Minor Issues

In this episode, Mark updates his early March 2023 episode (Mises.org/Minor11) on the high price of toilet paper. He shows how economic changes, so far, in 2023 seem to have vindicated his forecast of lower toilet paper and paper towel prices. It also demonstrates how the market process works on a minor scale, even when large determinants like Amazon, Covid, and the US home construction industry get tangled up with politicians and bureaucrats. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark reviews what people have said about Fitch's downgrade of US government debt. Mark sees it as a good thing, but not good enough. The "minor issue" in the latest debt ceiling agreement is ignored by the mainstream media: politicians suspended the debt ceiling into 2025, rather than raising it to some arbitrary, higher figure. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark discusses the record levels of credit card debt and how it is a major contributing factor to economic pain from the Fed's impact of causing higher prices for consumer goods. This is expected to intensify when the recession officially hits. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

This week Mark invites you to explore the Minor Issues archives. We have produced about a half a year's worth of short audio commentaries about the economy, and we are grateful to our listeners for their feedback. Topics range from the price of toilet paper to macro-business cycle topics, but our specialty is highlighting issues that the mainstream media ignores or misrepresents as insignificant. Thank you for listening.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this episode, Mark looks at the "minor issue" of the value of the dollar. While everything in the economy seems great—including stock markets, price inflation, unemployment, and consumer confidence—the value of the dollar index has fallen 12% during the rebound in stocks since last October. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

On this week's episode, Mark summarizes the many problems with EVs, and focuses on two consequences funded by taxpayer subsidy. Large, overpriced, long range vehicles have been subsidized at the expense of more efficient technological applications. These EVs are significantly heavier compared to their fossil fuel counterparts (which have engines and gas tanks). These heavier vehicles create greater crash risks for passengers and pedestrians. Failure to disclose such issues reveals some uncomfortable truths about the political elites who drive this agenda onto the American people. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark looks back at the history of the Inverted Yield Curve. While many observers have now dismissed the significance of the yield curve inversion in 2022—and no recession, yet—Mark shows that the history of the IYC may back a completely opposite interpretation. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

As we enter the dog days of summer, I have heard several media conversations and a few private ones that express exasperation over languishing capital markets. Why do things take so long to unravel? What will happen next? When will X, Y, or Z happen? Why are tech stocks so bullish now? The market takes time to process the information that it already has — or is in "process" — and everyday brings new data. The Austrian perspective highlights the role of reality in the market process. This is especially important in this period of unprecedented government intervention and the chaos it has generated in markets.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

While talk of high gas prices is no longer a headline issue, energy economics is still a vitally important aspect of understanding the economy, including the business cycle. Mark explains the basics, tells us where we now stand, and what the major implications are for the near future.   Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

Mark takes a look at all the wrong predictions of recession in recent years, including those of Austrian School economists. While the MSM and Fed officials try to downplay the coming of a recession, many of the statistics and facts that Austrian consider important are indicating a looming recession, if not a full-blown economic crisis. Check out Anatomy of the Crash: The Financial Crisis of 2020, edited by Tho Bishop: Mises.org/AnatomyOfTheCrash Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.