Peter's Blog

When Bureaucracy—Not Capitalism—Creates Meaningless Work

Regulation is already pernicious enough in its stifling effect on economic activity and entrepreneurship, but as regulations and bureaucratic control extend throughout the economy, they also cause the proliferation of “fake jobs” and promote lower job satisfaction for workers. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily […]

The Fed Doubles Down on Easy Money: Rate Cuts Deepen as QT Comes to a Halt

To the relief of many market-movers, last week the FOMC voted to cut rates for the second time this year and announced that the Fed will begin maintaining its balance sheet starting in December. With this return to easy-money, Powell and the Fed are again attempting to paper over economic fault-lines created by their own […]

We Still Haven’t Faced the Economic Madness of 2020

It has been more than 5 years since the federal government led a complete upheaval of American society in the name of public safety. Even after 5 years, America hasn’t fully realized the irreparable damage that the state did to social and economic life. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The […]

The Fallacy of Planned Obsolescence

Interventionists look for any excuse or pretext to regulate private enterprise. One recent justification for additional regulation is so-called “planned obsolescence,” but as with other reasons for state action, this justification falls apart under close scrutiny. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of […]

Why Socialism Inevitably Ends in Totalitarian Tyranny

Socialists and other interventionists seek an economic system free from what they call “exploitation” and private property. But in reality, socialism inevitably leads to the forceful and violent expropriation of private property for the benefit of socialist planners. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect […]

The Slow Death of the Middle Class: Inflation’s Silent Stranglehold

All taxes make their payers worse off, but one stands above the others in its uniquely sinister nature. Inflation – the slow, subtle erosion of purchasing power– is the tax that kills the middle class. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Peter […]

Loose Money, Tight Money, and the Illusion of Control

With the Fed’s latest rate cut still in view, economic fallacies abound. Policymakers and talking heads speak of monetary policy as a lever that can be flipped back and forth without issue. But, as the Austrian school demonstrates, simply reversing monetary course cannot undo the malinvestment caused by easy money. The following article was originally […]

The Coming Crisis of the American Tax State

Two weeks into the government shutdown, many eyes are on the federal budget. Now is as good a time as any to remind the public both why the US should properly be called a “tax state” and why that’s not a good thing for the country. The following article was originally published by the Mises […]

Public Enemies: Government Bureaucrats as Societal Parasites

In today’s interventionist economy, the Fed inflates away the dollar and congress and the presidency spend trillions on a whim. But according to Austrian economist Murray Rothbard, the modern bureaucracy– especially the civil service system– is arguably the greatest threat to American liberty. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions […]

The State’s Endless Quest for a Free Lunch

Through its insistence on controlling the money supply, the modern state has turned coin clipping and rank monetary debasement into exalted progressive doctrine. The state’s printing of new money seems like a “free lunch,” but we all know that there’s no such thing. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions […]