Money and Banks
How People Can Better Fight Inflation
Ordinary people cannot stop the Fed and the government from inflating the currency, but they can take measures to shield themselves from some of its harmful effects. Mark Thornton presents a few ideas on how it can be done.
The Unsustainable AI-Driven Lending Boom
The endless bubble economy has a new lending craze: loans backed by AI chips. The problem is that while the chips serve as collateral, companies right now cannot make enough revenue to cover their costs.
Why the Scottish “Free Banking” Episode Doesn’t Justify Fractional Reserves
Bob continues his feud with George Selgin, explaining why the alleged free banking period in Scotland doesn't show that free-market banks would carry low reserve ratios.
The State Wants to Nationalize Second Mortgages. What Possibly Can Go Wrong?
As if the government has not done enough destruction in the housing market, there now is a scheme to have the government nationalize second mortgages. Given the previous disaster with primary mortgages, we do not anxiously await the outcome of this proposal.
The State’s Best-Kept Secret
What does the state do when in a financial fix? Unlike the rest of us, it legally counterfeits. By so doing, it transfers wealth to those who are politically connected—and then lies about it.
Does Increasing the Money Supply also Increase Economic Growth?
Keynesian economists believe that the key to increasing economic growth is increasing the supply of money in circulation. Money, however, is a means of exchange, not a means of payments. The difference is vital to understanding economics.
How Washington and the Fed Caused the Commercial Real Estate Crisis
Commercial real estate in the USA is facing a major crisis which could not have been possible without the enabling of the Fed and the draconian restrictions imposed during covid. As commercial real estate prices collapse, the usual suspects call for even more bailouts.
Judy Shelton’s Lasting Legacies
While her record is hardly perfect, Judy Shelton has been a rarity among monetary economists: an advocate for gold and sound money.
Central Banks Are Destroying Our Economies
Central banks intervene in order to “create demand,” and then they intervene in order to try to mitigate the damage they caused earlier. This is a never-ending scenario of economic destruction.