do well by skimming Economics in One Lesson.
[This article is excerpted from chapter 14 of The Austrian School of Economics: A History of Its Ideas, Ambassadors, and Institutions (2011).]
Two days ago, at the Austrian Scholar Conference, we heard from Mustafa Akyol about the commercial heritage of Islam – a learned, eloquent, deeply informative, and inspiring lecture in every way. He has a new book that is coming out soon that covers the topic. If the book covers what his lecture covered, it will be a revelation.
