Enemy Of The State: Murray Rothbard

The American Economy and the End of Laissez-Faire: 1870 to World War II 1. The Civil War and Its Legacy Lecture by Murray N. Rothbard How does government intervene in the economy? What are the consequences? What are the motivations behind passing these interventions? The lives of the people involved explain why they do these things. Rothbard delves into the religious views of the leaders in American history to understand motivations. Schools, drink, and Sabbath laws were the focus of Yankees in Northern states for ninety years.   Lecture 1 of 13 presented in Fall of 1986 at the New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BWpOPpsYizs Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/american-economy-and-end-laissez-faire-1870-world-war-ii We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Murray N. Rothbard. We curate content on

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 6. Hayek and His Lamentable Contemporaries The Nobel award to F.A. Hayek in 1974 went directly against the tradition of that prize to go only to mathematical forecasters, left-liberals, and government central planners. Not only was Hayek’s work pioneering, but it is also the only correct analysis of business cycles past, present and future since they began in the mid-18th century. Initially, various economists concluded that the boom-bust cycle must be deeply rooted within the free market industrial capitalist system. The blame must rest with free market capitalism, said Marx and Keynes. Government spending was to make up for some depression in the private sector. Too little spending created unemploymen

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 5. Mises and Austrian Economics The essence of Austrian economics is based on the analysis of individual action. In other words, it is about individuals doing things, having purposes and goals and pursuing them. Other schools of economics deal with aggregates, groups, classes, wholes of one sort or another, without focusing on the individual first and building up from there. Austrian economics builds on an earlier French and Italian tradition, really beginning with the Spanish scholastics in the 16th century, and then proceeding on in France with Cantillion and Turgot in the 18th century. Economics not only predated Smith by several centuries, but also was much better than Smith. It seems not to be an

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 4. Menger and Böhm-Bawerk Carl Menger, 1840-1921, founded Austrian economics. Eugen von Bohm-Bawerk was the most important student. Weiser was his brother-in-law, but was fairly pre-Keynesian. Mises was the great successor to Bohn-Bawerk. With Adam Smith, and with especially Riccardo, we shift toward the theory which still plagues us to the present day – namely that the real determinant of value, of prices, is not consumer subjective utility, but objective labor pain – labor toil. Menger in Austria, Jevons in England, and Walras in Switzerland created the Austrian discussion of marginalism. Menger brought back the scholastic tradition, the praxeological method of focus on individual action, entrepren

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 3. The Pre Austrians Richard Cantillon was quite Misesian before Mises. He wrote of utility theory and the entrepreneur’s uncertainty in the 1970s. Cantillon was a great money practitioner. He became a bank and banker to the Jacobite Stuart line and to John Law who launched paper money inflation. Turgot became finance minister in 1774, but laissez-faire ideas failed. Turgot was Rothbard’s favorite character in the history of thought. He wrote well under time pressure. He wrote of wealth and capital theory and even of Austrian time preference theory and the law of diminishing returns. Cantillon and Turgot preceded Adam Smith, but were not mentioned by Smith. Smith made waste and rubbish of 2,000 years o

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 2. The Emergence of Communism The roots of Marxism were in messianic communism. Marx’s devotion to communism was his crucial point. Violent, worldwide revolution, in Marx’s version made by the oppressed proletariat, would be the instrument of the advent of his millennium, communism. All visions of communism include certain features. Private property is eliminated, individualism goes by the board, individuality is flattened, all property is owned and controlled communally, and the individual units of the new collective organism are in some vague way equal to one another. Marx’s portrayal of raw communism is very like the monstrous regimes imposed by the coercive Anabaptists of the sixteenth century. Ma

Murray Rothbard died before he could write the third volume of his famous History of Economic Thought, which would cover the birth and development of the Austrian School, through the Keynesian Revolution and Chicago School. With this six-lecture course, however, the History of Economic Thought is complete. 1. Ideology and Theories of History History is not an inevitable march upward, as concluded in the 1830s. That determinist view put the stamp of approval on everything past and present. It permeates economic history. It ignores the great moral choices. History is a race between state power and social power. The Whig theory of history implied that you do not lose any knowledge. It always just builds. Yet that is not true for history, science, or economics. Economics collapsed with Adam Smith. Most economists denied the role of price in determining cost. Few understood time preference. Rothbard thinks Hegel is a nut. The first in a series of six lectures on the History of Economic Thought. Sourced from

