The Human Action Podcast

David Glasner is a UCLA-trained economist specializing in monetary theory and the history of economic thought. He has disagreed in print with Murphy's take on the famous Sraffa-Hayek debate. David first explains his general views and then comments on the debate.Bob's Paper, "A Problem With the Pure Time Preference Theory of Interest": Mises.org/HAP477aDavid's Paper "The Sraffa-Hayek Debate on the Natural Rate of Interest": Mises.org/HAP477bFor just $25, you can receive our December Bundle, including three essential reads:Tom DiLorenzo's Axis of Evil: America’s Three Worst Presidents, Per Bylund's How to Think About the Economy,and Murray Rothbard's What Has Government Done to Our Money?. Claim your bundle now at Mises.org/HumanAction24

In 1997, Bryan Caplan wrote an essay explaining why he was no longer a self-described Austrian. Recently, a reader asked him to comment on that essay. Bob reacts to Bryan's current views, arguing that the history of economic thought is indeed important, and the Misesian approach to praxeology is crucial.Bryan Caplan's Recent Article: Mises.org/HAP476aBryan Caplan's "Why I Am Not an Austrian Economist": Mises.org/HAP476bHoppe's Economic Science and the Austrian Method: Mises.org/HAP476cBob's Cambridge University Press Article on Böhm-Bawerk's Critiques: Mises.org/HAP476dA Modern Guide to Austrian Economics: Mises.org/HAP476eBob and David Freidman, "The Chicago Vs. Austrian School Debate": Mises.org/HAP476fThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob discusses common talking points that pro-free-trade economists often use when making the case against tariffs. The purpose is to facilitate discussion so both sides have a deeper understanding of the subtle issues involved.Bob's Article on Trade Deficits: Mises.org/HAP475aSteve Landsburg on Obama's State of the Union Remarks about Exports: Mises.org/HAP475bThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Amy LePore's doctoral dissertation covered the perverse incentives of federal money for disaster management on local officials. She joins Bob to talk about FEMA's poor track record in recent disasters but also going back to Hurricane Katrina.Amy's Dissertation on the Effects of Federal Financial Aid: Mises.org/HAP474aThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

After explaining the backstory of how Bob put forth a proposal for codifying property rights in space-based resources, Bob then explains how the prospect of a future inflow of extraterrestrial riches could boost the standard of living on Earth in the near term.Bob Murphy Show, "Scott Horton on American Interference in the 1996 Russian Election": Mises.org/HAP473aThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Kristoffer Hansen, a Mises Fellow, shares insightful perspectives on fractional reserve banking and free banking. He clarifies Mises' acknowledgment of the benefits of fractional reserve banking, as highlighted by economist Larry White. The conversation explores the historical influence of the Currency School on economic stability and the intricate relationship between commodity-backed money and business cycles. Hansen also discusses the inefficacies of Peel's Act in preventing banking crises and delves into various definitions of inflation, emphasizing Mises' complex views on money.

In response to Murphy's recent article on comparative advantage, economist Jorge Morales Meoqui objected that Murphy was continuing the same erroneous story about Adam Smith vs. David Ricardo. In this episode, Murphy clarifies what is right and wrong in Meoqui's own paper on the topic.Jorge Morales Meoqui's Article on Comparative Advantage: Mises.org/HAP471aThe Bob Murphy Show, Episode 352 on Comparative Advantage: Mises.org/HAP471bBob's Article, "The Beauty and Importance of Comparative Advantage": Mises.org/HAP471cThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Murphy lays out the various camps in the debate over FRB. He endorses the view of Joe Salerno, namely that Mises favored "free banking" as the best means for limiting credit expansion and ensuring banks carry high reserve ratios.Bob's Article in the QJAE on Fractional Reserve Banking: Mises.org/HAP470aJoe Salerno, "Ludwig von Mises as Currency School Free Banker": Mises.org/HAP470bThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Dr. Philipp Bagus explains the main ideas from his new book, Full Reserve Banking versus the Real Bills Doctrine, which defends Misesian business cycle theory from a recent critique. Bagus provides an in-depth criticism of the Real Bills Doctrine, emphasizing the importance of real savings in economic stability. He defends full reserve banking and critiques fractional reserve systems for creating money without real economic backing, leading to inflation and business cycles.Full Reserve Banking versus the Real Bills Doctrine: Mises.org/HAP469aBob's Study Guide to The Theory of Money and Credit: Mises.org/HAP469bPhilipp Bagus, "Entrepreneurial Error Does Not Equal Market Failure" Mises.org/HAP469cThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Paul Cwik revisits the podcast to explain his new book, which aims to simplify ABCT for economics students and professors, especially those teaching at the principles level. Dr. Cwik critiques mainstream economic theories for oversimplifying business cycles, arguing that the Austrian theory better explains systemic errors and the boom-bust cycle driven by distorted interest rates.Dr. Cwik's New Book, Austrian Business Cycle Theory: An Introduction: Mises.org/HAP468aRoger Garrison's Famous Lecture, "The Austrian Theory of the Business Cycle": Mises.org/HAP468bRichard Ebeling's Monograph, The Austrian Theory of the Trade Cycle: Mises.org/HAP468cCarilli and Dempster, "Expectations in Austrian Business Cycle Theory: An Application of the Prisoner’s Dilemma": Mises.org/HAP468dThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree