Mises Wire

Social critics often tell us that capitalism is contrary to the true meaning of Christmas. In truth, markets and entrepreneurs work to make Christmas more joyous and comfortable. 

The state and its friends reject the scarcity principle and uphold its polar opposite, the Santa Claus principle.

Britain‘s new Labour Government is doing what leftist governments always do: raising taxes on everyone, but pretending that only the wealthiest citizens will pay more. Middle-class British farmers are quickly finding out that the taxman is coming for them too.

A common refrain among college fans is, "The Transfer Portal and NIL are ruining college sports." But are they? Before we can answer that question, we have to be able to explain what is happening, and Austrian economics provides the best analytical tools.

Like Santa, who gives free gifts to our children, people think of the state as providing services “for free.” However, the state cannot provide anything without first confiscating wealth from others—like the Grinch, who first stole all the presents in Whoville.

The child-like obsession with buying stuff that American society is often criticized for around Christmas is a sought-after result of our government’s monetary policy.

The National Socialists wanted to to absorb all independent Christianity under the new pagan nationalistic doctrines of the German state. Christmas was at the center of this. 

President-elect Donald Trump has declared that he will raise tariffs his first day in office. Our economy, however, does not need government-created roadblocks to trade. Instead, we need free exchange and sound money.

War is the outcome of class conflict inherent in the political relationship — the relationship between ruler and ruled, parasite and producer, tax-consumer and taxpayer.

Modern historians tend to view the post-Civil War Reconstruction period as a time when the victorious northern states attempted to bring law and order to the South. However, by establishing a de facto police state, the North further poisoned relationships between whites and freed slaves.