Minor Issues

On this week's episode, Mark recaps Professor Guido Hülsmann's recent lecture on the cultural impact of the paper dollar. Hülsmann explains how an ever-inflationary monetary system and depreciating currency are leading to moral decay and divisiveness in America. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Additional Resources "The Cultural Impact of the Dollar" by Guido Hülsmann: Mises.org/Minor_42A "Abundance, Generosity, and the State: An Inquiry into Economic Principles" by Guido Hülsmann: Mises.org/Minor_42B

On this week's episode, Mark takes a look back to where our dollar came from. Our nation started with silver as money: the Silver Dollar, and before that the Spanish Peso in colonial times. That type of large silver coin goes back to the early 1500s and the Early Modern Era when such coins expanded trade, improved the food supply, led to commercially produced clothing, and gradually changed housing from mud-and-grass construction to brick-and-lumber construction. Our modern paper dollar is worth less than 5% compared to silver. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Mark contemplates the political divide in America, the lack of a middle ground, the political divisions in DC, and the turmoil over the Speaker of the House. Looking around the world, similar problems exist in many places; but, there is a tried and true solution, which Mark explains. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark looks at the "Home Town" entrepreneurs in Laurel, Mississippi, who have done so much to turn around the fortunes of their poor and struggling hometown. Mark points out that this is going on all around us, but is seldom recognized—except in the isolation of forgotten small towns. Entrepreneurs make the good of the world we live in, and can help fix the problems that we face. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

This episode examines the impending Government Shutdown, which will suspend new releases of the government's "vital" economic statistics. How will the "Data Dependent" Fed manage its policy behind the cloak of missing data? Mark suggests it's best to consider that the Fed is playing its typical confidence game. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark interprets the Fed's new economic projections for the economy, in which the Fed "doubles-down" on current economic growth and the economy's prospects moving forward. Essentially, the Fed is saying that they are taking us from the "touch-and-go" economy of the last three years to a touch-and-go landing, where the economy will take off and perform much better than anyone anticipates. Don't bet on it. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Americans are mad about the economy, and particularly about the Fed's inflation of prices and declining inflation-adjusted wages and incomes. Keynesian economist Paul Krugman, on the other hand, thinks that you are ignorant and that everything in the economy is great. Mark looks at Beef prices and consumption to provide some insight into why Americans are rightfully mad at the Federal Reserve, Democrats, and Republicans. Mark concludes that Americans have a legitimate beef!  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark looks at PPI—the Producer Price Index—which provides evidence of the costs for suppliers in various industries, macroeconomic instability, and the potential for economic recovery. Here, very low prices provide the potential for recovery; and rising prices can indicate both recovery in the economy, as well as inflationary pressures moving forward. The Covid Bubble and restrictions caused a 50% increase in producer prices, and since the peak in 2022, PPI has only corrected about 10%.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. "Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities" (PPIACO): Mises.org/Minor_PPI

In this episode, Mark examines Fed Chairman Jay Powell's recent confession that the Fed is "navigating by the stars on a cloudy night." This reveals the fundamental methodological weakness of the Fed's economic policy and mainstream economics in general ("data dependency"). In contrast, it also reveals the strengths of Austrian economics, economic theory, and the self regulation of the free market. Mark suggests that we all be prepared for big negative surprises in the economy and additional Federal Reserve and government power grabs. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Recommended Reading "What the Central Bank Cartel has Planned for You" by Thorsten Polleit: Mises.org/Minor34A "Transparency or Deception: What the Fed Was Saying in 2007" by Mark Thornton: Mises.org/Minor34B

