Bob Murphy

Author Archive

Looking Behind the Curtain on Oil Prices

In previous posts (such as here, but you need to follow the links to get the whole story) I’ve summarized the main factors behind the crash in oil prices. However, to focus on facts such as “the Saudis are pledging to maintain production despite the price fall, which fueled even further price falls” is to […]

Krugman: I’m Only Keynesian to Botch 1980s Inflation Call

This one was too easy. He made the same faux pas in 2012. Krugman says it’s a myth that Keynesians were surprised by the 1980s disinflation, when there is an infamous 1982 Council of Economic Advisors memo in which he did just that.

Timid Guys Finish Last

Bryan Caplan linked to a tour de force from Scott Alexander (not his real name) on a topic that should ring true to many lonely libertarian male readers. Here’s how Alexander opens his post: I recently had a patient, a black guy from the worst part of Detroit, let’s call him Dan, who was telling […]

Using FRED Graphs to Evaluate Keynesian Model

My latest Mises CA post accuses Krugman of changing his narrative on the economy: For years, Paul Krugman has been warning that the inadequate fiscal stimulus package of early 2009, coupled with the disastrous spending cuts of the “sequester” package, were leading to a “postmodern recovery” and “jobless trap” for the millions of Americans locked […]

Be Careful When Evaluating Pro-ObamaCare Studies

I can’t really excerpt from it, just check out my analysis of the Gruber/McKnight study on restricted choice health networks.

Potpourri

==> Tom Woods and Lew Rockwell talk about Murray Rothbard. This is an older podcast but I just heard it. ==> Jeff Tucker reflects on falling oil/gasoline prices. ==> I actually liked this Krugman column on war being counterproductive. However, he’s still locked into the “American war is the fault of Republicans” mindset. ==> Speaking […]

Ultra Magness and Optimus Murphy Fight Piketty

Phil Magness (GMU historian) and I have a working paper up, critiquing the empirical contribution of Thomas Piketty’s bestseller. If you religiously follow this blog, the stuff I added to the paper won’t be new, but when you combine it with what Phil dug up, I think it’s pretty compelling. If you have serious questions […]

What the Bible Says About Salvation

I want to keep this post relatively short to encourage more people to read it through. Let me offer only this preface, in case it helps some of you relate: When I was younger, I had this notion that your relationship with God was between Him and you, and ultimately when you died, you’d find […]