Saifedean, economist and author, discusses the success of central banking from an Austrian school economist perspective. The podcast explores the efficiency of central banking as a monopoly and advocates for Bitcoin as a solution in the economic landscape. Topics include property rights, productivity, GDP, purchasing power, devaluation, and the future of money.
Central banking can be successful due to private ownership structure and economic calculation efficiency.
Property rights are crucial for economic planning, as seen in successful economic systems with respected property rights.
Deep dives
The Controversy of Central Banking
The podcast explores a controversial idea presented by the speaker, admitting a change in mindset regarding the effectiveness of central banking. Despite being considered central planning, the speaker argues that from an Austrian perspective, central banks actually work due to their private ownership structure, where economic calculation is not hindered. The discussion challenges the common perception that central banking fails due to incentive issues, emphasizing the importance of property rights for economic calculation.
The Role of Property Rights in Economic Planning
The episode delves into the significance of property rights in economic planning, highlighting that without property rights, economic calculation fails. Drawing comparisons between large corporations like Amazon and socialist economies, the speaker emphasizes that economic planning succeeds in systems where property rights are respected. The absence of a genuine market and prices in socialist systems inhibits effective resource allocation and economic calculation.
Central Banking and Economic Success
The discussion addresses the success of central banking from a different perspective, considering it as a beneficial monopoly that benefits its owners by devaluing currency. The episode challenges the view of central banking as a failing system and instead portrays it as a sustainable entity that efficiently operates within a market economy. It emphasizes that the objective of central banking is to benefit owners at the expense of users, showcasing its continuous operation and implications for individuals.
Impact of Bitcoin in the Financial Landscape
Bitcoin's role in reshaping the financial landscape and providing an alternative to traditional monetary systems is explored. The speaker discusses how Bitcoin's decentralization allows for a market for clearance, showcasing its potential to capture monetary demand that gold cannot. The conversation emphasizes the significance of Bitcoin's potential growth compared to other assets like gold, pointing to its ability to operate independently of centralized control.
Saifedean's talk at the Canadian Bitcoin Conference is an admission that central banking works. Given what we know about the economic calculation from Austrian school economists, central banking is a highly successful business!
Enjoyed this episode? Join Saifedean's online learning platform to take part in weekly podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s four online economics courses, and read his writing, including his new book, Principles of Economics! Find out more on Saifedean.com!
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