Money and Banks

Contrary to popular belief, interest rates have nothing to do with money. The attempt to manipulate interest via the money supply can only cause distortions. 

Martin Mayer is one of the few financial journalists to seriously question the claims of the Federal Reserve. Sadly, he does not go far enough. 

Jack Kemp writes in favor of the gold standard. But will his plan bring sound money? Steve Piraino says no.

The Fed, the media, and most economists agree: Spending is what drives an economy forward. Frank Shostak shows why this view is wholly incorrect.

Everyone seems to agree that the printing press will forestall recession—everyone, that is, except the Austrians. Sean Corrigan explains why new money confers no social benefit.

The Santa Monica City Council seems to think that government can work miracles by passing them into law, with the blessing of economists. Lew Rockwell explains.

The Sacagawea $1 coin was introduced with great fanfare. But so far as anyone can tell, it has disappeared. What happened? Burt Blumert explains.

The European currency is stuck in a rut because governments have insisted on using the conversion period as an excuse to collect more in taxes. Hans Sennholz explains.

Roger Garrison’s long-awaited book compares and contrasts Austrian business cycle theory with a number of other approaches, 

Greenspan has lowered rates again, but he can't know if he has done the right thing. Under the far-superior gold standard, such questions never came up. Lawrence Reed explains.