One of my favorite websites is the Marxists Internet Archive ( marxists.org). The folks there maintain a huge volume of Marxist writings. In addition, they provide online books and articles that are essential to the well-read Marxist -- as well as the free market Misesian looking to do some research. One of those books is from none other than
Ohio law requires new drivers under the age of 18 to complete a state-approved driver education course consisting of “a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours behind the wheel.” So it should come as no surprise that there are a host of private companies providing state-approved driver training. But what are these companies really
According to The Columbus Dispatch , “The lack of supply stems from the economic downturn. Automakers sold fewer new cars, which means that fewer recent models are out there to be traded in.” The article fails to mention the Cash for Clunkers programs and its desired result of a reduced supply of used cars. According to the chart (right) in the
Maybe it was the holiday spirit. Or maybe it was the impatient line of holiday shoppers anxiously waiting for me to finish paying the cashier. Regardless, I let an economic fallacy slide without comment. As the cashier was totaling my bill, she asked if she could pack some of my goods in the plastic bag I was holding; a plastic bag that previously
Krugman thinks Misesians suffer delusions . To prove his point, he retells a fantasy as reality. Hmmm. And here I thought the story of the baby sitting co-op was an allegory of the horrors of the state intervening in the market — the state fixing the value of its fiat currency against other goods and services. According to Krugman, “I know that a
... that it’s not made in a log cabin. Log Cabin Syrup, that is. Seems the good state of Vermont is afraid consumers will confuse Log Cabin All Natural syrup with 100% maple syrup. “The FDA said it does not have a definition for ‘natural.’” At issue is the “natural” claim. Reminds me of an exchange I heard during a session of my local zoning
Here’s a simple quiz: For a mayor running for reelection, which situation would cause the most worry? 1. A minor scandal 2. Discussions of the need for a tax increase 3. Delayed snow removal from residential streets If you live in a northern state, the correct answer (number 3) is obvious. Now hold that thought. I recently wrote a blog post on the
Just like a mother of three in Columbus , I placed blame where blame was not due. The mother blamed the dishwasher; I blamed my children. Lately, I’ve been assuming the white, powdery film that occasionally remained on our dishes was the result of someone (er, some child) forgetting to add the detergent. Alas, I read today that my children are not
The direction of all economic affairs is in the market society a task of the entrepreneurs. Theirs is the control of production. They are at the helm and steer the ship. A superficial observer would believe that they are supreme. But they are not. They are bound to obey unconditionally the captain’s orders. The captain is the consumer. Neither the
Art Carden’s great article on windfall profits brings up an issue that really gets under my skin. Carden notes, “People often point to the run-up in gas prices — some gas stations were charging over $3 a gallon — after the September 11 attacks as an example of firms enjoying windfall profits.” Ah, yes, the price gougers. In the late morning and
What is the Mises Institute?
The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.
Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.