Peter's Blog

Monetary inflation and technological revolution have combined to produce dangerous asset bubbles throughout history, from the precious-metal inflows and printing press of the Northern Renaissance to today’s digital-era boom in equities and speculative assets. The technology-driven productivity gains mask rising prices in goods markets, giving central banks cover to keep interest rates artificially low, fuel […]

Americans are well-acquainted with the primary effect of inflation– higher prices across the economy. Those not versed in Austrian Business Cycle Theory may not realize that inflation also disrupts and confuses economic calculation, the critical process by which capital is directed toward its best use. The following article was originally published by the Mises Institute. […]

Unsurprisingly, the United States’ latest war is expensive and will almost certainly be financed via debt and inflation. While right- and left-wingers bicker about the costs of conflict in Iran, both sides have lost sight of the fact that the US can’t afford either of their preferred slates of government services– whether it be regime […]

Pre-Fed recessions, like the Panic of 1857, are often invoked to counter the Austrian School’s theory of the business cycle, which stipulates that monetary expansion causes recessions. On the surface, the Panic of 1857 seems like a strong counterexample, but the full details of its origins– and resolution– vindicate the Austrians yet again. The following […]

The Fed is governed by institutional rules that separate it in operation and incentive from all other banks. Rather than being driven by profit and benevolence, it is ruled by a convoluted system of spoken and unspoken incentives that are often at odds with one another. The purpose of the Fed is nominally to keep […]

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 […]