In this episode, Mark explains why we need a Crash (or very Hard) Landing in the US economy and the world economy. Specifically, why is a crash landing better to resolve the malinvestments caused by the Fed? Why is a crash landing better in many ways for the productive class of workers and savers? And, how would a crash landing place much of the pain and the overall burden on the rich, politically-connected classes? Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Additional Resources "The Fed's Real Mandate": Mises.org/Minor33A "Black Hole or Shock Absorber: How Does a Free-Market Economy Respond to Crises?": Mises.org/Minor33B "The REAL Solution to the Coming Economic Crisis": Mises.org/Minor33C "Eliminating Economic Crises": Mises.org/Minor33D "Austerity: A Real Solution to Help Heal the US Economy": Mises.org/Minor33E "US Labor Market: Help Wanted!": Mises.org/Minor33F "After the Boom Must Come the Bust" (Radio Rothbard): Mises.org/Minor33G "Here's What Mounting Corporate Layoffs Tell Us about the Economy" (Radio Rothbard): Mises.org/Minor33H

Will we get a soft landing or a hard landing in the economy? Or, should we hope for a crash landing? Mark Thornton explains. See also "Soft Landing? Not Likely" featuring Bob Murphy and Jonathan Newman on the Human Action Podcast: Mises.org/HAP407 Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this episode, Mark updates his early March 2023 episode (Mises.org/Minor11) on the high price of toilet paper. He shows how economic changes, so far, in 2023 seem to have vindicated his forecast of lower toilet paper and paper towel prices. It also demonstrates how the market process works on a minor scale, even when large determinants like Amazon, Covid, and the US home construction industry get tangled up with politicians and bureaucrats. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark reviews what people have said about Fitch's downgrade of US government debt. Mark sees it as a good thing, but not good enough. The "minor issue" in the latest debt ceiling agreement is ignored by the mainstream media: politicians suspended the debt ceiling into 2025, rather than raising it to some arbitrary, higher figure. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark discusses the record levels of credit card debt and how it is a major contributing factor to economic pain from the Fed's impact of causing higher prices for consumer goods. This is expected to intensify when the recession officially hits. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

This week Mark invites you to explore the Minor Issues archives. We have produced about a half a year's worth of short audio commentaries about the economy, and we are grateful to our listeners for their feedback. Topics range from the price of toilet paper to macro-business cycle topics, but our specialty is highlighting issues that the mainstream media ignores or misrepresents as insignificant. Thank you for listening.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this episode, Mark looks at the "minor issue" of the value of the dollar. While everything in the economy seems great—including stock markets, price inflation, unemployment, and consumer confidence—the value of the dollar index has fallen 12% during the rebound in stocks since last October. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

On this week's episode, Mark summarizes the many problems with EVs, and focuses on two consequences funded by taxpayer subsidy. Large, overpriced, long range vehicles have been subsidized at the expense of more efficient technological applications. These EVs are significantly heavier compared to their fossil fuel counterparts (which have engines and gas tanks). These heavier vehicles create greater crash risks for passengers and pedestrians. Failure to disclose such issues reveals some uncomfortable truths about the political elites who drive this agenda onto the American people. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

In this week's episode, Mark looks back at the history of the Inverted Yield Curve. While many observers have now dismissed the significance of the yield curve inversion in 2022—and no recession, yet—Mark shows that the history of the IYC may back a completely opposite interpretation. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

As we enter the dog days of summer, I have heard several media conversations and a few private ones that express exasperation over languishing capital markets. Why do things take so long to unravel? What will happen next? When will X, Y, or Z happen? Why are tech stocks so bullish now? The market takes time to process the information that it already has — or is in "process" — and everyday brings new data. The Austrian perspective highlights the role of reality in the market process. This is especially important in this period of unprecedented government intervention and the chaos it has generated in markets.  Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

While talk of high gas prices is no longer a headline issue, energy economics is still a vitally important aspect of understanding the economy, including the business cycle. Mark explains the basics, tells us where we now stand, and what the major implications are for the near future.   Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.  

Mark takes a look at all the wrong predictions of recession in recent years, including those of Austrian School economists. While the MSM and Fed officials try to downplay the coming of a recession, many of the statistics and facts that Austrian consider important are indicating a looming recession, if not a full-blown economic crisis. Check out Anatomy of the Crash: The Financial Crisis of 2020, edited by Tho Bishop: Mises.org/AnatomyOfTheCrash Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.