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

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

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

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

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

With global worldwide debt now over $300 trillion and interest rates rising, the US dollar is once again a relative safe haven in a slowing economy. Currencies competing with the Dollar face a deadly race to stave off a sovereign debt crisis. Is the dollar now unbound, as the dominant political tool of the dominant nation? The Dollar Milkshake Theory: Mises.org/HAP385a Thorsten Polleit, The Global Currency Plot: Mises.org/HAP385b Bob's book, Understanding Money Mechanics: Mises.org/Mechanics

Tom Woods joins the show for a look at the hottest political topic of the day, namely national divorce. This is a spirited discussion of the politics, economics, and mechanics of how America might break up.  Watch "The Economics of National Divorce, Part I" with Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/HAP352

With Yale economics professor Yusuke Narita suggesting mass suicide—seppuku—as the answer to Japan's rapidly aging demographics, Jeff and Bob take a hard look at the economics and humanity of greying America. Richard Hanania, "Gerontocracy Versus Western Civilization": Mises.org/HAP383a Bob on opting out of Social Security: Mises.org/HAP383b  

Mises Institute scholar and Troy University business school Dean Allen Mendenhall is among the leading critics of woke capital. He leads a new initiative against the perverse investment practices demanded by ESG/DEI commissars, and joins Jeff Deist to discuss both the origins of "stakeholder" capitalism and what we can do to push back against ideological purity tests in capital markets and corporate America. AllenMendenhall.com "Troy University tackles 'woke' business practices head-on with new program": Mises.org/HAP382a

Back in January Jeff Deist joined the Austrian Economics Discord Server for a live event concerning trends in 2023. Jeff makes the case for viewing today's economy as quite unlike that of 2007—due to steady increases in CPI, more fiscal stimulus relative to monetary stimulus, and ongoing supply shock issues from COVID. This is a far-ranging discussion of the landscape for the Fed, persistent inflation, and a looming recession. Includes Q and A from the audience.