Economics

Capitalism versus the Free Market

by Sheldon Richman March 3, 2010

On March 1, 2010, Sheldon Richman gave the following speech at The Future of Freedom Foundations Economic Liberty Lecture Series. The speech can viewed below in its entirety.

The Political Economy of Health Care

by Sheldon Richman February 1, 2010

Trouble begins the moment health care becomes a matter of government spending. From then on, unless the policy is reversed, society is on the road to state intervention in peoples most personal decisions. Its easy to see why. If government starts picking up the tab for some peoples medical services, those people will not face the full costs of those ...

The Liberal Assault on the Poor, Part 2

by Jacob G. Hornberger January 1, 2010

Part 1 | Part 2 When it comes to economic policy, liberals suffer from two major weaknesses. One, they believe that all that matters with respect to policy are good intentions. As long as liberals mean well, they think that the policies they implement, especially with respect to the poor, are justified. Two, they have a woeful lack of understanding of ...

How a Rich and Proud Nation Went Broke

by Jim Powell January 1, 2010

Amidst a multitrillion dollar spending spree, President Obama apparently believes it’s inconceivable that a mighty nation such as the United States could go broke. Yet France, once the most powerful nation in Europe, went broke and was plunged into a revolution that consumed the king and queen. Germany was bankrupted by reparations following World War I as well as the ...

A Lesson in the (Re)distribution of Wealth

by Edmund Contoski January 1, 2010

Through the company where I worked more than 35 years ago, I had an opportunity to meet an unusual man. I had not seen him since, but his recent obituary caught my eye. His name was Wayne Field, a name I’m sure few, if any, of you will recognize. In his 87 years he accomplished a great deal. He founded ...

Lessons from the Great Depression

by Lawrence W. Reed November 3, 2009

On November 2, 2009, Lawrence W. Reed gave the following speech at The Future of Freedom Foundation’s “Economic Liberty Lecture Series.” The speech can viewed below in its entirety.

Keynes and the Assault on Savings, Part 2

by Gregory Bresiger November 1, 2009

Part 1 | Part 2 The reason, I believe, that Keynes’s anti-saving, consume-more philosophy is politically popular is simple: Consumption is immediate and usually enjoyable. Saving requires self-discipline and patience. Also, the philosophy is remarkably bi-partisan. It fits in with the ideas of a massive and ever-growing welfare/warfare state. This ...

The Great Depression and the Current Recession: Similarities and Differences (video)

by Robert Higgs October 8, 2009

On October 5, 2009, Robert Higgs gave the following speech at The Future of Freedom Foundation’s “Economic Liberty Lecture Series.” The speech can viewed below in its entirety.

Keynes and the Assault on Savings, Part 1

by Gregory Bresiger October 1, 2009

Part 1 | Part 2  In the long, run we are all dead. — John Maynard Keynes, A Tract on Monetary Reform There are men regarded today as brilliant economists, who deprecate saving and recommend squandering on ...

Economics and Moral Courage (video)

by Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. September 9, 2009

On September 9, 2009, Lew Rockwell gave the following speech at The Future of Freedom Foundation’s “Economic Liberty Lecture Series.” The speech can viewed below in its entirety.

Failure Leads to Success in the Public Sector

by Gregory Bresiger July 24, 2009

We are playing out the latest chapter in the crisis and leviathan model in the financial-services business. It is a model in which public-sector failure leads to bigger government. It leads to success for socialists who want the government to expand into every aspect of our economy but dont want to overtly call for nationalization ...

A New Stimulus? Washington Never Learns

by Sheldon Richman July 10, 2009

In Washington, the rule is: If a little poison doesn’t cure the patient, give him more. This rule is being applied not only to health care, where massive doses of government intervention are being prescribed to treat the toxicity of past government intervention. It’s also being used in the attempt to end ...