Mises Wire

The academic publishing house Taylor & Francis (a part of Routledge) is highlighting a number of 

Full-on anti-capitalism is again fashionable. The supporters of the latest surge in socialist sympathy relies on the idea that socialism can better deliver a decent standard of living. But without functioning markets, such a goal will prove impossible.

The state of New York has voted to raise the hourly minimum wage from $8.75 to $15 following fast food workers' protests, and Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and their families will pitch-in the additional $6.25 per hour.

For starters, consider that personal and business reputations might well become even more important in a more libertarian society. Our reflexive aversion to cheats, liars, and secrecy is very much in accord with human nature, and there’s every reason to believe a private legal system would reflect this. In an uncertain world of scarce resources, a lack of trustworthiness in others creates huge transaction costs. This is especially true of our interactions with strangers, where we’re forced to create elaborate legal contracts before doing business-- a handshake no longer suffices.

Mixed martial arts competitions are legal in 49 states, but not in New York where an interest group keeps the sport illegal in an effort to punish a pair of businessmen.

Apple, Facebook, and Google planning lavish corporate headquarters help paint a picture of a stock market top.

George Selgin has written an interesting post on Hayek and free banking. Unfortunately, his otherwise instructive post is marred by a few lapses of scholarship.

Join us online this week for Mises University, our annual high-intensity seminar for college and university students worldwide.

Mises University is now underway at the Mises Institute, and you can keep up to speed on the latest events, talks, and live streaming through our s

In this week’s Mises Weekends, Jeff Deist and Karl-Friedric