The Human Action Podcast

The recent BEA "Advance Estimate" for 1q GDP growth showed a lackluster drop of 0.3 percent, but it included unusually large swings in private inventories and imports, as well as a drop in federal expenditures. Some MAGA fans have argued that once you account for these misleading figures, the report signifies a healthy economy. Murphy mostly disagrees, and shows why the report--taken at face value--does indeed signify poor economic performance. Mises.org/HAP499aMises.org/HAP499bMises.org/HAP499cMises.org/HAP499dThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Dr. Jonathan Newman returns to the Human Action Podcast to discuss the relaunch of the Mises Academy—including his new course based on Bob's Lessons for the Young Economist textbook. But this conversation goes much deeper than curriculum. Bob and Jonathan unpack the fundamental question: What is economics, really? They explore how Austrian economics differs from psychology, history, and the natural sciences, why economics is more about understanding than prediction, and how praxeology reveals the logical structure of human choice. Mises.org/HAP498aMises.org/HAP498bMises.org/HAP498cThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Dr. Joe Salerno joins Bob to review the recent tensions between Donald Trump and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. As Trump questions Powell’s leadership and Fed policy, they explore the deeper issues: Should central banks really be "independent"? Does the Fed’s shield from political oversight protect sound economics—or merely insulate elites from accountability? Murphy and Salerno tackle myths about interest rates, inflation, debt monetization, and the Fed’s true relationship with government spending. Mises.org/HAP497aMises.org/HAP497bThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

The Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) crowd prides itself on fidelity to actual history. But Murphy shows how leading MMT guru Randall Wray completely distorts his discussion of two historical episodes in his college lecture. Mises.org/HAP496aMises.org/HAP496bMises.org/HAP496cMises.org/HAP496dMises.org/HAP496eThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

In this episode, Bob breaks down the Triffin dilemma, explaining why it's wrong to assume that maintaining global reserve currency status requires ever-increasing U.S. trade deficits. He shows that America’s chronic deficits are driven more by government spending and fiat money than by global necessity, making the case that returning to fiscal discipline and sound money—not tariffs—is the key to reversing America’s economic decline. Mises.org/HAP495aMises.org/HAP495bMises.org/HAP495cMises.org/HAP495dMises.org/HAP495eMises.org/HAP495fMises.org/HAP495gThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Jonathan Newman joins Bob to discuss the debate between Austrians and MMTers on the origins of money. In the Anti-MMT panel at the Austrian Economics Research Conference (AERC), Jonathan presented his research on the archeological evidence that silver was used as money in ancient Mesopotamia and how the evidence vindicates Menger's theory on the origins of money. Jonathan and Bob walk through various MMT responses and make the case that the Austrian school is especially suited to critique Modern Monetary Theory. Mises.org/HAP494aMises.org/HAP494bMises.org/HAP494cMises.org/HAP494dMises.org/HAP494eMises.org/HAP494fThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Patrick Newman joins Bob to discuss one of his talks at the Austrian Economics Research Conference (AERC), where he explained that Simon Kuznets–who developed the method of calculating GNP and GDP statistics–had serious doubts about how to include government expenditures. Mises.org/HAP493aMises.org/HAP493bMises.org/HAP493cThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Bob responds to recent tweets that believe trade deficits are a sign of economic strength. He also includes an op-ed from Robert Barro and a clip from Milton Friedman, to show that even big gun economists can often speak in misleading ways when it comes to trade deficits. Mises.org/HAP492aMises.org/HAP492bMises.org/HAP492cMises.org/HAP492dMises.org/HAP492eThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join us May 15–17, 2025, at the Mises Institute for our Revisionist History of War Conference: Mises.org/RHW

One of the common worries about a hard money like gold or Bitcoin is that large price deflation could make lending and investment impossible because nominal interest rates can't go below 0%. Bob explains why these fears are invalid. Mises.org/HAP491aThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join us May 15–17, 2025, at the Mises Institute for our Revisionist History of War Conference: Mises.org/RHW

