Peter's Blog

Last week, the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points, the first cut since December. While it claims to be responding to economic conditions, the Fed is really just catering to political and financial elites, who’ve been pressuring the central bank for months. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The […]

Critics of inflationary policy are correct to describe inflation as a subtle tax, with the heaviest burden falling on the poor. While inflation is indeed a regressive tax, it’s also helpful to view and describe money printers just as we would counterfeiters or embezzlers. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The […]

With the Trump administration taking a stake in private companies like Intel, many are hailing the “treat the state like a business” approach to governing. But, just like any intervention, public ownership of the means of production is bound to create perverse incentives and lead to wasteful economic activity. The following article was originally published […]

One key feature of market economies is the “profit and loss test,” whereby successful companies are rewarded for creating value and wasteful companies go bankrupt. But, when the state gets involved, losses can be rewarded, and the financial system can obscure true market signals. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The […]

With another round of jobs data released last week, another revision to June’s numbers reveal two startling truths. First, jobs actually decreased in June, contrary to the initial estimates. Second, and arguably worse, the Trump administration’s cover-up of these numbers is as bad as critics thought. The following article was originally published by the Mises […]

With recent economic data pointing to an uncertain economic future, M2, a primary measure of the money supply, shows a flattening in the supply of money. But, as more precise measures of money show us, this trend may indicate a latent recession in the dollar-fueled economy. The following article was originally published by the Mises […]

Many on the left and right speak about the government as if it’s equivalent to a business. This rhetoric, deployed to justify the seizure of productive capital or make the state “more efficient,” obscures the fact that business and government are fundamentally different. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions […]

Recent statistical revisions have reignited debates over the nature of the state’s economic statistics. No matter who’s in power and all intentional data manipulation withstanding, the simple fact is that these metrics contain pro-intervention assumptions and are by nature political. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not […]

Austrian economists are correct to point out the links between central banking, fiat currency, and the proliferation of bad and unnecessary debt.When society’s money is inflated to serve the interest of the ultimate debtor– the state– bad debt will abound, and the student loan crisis is no different. The following article was originally published by […]

Recent policy from the White House has protectionists lauding President Trump’s so-called “trade deals” around the world. Regardless of the legality of these policies, it’s certain that they entail grave economic risks for the US. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Peter […]