
The Human Action Podcast
The Human Action Podcast features in-depth interviews on current topics in economics through an Austro libertarian lens.
Latest episodes

May 12, 2023 • 0sec
Does the Inverted Yield Curve Signal a Coming Recession?
Dr. Paul Cwik joins Bob to discuss the inverted yield curve's "signal" of an impending recession.
Dr. Cwik's dissertation on inverted yield curves and economic downturns: Mises.org/HAP395a
Bob on the link between inverted yield curves and recessions: Mises.org/HAP395b
Bob's Understanding Money Mechanics: Mises.org/Mechanics

May 5, 2023 • 0sec
Can Supercomputers Make Socialism Work?
Jonathan Newman joins Bob to critique a recent Twitter argument where some were claiming that supercomputers solved the socialist calculation problem.
The Twitter thread on AI and Socialism: Mises.org/HAP394a
Bob on Socialism and calculation vs knowledge: Mises.org/HAP394b
Karras Lambert and Tate Fegley on economic calculation and AI: Mises.org/HAP394c

Apr 28, 2023 • 0sec
The Economics of Space Travel
Are NASA contracts propping up the private space industry? Or are Government regulations stifling the private space race?
Dr. Eli Dourado, Senior Research Fellow with the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, joins Bob to discuss the recent "successful failure" of the exploded SpaceX launch and the differences between government and privately funded space travel.
Dr. Dourado on NASA contracting private companies to build their shuttles: Mises.org/HAP393a
Dr. Dourado on the Artemis moon program: Mises.org/HAP393b

Apr 21, 2023 • 0sec
Will AI Steal Our Jobs (or End Us)?
Professor Per Bylund joins Bob to debunk the worries over AI and to question whether the latest version of chatbots should even be called "intelligent."
Per on Robots Taking your Jobs: Mises.org/HAP392a

Apr 14, 2023 • 0sec
Krugman Says It's Paranoid to Worry About a Fed Digital Currency
Jonathan Newman joins Bob to dissect Paul Krugman's latest NYT op-ed, in which he derides Ron DeSantis as paranoid for thinking a central bank digital currency (CBDC) could be used to control citizens.
Krugman's op-ed in the New York Times: Mises.org/HAP391a
Bob breaking down negative interest rates: Mises.org/HAP391b

Apr 8, 2023 • 0sec
Jeff's Farewell To The Human Action Podcast
Jeff and Bob review the history and impact of The Human Action Podcast—formerly Mises Weekends—and discuss where the podcast is headed.
Get Jeff's new book A Strange Liberty: Politics Drops Its Pretenses: Mises.org/Strange

Mar 31, 2023 • 0sec
With the Feds, It's the Fox Guarding the Henhouse
Bob is joined by guest Peter St. Onge to discuss how SVB's CEO, as well as Bernie Madoff, had key positions advising the Fed and SEC. Then they discuss how we should think about central banks losing money.
How the SEC was Charmed by Madoff: Mises.org/HAP389a
Bob's Understanding Money Mechanics: Mises.org/HAP389b

Mar 25, 2023 • 0sec
How Banking Could Work
With commercial banks exposed by the recent bailouts, Americans question whether “their money” is truly safe despite the promises of FDIC insurance.
Jeff and Bob walk through the mechanics of how a full reserve bank could work in a truly free market based on the concepts and taxonomy of Mises’s Theory of Money and Credit.
Mises's A Theory of Money and Credit: Mises.org/TMC
Bob's study guide to A Theory of Money and Credit: Mises.org/HAP388a
John Cochran, 'The Safest Bank the Fed Won't Sanction': Mises.org/HAP388b

Mar 18, 2023 • 0sec
The Fed's Malfeasance after SVB
This past weekend saw extraordinary actions by the Fed to address the meltdown of Silicon Valley Bank. Did the central bank break the law by effectively authorizing unsecured loans to banks based on the face value—rather than significantly lower market value—of those banks' Treasury holdings?
Bob's study guide to A Theory of Money and Credit: Mises.org/HAP387a
Jeff on the Fed as the ultimate bank: Mises.org/HAP387b

Mar 10, 2023 • 0sec
A Permanent Wartime Economy?
Progressives view all aspects of human life as a struggle against forces of oppression. Earlier this week on BBC, Professor Mariana Mazzucato suggested governments across the West should simply print money not only to help Ukraine, but also to finance other "wars" against climate change, inequality, and more. Should national treasuries essentially adopt a permanent wartime footing and print far more money, as Mazzucato and Warren Mosler recommend? Hint: Jeff and Bob say "No."
Jeff's article "A Permanent Wartime Economy": Mises.org/HAP386a
Bob's debate with Warren Mosler: Mises.org/HAP386b
Bob's article in The American Conservative on the Greenbacker movement: Mises.org/386c