What Is Economics?

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Economics is a study of how humans make choices under the condition of scarcity. Austrians believe theory has to inform data, while Keynesians see it as physics envy. The Austrian way of thinking says think from first principles and understand how the world actually works.

Saifedean Ammous is an Austrian economist and author of The Bitcoin Standard and The Fiat Standard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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Books & resources mentioned:
The Fiat Standard (book): https://amzn.to/3FmNfsy
The Bitcoin Standard (book): https://amzn.to/3LRrcwA
The Blocksize War (book): https://amzn.to/3LORQ9o
The Theory of Money and Credit (book): https://amzn.to/3ykreZT
Human Action (book): https://amzn.to/3w9LzP4

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:53) – Money
(20:58) – Gold standard
(34:09) – Collective hallucination
(39:59) – Austrian vs Keynesian economics
(1:12:20) – Free market
(1:28:49) – Monarchy
(1:34:23) – Fiat money
(2:21:13) – SWIFT system
(2:34:03) – Bitcoin
(2:40:20) – Satoshi Nakamoto
(2:48:04) – Criticisms of Bitcoin
(3:03:16) – Football/soccer
(3:06:58) – Criticisms of Bitcoin continued
(3:17:17) – Bitcoin Maximalism
(3:29:40) – Proof of stake
(3:46:46) – Central bank digital currency
(3:57:59) – Michael Malice
(4:00:12) – Advice for young people
(4:06:21) – Palestine
(4:18:00) – Mortality