Mises Wire

In every trade, a person is giving up something he values less for something he values more. Every time a shopper buys any item from another person, he has improved his standard of living, and so has the seller.

Since 1900, the number of American farms in operation has fallen 63 percent. Meanwhile, the American standard of living is far beyond what the farmers of yesteryear could have imagined.

An estimated 78 percent of the UK’s working population are unable to make ends meet between pay-days. Neo-Keynesian policies are to blame.

The differences between government stats and reality are a problem, especially since these estimates are used to make policy.

Not only will easy-money policy not increase production, it will impoverish us by inflating away real wealth.

The signing of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement constitutes a starting point — but an unholy alliance between protectionist politicians, agricultural lobbyists, and environmentalists may be forming.

The modern norm is that economic growth causes measured income inequality to increase. But to  have greater income equality and greater economic growth. It simply requires more free market policies and less government interventionism.

Patrick Deneen lumps everything he dislikes under the label of "liberalism." But one is left wondering if he is familiar enough with liberalism's history to pass judgment on it.

Most income inequality stats provide a cloudy and confusing picture of the real situation. Even worse, these stats are used to justify a wide variety of tax hikes and government interventions.

The market probably interprets correctly that the European Central Bank will become even more dovish under Lagarde. This will encourage more risk in the financial system.