Topic: Economic History

Cryptocurrency, Economic History, Financial Markets

Bank and Crypto Runs: F(ac)TX vs Fiction

– November 25, 2022

“Despite the historical record, ever since Diamond and Dybvig published their article, many if not most economists have tended to view every financial firm collapse as a ‘Diamond Dybvig Moment.'” ~ George Selgin

Economic History, Free Markets, Government

Can We Have Welfare Without the Threat of Violence?

– November 17, 2022

“The mutual aid sector is due for a renaissance. It might seem radical, but charity and mutual aid systems create more trust, engender more integrity, and offer greater responsibility.” ~ Max Borders

Authoritarianism, Economic History, Socialism

Das Karl Marx Problem

– November 16, 2022

“How do we reconcile the decisive and early rejection of Marx’s economic theories after the Marginal Revolution with the high acclaim that those same theories enjoy among intellectuals today, albeit almost entirely outside of the economics profession?” ~ Phillip W. Magness & Michael Makovi

Classical Liberalism, Economic Education, Economic History

Essential Words In- And Not In- Adam Smith’s Essential Works

– November 5, 2022

“Don’t leave TMS behind when reading WN. Intricate souls the actors in WN surely are. What, after all, is the inner substance of the wealth of nations?” ~ Caleb Petitt & Daniel B. Klein

Books, Currency, Economic History

The Political History of Money

– October 21, 2022

“In The Currency of Politics, Stefan Eich has written a valuable and very interesting review of specific monetary debates in their historical settings during centuries of thought about the nature of money as it is entwined with politics.” ~ Alex J. Pollock

Economic Education, Economic History, Free Markets

Getting W.H. Hutt’s Life And Work All Wrong

– October 20, 2022

“Their argument falls apart under scrutiny. The version of Hutt they present is like the version of Buchanan that MacLean presents in her book Democracy in Chains: an unrecognizable caricature.” ~ Art Carden

Authoritarianism, Economic History, International

The Economics of Envy

– October 14, 2022

“Hatred of the rich in the name of equality was probably responsible for more death and destruction in the twentieth century than any other political passion.” ~ Theodore Dalrymple

Books, Economic History, Government

Highway Heist: The Development of America’s Road System

– October 12, 2022

“James Bennett’s new book, Highway Heist, offers readers an excellent history of the politics and economics behind the development of the nation’s transportation network.” ~ Randall G. Holcombe

Central Banking, Crisis, Economic History, Government

A Central Bank Reckoning

– October 5, 2022

“Even the best set of rules and the tightest, most targeted, narrowly circumscribed mandate won’t be enough unless central bankers are willing to emulate something akin to judicial restraint.” ~ Samuel Gregg

Economic History, Fiscal Policy, Government

Canadian Fiscal Lessons for Britain’s Fiscal Woes

– October 3, 2022

“The Canadian experience suggests that it is entirely possible to enact the spending cuts that many claim are necessary to balance the announced tax cuts in Britain.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Crisis, Economic History, Government

The Private Disaster Response Alternative

– October 3, 2022

“Anything the government can’t do, which is most things, the private sector can do, perhaps not perfectly, but well enough. That includes disaster relief.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Central Banking, Cryptocurrency, Economic History, Monetary Policy

The Unquestioned Monopoly

– October 3, 2022

“Despite the arguments made against monopoly and the arguments made in favor of competition, there is one monopoly that largely goes unquestioned. I’m referring, of course, to the monopoly over currency issuance.” ~ Joshua R. Hendrickson