The Human Action Podcast

Ryan McMaken recently gave a talk at Oklahoma State outlining the history of secessions and making the case that they promote liberty and peace. He joins Bob to discuss his major themes and to address common objections.Ryan's Talk at Oklahoma State: Mises.org/HAP440aBreaking Away: The Case for Secession: Mises.org/HAP440bHuman Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFreeEnter to win free admission to the Human Action Conference: Mises.org/HARaffle

Christian Sandström is a Swedish economist who joins Bob to discuss his new (co-edited) book, which makes the case that massive government funding projects aren't necessary to promote science or industrial growth.Dr. Sandströmm's Moonshots and the New Industrial Policy: Mises.org/HAP439aHuman Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFreeEnter to win free admission to the Human Action Conference: Mises.org/HARaffle

Tom DiLorenzo spent a long and productive career in academia before assuming his current position as president of the Mises Institute. He joins Bob to discuss his early days getting into economics, and some of his important work on antitrust policy. He also discusses his popular books on Abraham Lincoln. Though it all, Tom stresses the importance of the Austrian viewpoint.Tom's Paper on the Origins of Antitrust: Mises.org/HAP438aNullification: An Interview with a Zombie: Mises.org/HAP438bHuman Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFreeEnter to win free admission to the Human Action Conference: Mises.org/HARaffle

Brent Johnson of Santiago Capital created the "dollar milkshake" theory, which says that in a global sovereign debt crisis, the USD, gold, and US stock market will all rise. He joins Bob for a friendly disagreement over the dynamics of a decline in foreign demand to hold USD.The ZeroHedge Debate: Mises.org/HAP437aBob's Post-Game Analysis of the Debate: Mises.org/HAP437bBrent Johnson Explains The Dollar Milkshake Theory: Mises.org/HAP437cBob's Article, 'What Does "Debt-Based" Money Imply for Interest Payments?': Mises.org/HAP437dHuman Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFreeEnter to win free admission to the Human Action Conference: Mises.org/HARaffle

Dave Smith makes the Rothbardian/Hoppean case for government restriction on immigration, arguing that it's a second-best solution given the undeniable fact of government control of "public" property. Bob plays devil's advocate to raise possible objections to Dave's framework. Rothbard, "Nations by Consent": Mises.org/HAP436a Hans-Hermann Hoppe, "On Free Immigration and Forced Integration": Mises.org/HAP436b Bryan Caplan, "A Radical Case for Open Borders": Mises.org/HAP436c   Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFree Enter to win free admission to the Human Action Conference: Mises.org/HARaffle

On February 13, 2024, Bob participated (with Jim Rickards, Brent Johnson, and Michael Every) in a ZeroHedge debate on the fate of the USD. In this episode of the Human Action podcast, Bob highlights some of the key issues and explains why he thinks his side won. The ZeroHedge Debate: Mises.org/HAP435a Brent Johnson's Milkshake Theory: Mises.org/HAP435b Egert's Article on the Public Debt Threshold: Mises.org/HAP435c Bob's Article on the Latest CBO Federal Debt Report: Mises.org/HAP435d Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob goes solo to give a point-by-point rebuttal to James Lindsay's recent essay arguing that "national divorce means national suicide." Bob argues that James employs inconsistent claims and ignores the tremendous economic boon to an independent Texas. James Lindsay's Article "National Divorce is National Suicide": Mises.org/HAP434a Bob's Book "Common Sense: The Case for an Independent Texas": Mises.org/HAP434b AntiWar.com Article on Gaza: Mises.org/HAP434c Scott Horton's Interview with Arnon Soffer: Mises.org/HAP434d   Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on February 17: Mises.org/Tampa2024Use code "Action24" for 15% off admission. Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFree

Academic VP of the Mises Institute, Joe Salerno, joins Bob to discuss his talk at the Supporters Summit, centering on the mainstream's focus on "rules vs. discretion" in monetary policy. Salerno explains how President Eisenhower's administration marked a pivot away from the ideology of inflation. Dr. Salerno's Talk at the 2023 Supporters Summit: Mises.org/HAP433a   Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on February 17: Mises.org/Tampa2024Use code "Action24" for 15% off admission.   Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization: Mises.org/HAPodFree

Economist Peter St. Onge summarizes some of the major financial and government news stories of the day. Bob's Mises University Talk 'Price Inflation: Corona vs. QE': Mises.org/HAP432a   Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on February 17: Mises.org/Tampa2024Use code "Action24" for 15% off admission.   Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Murray Rothbard's Anatomy of the State: Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob goes solo to discuss a recent Twitter controversy, in which opponents of a proposed tax argued that unrealized capital gains couldn't possibly be a form of income. Bob cites both Austrian theory and corporate accounting practice to respond that all capital gains are income, which is not to say that they ought to be taxed. The dispute is important because understanding the definition of "income" sheds light on the role of market prices in guiding entrepreneurial action. Bob Talks to David Schizer on the Moore Ruling: Mises.org/HAP431a Bob's Econlib Article on Capital and Income: Mises.org/HAP431b   Join Tom DiLorenzo, Joe Salerno, and Patrick Newman in Tampa on February 17: Mises.org/Tampa2024Use code "Action24" for 15% off admission.   Human Action Podcast listeners can get a free copy of Murray Rothbard's Anatomy of the State: Mises.org/HAPodFree