Author Archive

Two Murphy Audio Clips

* Here (mp3) is my 14-minute commercial for the Human Action study guide at the 2009 Austrian Scholars Conference (pdf). For what it’s worth, I had several people tell me this was the best presentation I have ever given. (Note that that is not necessarily a compliment.) What happpens so often (at least in my […]

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Follow-Up On Krugman the Anti-Economist

In the previous post I was rendered without speech by Krugman’s analysis. However, I tried to deal with several problems that I perceived, and thus may have given readers the wrong impression. His last confusion of the post had nothing to do with politics. In this post, I want to isolate that particular absurdity to […]

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Krugman’s Naivete

I am a walking violation of rational expectations theory, because I do not learn. I continue to be shocked by Krugman’s blog. Check out this one: So I read this: Boehner said Americans want government to practice the same financial restraint they have been forced to exercise: “It’s time for government to tighten their belts […]

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Jon Stewart vs. CNBC (Cramer), Round 2

I think the lesson here is, if Jon Stewart rips you on his show, just enjoy the attention and let it go. Hey, do any of you parents out there watch Dora the Explorer? Is that really the voices at the end of this clip? The Daily Show With Jon StewartM – Th 11p / […]

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Animal Action

Ludwig von Mises’ magnum opus is Human Action. One of the hardest/easiest things to get across to newcomers is Mises’ notion of “action,” which is simply purposeful behavior. One of the questions we get a lot in Mises University is, “Can animals act?” From now on I’m using the chimp Santino as an illustration that […]

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Romer Adds to the Near-Lying About the Hoover Record

What is it about these Keynesians? Why can’t they just admit that Herbert Hoover ran unprecedented (peacetime) deficits, and then claim they didn’t work because they were too little? That would be a decent argument. Instead, they keep repeating the myth (“lie” is a strong word, since it implies that the people realize the facts) […]

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Dr. Doom Ups the Ante

I can’t believe this isn’t getting more coverage. According to the financial wizards at CNBC: Roubini, who is also known as “Dr. Doom,” told CNBC that the risk of a total meltdown has been reversed for now but that the economy is going through “a death by a thousand cuts.” He also said that “most […]

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Yet More Evidence on the Harm of GDP Figures

Oh man. While promoting his new book (at least two weeks on NYT bestseller list, btw) on a radio show, Tom Woods fielded a caller who said Smoot-Hawley was in effect only for a year. Tom asked if this were true, I said I had no friggin idea, and I resorted to my trusty source […]

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