Money and Banks

Although Federal Reserve policies are claimed to try to target the neutral rate of interest, it is not possible for that to be accomplished through monetary central planning.

The nineteenth-century American free bank experience is typically considered an example of unregulated banking that led to chaos, fraud, and bank failures. Palasek's study shows that it was in fact a strictly regulated system whose own regulations caused its downfall.

When the Massachusetts colony issued its own unredeemable paper money in 1690, it was with the promise that it would soon be redeemable in specie. Like all paper money issued by government, it lost value and the confidence of the people.

When the Massachusetts colony issued its own unredeemable paper money in 1690, it was with the promise that it would soon be redeemable in specie. It was a lie.

Bob responds to James Rickards’ recent tweet on record U.S. gold exports driving an improved trade balance, walking through the official data on non-monetary gold, Trump-era tariff uncertainty, and the broader question of what chronic trade deficits really mean in a post-gold-standard world.

Throughout history, Jews have been denounced as “moneylenders,” yet, as Carl Menger noted, there are very good reasons why Jewish people have been overrepresented in banking and finance.

What if the affordability crisis is not a failure of markets at all? What if it is the predictable outcome of how modern governments finance themselves?

Modern economists attempt to define money by correlating it with economic activity. As Austrian economists know, money is defined by its function as a medium of exchange.

By making paper money legal tender, the government shut the door on sound money. Repealing legal tender laws is the first step back to liberty.

Dr. Hülsmann offers his concluding thoughts on his debate with Philipp Bagus regarding the monetary consequences of closing the central bank of Argentina.