Bob first reviews the standard libertarian case for legalizing drugs as the way to neutralize the Mexican drug cartels. Then he plays a recent clip where Dave Smith argues that drug prohibition leads to violence because (among other factors) you can't call the cops if someone steals your product. Bob argues that libertarians should stop making this (invalid) argument. Mises.org/HAP490aMises.org/HAP490bThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Grove City College has recently digitized its collection of post-war materials—including photos, correspondence, and manuscripts—from the great Austrian economist, Ludwig von Mises. Mises' biographer, Guido Hülsmann, joins Bob to discuss some of the treasures that have been made available online. Mises.org/HAP489aMises.org/HAP489bMurray's 99th birthday is March 2. Please share pictures of yourself (hashtag #happybirthdayrothbard) reading a Rothbard book or wearing a Rothbard t-shirt. The Mises Institute is celebrating with its Murray99 campaign: Everyone who donates $26 or more using the mises.org/murray99 link will receive a copy of Economic Depressions: Their Cause and Cure, originally published in 1969, and Nations by Consent, originally published in 1994. The first 26 donors will also receive the Rothbard lapel pin. All donations will fund student scholarships. Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Some have proposed that the spending cuts identified by DOGE be directed towards a $5000 tax rebate for Americans who pay federal taxes. Critics warn it could be inflationary, just like the COVID-era stimmies. Bob disagrees, explaining that the DOGE spending cuts offset the impact. Mises.org/HAP488aMises.org/HAP488bJoin the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Josh Hendrickson is the chair of the Economics Department at the University of Mississippi. He recently brought to Twitter's attention a 41-page document released in November by Stephen Miran, the Harvard PhD whom Trump has nominated as the new chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. The document spells out a strategy of using tariffs and deregulation to Make America Great Again. Mises.org/HAP487aMises.org/HAP487bJoin the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25

Erick Brimen is the CEO of Honduras Próspera, which is described as a "start up city" that offers choice in regulatory treatment. It is an exciting application of libertarian theory to the messy real world of existing States. Mises.org/HAP486aJoin the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: Mises.org/Phoenix25 The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob analyzes President Trump's recent remarks praising the revenue capacity of tariffs. He shows that historically, tariffs only bought in a small fraction of what income taxes currently yield, meaning federal spending would have to be sharply cut in order to phase out the income tax. Mises.org/HAP485aMises.org/HAP485bMises.org/HAP485cMises.org/HAP485dUse code Action25 to get 10% off your ticket to Educating for Liberty Mises Circle in Tampa on February 22: Mises.org/Tampa25 The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Murphy recently squared off against Nathan Tankus in a ZeroHedge debate focusing on Austrian economics vs. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Jonathan Newman watched the debate and selected three clips highlighting key areas of dispute. Jonathan and Bob elaborate on the issues and anticipate possible MMT replies. Mises.org/HAP484aMises.org/HAP484bMises.org/HAP483cMises.org/HAP484dUse code Action25 to get 10% off your ticket to Educating for Liberty Mises Circle in Tampa on February 22: Mises.org/Tampa25 The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Lawrence McQuillan from the Independent Institute joins Bob to delve into the regulatory failures and mismanagement behind the wildfire crisis in California. They discuss the environmental policies that exacerbate risks, offer practical solutions to firefighting and prevention shortcomings, and examine the role of private stewardship in mitigating future disasters. This episode overall sheds light on how California’s political landscape and approach to wildfires continues to fuel a recurring tragedy. Mises.org/HAP483aMises.org/HAP483bMises.org/HAP483cMises.org/HAP483dUse code Action25 to get 10% off your ticket to Educating for Liberty Mises Circle in Tampa on February 22: Mises.org/Tampa25 The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob looks at the misconceptions and misuses of GDP accounting, explaining why this widely accepted metric often paints a misleading picture of economic health. Mises.org/HAP482aMises.org/HAP482bMises.org/HAP482cThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Bob walks through diagrams from Hayek's famous LSE lectures to explain the Austrian view of the boom-bust cycle. Mises.org/HAP481aMises.org/HAP481bMises.org/HAP481cMises.org/HAP481dMises.org/HAP481eThe Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at Mises.org/HAPodFree

Matt McCaffrey is a former Mises Institute research fellow with an expertise in the American economist (and Austrian fellow-traveler) Frank Fetter. He joins Bob to discuss his newly published journal article exploring the dispute Fetter had with the august British economist Alfred Marshall over the theory of rent. Mises.org/HAP480aMises.org/HAP480bMises.org/HAP480cFor just $25, you can receive our December Bundle, including three essential reads:Tom DiLorenzo's Axis of Evil: America’s Three Worst Presidents, Per Bylund's How to Think About the Economy,and Murray Rothbard's What Has Government Done to Our Money?. Claim your bundle now at Mises.org/HumanAction24