Mises Institute

As central bankers descend on Jackson Hole for their annual gathering, Mark Thornton explores the history, politics, and pageantry of the world’s most exclusive monetary policy conference. From its origins as a small agricultural meeting to a global elite summit shaped by Paul Volcker’s love of fly fishing, the event now serves as a stage for off-the-record conversations, coordinated strategies, and public displays of “confidence.” With the US economy facing stagflation, debt explosions, and political pressure on the Fed, the real drama lies not in the official speeches, but in the private exchanges among the world’s leading “money printers.” See also "About the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium" (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City): https://mises.org/MI_133_A The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Hayek for the 21st Century. Get your free copy at https://mises.org/IssuesFree Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

In his important lectures on the history of political thought, historian Ralph Raico examined five myths that many still believe about classical liberalism and the origins of modern ideology. Be sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard Radio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

A new July report shows Trump and the GOP Congress have joined forces to drive up federal spending to the highest levels since covid. The federal debt also just passed $37 trillion. Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at https://Mises.org/LL

The disheartening and frustrating fact is that Russia is in a much stronger negotiating position now than they were earlier in the war, when Western officials convinced Ukraine to walk away from peace talks and fight. Read the article here: https://mises.org/mises-wire/trump-putin-meeting-how-we-got-here Be sure to follow the Guns and Butter podcast at https://Mises.org/GB

Bob takes on a proposal for New York City to run its own grocery stores, dismantling the historical myths, economic fallacies, and rhetorical tricks behind the idea. From Flint’s water crisis to “food deserts,” he explains why government control will create shortages, low-quality food, and wasted resources. The Jacobin Article, "Municipal Grocery Stores Are Sensible and Obvious": https://Mises.org/HAP512a

What happens when a society consumes its seed corn? What is capital consumption, and why does it matter? In this episode, Mark Thornton examines how inflation, deficit spending, and distorted market signals quietly erode the productive assets that fuel economic growth. Drawing on Austrian economics and insights from investor Rick Rule, Mark explains how governments and central banks incentivize the misuse of capital, leading to stagnation, underinvestment, and long-term decline. Understanding this unseen destruction is key to making sense of today’s economic malaise. See also "Rick Rule: Shortages In Key Natural Resources To Define Next Decade": https://mises.org/MI_132_A Register for the 2025 Mises Institute Supporters Summit in Delray Beach, Florida, October 16–18: https://mises.org/ss25 Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Economist Joseph Salerno, an expert on the Austrian School, money, and methodology, joins us to talk about what makes the Austrian School of economics different. Be sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard Radio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

Dr. Jonathan Newman and Mises Summer Fellow, Jonathan Yen join Ryan to cover the Fed's latest policy meeting, the awful new jobs report, and rising debt levels.

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on July 26, 2025. Mises University is the world's leading instructional program in the Austrian School of economics, and is the essential training ground for economists who are looking beyond the mainstream.

Ryan McMaken explores five enduring myths in the history of political thought, drawing on Ralph Raico’s The Struggle for Liberty to challenge conventional takes on Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, constitutionalism, and more. This lecture reclaims the radical roots of liberalism and warns against the illusion of legal remedies in the fight for freedom. Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on July 26, 2025. Mises University is the world's leading instructional program in the Austrian School of economics, and is the essential training ground for economists who are looking beyond the mainstream.