Peter's Blog

Tariffs Through an Austrian Lens

In post-election America, tariffs still occupy much of the policy debate surrounding the incoming Trump administration. With leftists arguing in bad faith on one side of the issue and economic populists on the other, we can turn to the Austrian school of economics to understand the tradeoffs at play with protectionism. The following article was […]

Schiff vs. Breedlove: Gold will Thrive in a Digital Future

Last week, Peter participated in a Zerohedge debate moderated by Keith Knight (who also interviewed Peter recently). He faced off against Bitcoin advocate Robert Breedlove on his show, “What is Money?”  Peter and Robert discuss the future use cases of Bitcoin and gold, the philosophy and economics behind money, and what it would take for […]

NAFTA Fever and the Illusion of Government-Created Free Markets

As the nation prepares for Trump’s second term, protectionism and hostility to free-trade are getting a second wind.To preempt the economics behind these ideas, it’s worth revisiting the fact that the government cannot “level the playing field” or create free markets. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. The opinions expressed do […]

Schiff w/ Knight: Why Does the Economy Crash?

Peter recently appeared on the Don’t Tread on Anyone podcast hosted by Keith Knight, a heavy hitter in the libertarian space. Keith and Peter discuss one of Peter’s books, How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes. Their conversation covers the pillars of Austrian Business Cycle Theory, the ethics of regulation, and a whole host […]

The Cantillon Effect Explained: Why Inflation Helps the State at Your Expense

The Cantillon Effect, named after 18th-century economist Richard Cantillon, describes the way newly created money flows through an economy, affecting different sectors and social classes unevenly. When a central bank like the Federal Reserve injects new money into the economy—often through measures like quantitative easing or low interest rates—this money doesn’t distribute itself evenly. Instead, […]

Peter Schiff: Consumers Trust in Trump

In the latest episode of the Peter Schiff Show, Peter dives into the latest on the U.S. economy and presidential race. He highlights the continued surge in Donald Trump’s polling numbers amid economic troubles, pointing to low job openings and increased consumer confidence as signs that Americans expect change. He also critiques the U.S. dependence […]

Schiff on Schwab Network: Gold Just Getting Started

Last week Peter joined Oliver Renick on his show, “Market on Close,” on the Schwab Network. They discuss gold’s stellar year in 2024 and where the metal is heading, and Peter also comments on the price of crude oil, treasury yields, and the Fed’s recent rate cut. 

Schiff vs. Mallers: Who Needs Bitcoin?

On Thursday, Peter debated Jack Mallers, the CEO of Strike, a Bitcoin payment system. They cover what makes a good money, their future outlooks for both gold and Bitcoin, and what would make Peter change his mind on the cryptocurrency. Throughout the debate, Peter explicates the Austrian School of Economics’ theory on the origin of […]

Why People Value Worthless Paper Money

Fiat money is intrinsically worthless and yet people still value it. Where does this value come from? Our guest commentator cites Austrian thinkers Menger and Mises. He traces the purchasing power of paper money back its historical root: real money, i.e. physical gold.

Degrowth Advocates Misunderstand the Business Cycle

December saw a resurgence of “degrowth” advocates in the media, with two articles published by Nature garnering special attention on X (formerly Twitter). The fallacies underlying the degrowth movement are not new in economics, but it’s worth revisiting them and their important connections to monetary policy in the age of central banking.