Bob Murphy

Author Archive

Yet More Clarity (Confusion?) on Mainstream Tax Analysis

OK this is almost out of my system, but people keep asking good questions in the comments. “May I have another, sir?” Chris asked: Bob, Doesn’t a consumption tax also hit you when you earn interest, dividends, and capital gains? After all one doesn’t earn interest to roll it over for perpetuity — it’s eventually […]

Yet Another Quick Note on Tax Theory

OK in the comments on previous posts it is clear that a lot of readers didn’t get the point I was making originally, that there is a legitimate sense in which an income tax hurts individuals more than a comparable consumption tax. So let me take another stab at it. (It should go without saying […]

Follow-Up on Rothbard and Consumption Taxes

Incidentally, Bob Wenzel and I have been exchanging emails that are as chummy as the bounds of heterosexuality permit. I think we are in 99% agreement on Rothbard’s views towards a consumption tax. So this isn’t me “attacking” anybody, just making sure people don’t draw erroneous inferences from some of Rothbard’s arguments. In this piece […]

GDP Forecast Bask

I am working on a research paper for investors (I have to pay the mortgage somehow) and I need to go back in time to see what the “consensus” forecast for (say) 4th quarter 2004 GDP was, as of 1st quarter 2004. Obviously I can use FRED to see what the actual GDP figures were, […]

Robert Wenzel Takes the Fight to Radio

Having conquered the world of online Austro-libertarian financial commentary, Robert Wenzel is eyeing new territory: I am happy to announce the launch of the “Robert Wenzel Show”. I will be recording the shows on Saturday and they will be up on EPJ on Sunday at 7:00 AM EST. I hope to expand the show down […]

Potpourri

Lots of links have been piling up here… * You know how Keynesians liked that one journal article showing that businesses were more worried about bad sales than regulations? Well, when a survey shows the exact opposite, they still take it as further evidence that the demand-side story is right. (Note that I’m not saying […]

Herman Cain’s Solution to Entitlement Funding…

…is to get more Americans united behind smoking? James Miller in the comments passes along this odd campaign ad. (Believe it or not, there is a modicum of quality control here at Free Advice. I did a google image search of “Mark Block,” and I think this is really Cain’s campaign manager. I.e. this isn’t […]

Jesus Christ: Fair & Balanced

When you read the gospels, one of the things that stands out in the life of Jesus is how much of His time He spent in prayer. This is interesting, because you might at first think that Jesus doesn’t “need” prayer as much as the rest of us do. Indeed, that’s usually the angle that […]