Mises Wire

Overestimating foreign "threats" is a threat in itself. It invites wasteful spending while provoking "enemies" who would not have been rivals otherwise. John Mueller explains in his new book.

The current surge in inflation is not due to a shortage of supply as central banks want us to believe. It is primarily due to soaring consumer demand fueled by monetary creation.

Why do individuals desire to have money, which cannot be consumed and produces nothing? To provide an answer to this one must go back in time to establish how money emerged.

Cultural disparities between national, linguistic, or cultural groups can prevent the spread of trade and hamper the adoption of useful economic strategies. 

If fairness is a concern, there’s an easy way to achieve fairness on this issue: abolish the Selective Service for everybody. It’s as easy as that. It wouldn’t even cost a dime of taxpayer money. 

With default we restore trillions to the private sector and permanently reduce government’s ability to hog the resources we need to maintain prosperity. 

The fact a politician may have prior experience as a "savvy businessman" is irrelevant to the business of the state. States are nothing like private sector businesses, and business skills mean little. 

Many blame capitalism for inequality and the opioid crisis, but the system most associated with substance abuse is communism. But if inequality is the real problem, look no further than the Federal Reserve. 

Beef has become more expensive than pork. Could fiat money have driven resources toward pork-centered "factory farms" and away from less capital-intensive beef production?

The Berlin “housing crisis” has, of course, many causes. But most, if not all of them, are government made. Unfortunately, however, people blame “capitalists” for their plight.