Bob Murphy

Author Archive

Celent Report Says "What Credit Crunch?"

I have seen this story linked all over the place, but just in case you missed it: PARIS (Reuters) – The credit crunch is not nearly as severe as the U.S. authorities appear to believe and public data actually suggest world credit markets are functioning remarkably well, a report released on Thursday says. As a […]

The Future of the Auto Industry

Mario Rizzo (relying on the elusive Jeremy Sapienza) tips us off to a future car ad. The whole thing is pretty good, having the quality of a decent Onion article. An excerpt: It’s in the way you dress. The way you boogie down. The way you sign your unemployment check. You’re a man who likes […]

Ex-Austrian Declares: "We Need to Save More and to Spend More"

Really, that’s what he says, though not in the same sentence. (HT2 Jim Fedako.) I’m not going to bother quoting this guy, who says he believed in Austrian economics until the Lehman collapse. I guess the guy’s position is analogous to somebody who says, “We never should have gone into Iraq, but now that we’re […]

Police / Firefighter Shakedown?

I just got a Christmas solicitation from a fireman (yes he was a man) and politely declined. (It was awkward because we both knew within 3 seconds that he was going to hit me up for money, but I had to sit there and listen to the song and dance for two minutes before he […]

ISIS Magic Photo Gift Maker

Reader Lance (not sure if he wants me using his last name) emailed me about some issues, and then offered to print me up some free mugs using his business’ new technology. I have now been enjoying hot tea in my Free Advice / PIG to Capitalism mugs for several days now, and no accidental […]

Sean McBeth: Right or Wrong?

Reader Sean McBeth writes and says he enjoyed the PIG to Capitalism. (BTW, if you want a favor from me, that’s always a good way to start the email.) He has begun blogging himself, and wants to know if he’s on the right track, is persuasive in his arguments, etc. Unfortunately, due to time constraints […]

Mario Rizzo Reminds Macroeconomists About Economics

My dissertation chairman, Mario Rizzo, was invited to comment in the Social Science Research Council’s forum on “What Do We Know About Bailouts?” There are some big guns who contributed, and they all say basically variations of the stuff we’ve been hearing from the talking heads over the last few months. Then Rizzo steps to […]

More Greenspan Loving: Is Everyone On Crazy Pills?!

I am getting increasingly frustrated by some economists’ attempts to deny that the housing bubble had anything to do with the )#$#4 negative real interest rates that Greenspan foisted upon us…during the exact period when housing prices exploded. What is particularly annoying is when these Greenspan defenders say things that are simply not true. Take […]