U.S. Economy

The "2 percent" inflation target is purely arbitrary, and mainstream economists can't agree on the "right" level. It's all folly, and Austrian economics explains why. 

Fitch's downgrade of US government debt is a good thing, but not good enough.

Jonathan Newman joins Bob to explain why the data still support the case for recession and point out the eerie similarity to the calm before the storm in 2008.

Mark discusses the record levels of credit card debt.

Student debt is a huge social problem, but the reason is that higher education costs themselves have become a major problem and are a financial burden whose costs outweigh its benefits.

Speculators are reviled in the media and by politicians and academics. Yet the speculators are the ones taking risks to ensure the rest of us can have more economic certainty.

Banker and financial expert Caitlin Long believes that fractional reserve banking is closer than ever to collapse, and she has a 100 percent reserve banking solution in progress.

While FedNow seems benign, there is the larger problem of the entire banking system itself being built on a foundation of sand. FedNow can only make that problem worse.

Mark invites listeners to explore the Minor Issues archives.

Mark Thornton joins Ryan and Tho on Radio Rothbard to take a closer look at the state of the US dollar and how price inflation and economic crises are likely to play out in the months and years ahead.