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The Human Action Podcast

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Jul 7, 2023 • 0sec

MMT's Warren Mosler Argues Fed Rate Hikes Cause Growth and Inflation

Bob walks through a recent interview of MMT champion Warren Mosler, in which he claims that Fed rate hikes lead to larger government interest expenses and hence support economic growth and inflation. Bob presents both theoretical and empirical evidence against Mosler's claims. Bob's Debate with Warren Mosler: Mises.org/HAP403a Bob's Review of Stephanie Kelton: Mises.org/HAP403b Bob's EconLib  Article on Austerity: Mises.org/HAP403c Technical Article on Why the Treasury Can't Overdraft: Mises.org/HAP403d     Join us in Nashville on September 23rd for a no-holds-barred discussion against the regime: Mises.org/Nashville23
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Jun 30, 2023 • 0sec

The Impact of Falling M2 on Prices and Jobs

The Mises Institute's Executive Editor Ryan McMaken joins Bob to discuss his latest article, in which Ryan spells out the state of the M2 money supply and possible implications for consumer prices and an impending recession. Ryan's Mises.org article on M2: Mises.org/HAP402a Ryan's QJAE article on the inverted yield curve: Mises.org/HAP402b
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Jun 23, 2023 • 0sec

MMT Says Government Debt Makes Private Saving Possible

Mises Institute Fellow Patrick Newman joins Bob to discuss a recent tweet from Stephanie Kelton, which argued that the government's "red ink makes our black ink possible." Patrick and Bob point out that these MMT tautologies are very misleading at best. Patrick also lays out the argument in his journal article, saying that MMT's debt monetization won't cause a boom-bust cycle, but will still reduce living standards.
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Jun 16, 2023 • 0sec

Why ChatGPT Failed an Economics Exam

University of Rochester economist Steve Landsburg joins Bob to discuss the abysmal performance of ChatGPT on his undergraduate exam. They also discuss the importance of market prices in guiding behavior and the unexpected problems with the government handing out "free" goodies. Bob's article "Superman Needs an Agent:"  Mises.org/HAP400a Steven's Book The Armchair Economist: Mises.org/HAP400b More Economic brainteasers: Mises.org/HAP400c  
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Jun 9, 2023 • 0sec

Do Sticky Prices Make the Market Get Stuck?

Jonathan Newman joins The Human Action Podcast to discuss his recent Twitter controversy over the claim that market prices can be "wrong" (i.e. in disequilibrium) if they are "sticky." Jonathan Newman's Twitter controversy on sticky prices: Mises.org/HAP399a Joe Salerno on Mises's Monetary Theory: Mises.org/HAP399b Bagus and Howden on market disequilibrium and sticky prices: Mises.org/HAP399c  
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Jun 2, 2023 • 0sec

Do People Value Money Because They Need It to Pay Taxes?

Per Bylund joins Bob to discuss his new paper at the QJAE, which points out several flaws in the MMT claim that money is valued in order to pay taxes. Per's QJAE article: Mises.org/HAP398a
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May 26, 2023 • 0sec

Fear-Mongering Over the Debt Ceiling

Heritage Fellow Peter St. Onge joins Bob to set the record straight on several popular talking points about the debt ceiling. Bob on selling Gov't resources to reduce the National Debt: Mises.org/HAP397a
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May 19, 2023 • 0sec

Remembering the Contributions of Lucas and Alchian

Bob originally invited Brian Albrecht (Chief Economist of the International Center for Law & Economics) to discuss the work of Armen Alchian, but on the day of recording, Robert Lucas happened to die. Bob and Brian discuss rational expectations, real business cycle theory, and how Alchian cracked the military's top secrets. Brian on Alchian's famous "Costs and Outputs" paper: Mises.org/HAP396a
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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
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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

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