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 14. Intro to Micro: Interest Rates and Course Review The time market determines the pure rate of interest. Price per unit of time may be wages or rent. The interest income will be earned by the capitalist who has assumed the task of advancing present money. The capitalist then waits for five years until the product matures before recouping his money. Part 14 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0gXHFLWN4UE Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Murray N. Rothbard. We curate content on the www.ReadRothbard.com site including books, lectures, articles, speeches

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 13. Intro to Micro: The Labor Market Economists can say little about population and its size, despite the gloomy views of Malthus. More people are a good thing because of the division of labor. Living standards are higher when populations are higher. Living standards are higher when populations are denser. When people voluntarily reduce births, average population age rises. Many of the poorest areas of the world are low density, e.g. Africa and interior Brazil. Part 13 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RCE-ZJtfv8M Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Mur

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. (*Note - This episode was previously posted as: Episode 16 - Economics 101 - 5 of 8 - Labor and Unions - Murray N Rothbard) 12. Intro to Micro: Labor and Unions In order for anyone to make ethical judgments, he must know the consequences of his various actions. In questions of union actions displacement or unemployment for oneself or others will be considered unfortunate by most people. Once understood, far fewer people will be prounion or hostile to nonunion competitors. Unions lower the marginal productivity of all union workers. Part 12 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/530ZghSuOwI Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 11. Intro to Micro: The Structure of Production As factors of production, supply and demand of labor, land and capital will determine how much the producer will get out of this process. This process occurs in different stages. In the earlier or higher stages, producers' goods must be produced that will later cooperate in producing other producers' goods that will finally co-operate in producing the desired consumers' goods. The consumers' good is valued because it is consumed - directly satisfying man's ends. Part 11 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1C_bTJCQ7Vc Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 10. Intro to Micro: Government Cartels The only cartels that have lasted have been government cartels. There is no essential difference between a cartel and an ordinary corporation or partnership. Not even the De Beers cartel is all powerful. The South African government nationalizes all land upon which diamonds are discovered. The government only licenses De Beers to work the mines; they shoot others. New York cabs are cartels. Farm price supports are cartelized agriculture. Part 10 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O8mTa7jRfP0 Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 9. Intro to Micro: Monopoly and Competition The words monopoly and competition have been changed. Competition meant rivalry or competing, either active or potential. Businesses do not like this. Monopoly meant a grant of privilege by the government. It now means a falling demand curve. Government creates crazy regulations and the market works to get around them. Cheaper consumer products are better. It's difficult to sustain quotas - cartel agreements; everybody cheats. Cartels break up in the free market unless government intervenes and props them up. Part 9 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uNcUGp0E3BY Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Rea

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 8. Intro to Micro: The Firm Business men must make sure they can cover their costs by incoming revenue. The production function will yield a certain quantity of a product. The firm considers marginal costs and average costs to weigh where along the demand curve production is. Average revenues less average costs multiplied by quantity will reflect profits (or losses) for the firm. Every firm (not industry) will always be where the demand curve is elastic. Perfect and pure competition is where the demand curve for the firm is infinitely elastic - horizontal. Real life has falling demand curves. Everybody becomes a monopolist. The anti-trust movement was meant to purify competition. Monopoly had always meant government grants of privilege to certain industries. But now means falling demand curve - that's everybody. Part 8 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic U

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 7. Intro to Micro: Mid-Term Review and The Theory of the Firm The objective of the corporate firm is to maximize profits and avoid losses - the same objective of the free market. But the costs are paid out before the income comes in. Stockholders will sell stock to shake up the managers. Government firms - agencies - do not have shareholders and there are no shares to be sold. Part 7 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/quw-oGxjNJs Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Murray N. Rothbard. We curate content on the www.ReadRothbard.com site including books, le

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 6. Intro to Micro: Government Licensing of Industry and Minimum Wage The peanut butter crunch was in 1980. Crop acreage and production was cut down by 45% by government price support, import quotas, and cartelizing of the industry. The price of peanuts more than tripled. Farm price supports also keep cheese prices above market levels. The minimum wage law imposes a wage above the laborer's discounted marginal value product. The supply of labor exceeds the demand, and the unsold surplus of labor services means involuntary mass unemployment. Low paid workers are screwed by minimum wage laws. Part 6 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BvBMUxiIhCk Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 5. Intro to Micro: Minimum Price Controls Thou shalt not sell a certain product or service below a certain price, e.g. wheat, cotton, corn, cheese, sugar. This will result in an artificial unsold permanent surplus, as it does in the American farm situation. Initially resources are attracted into the field, but the artificially high price discourages buyer demand. This kind of interventionary tampering with market signals destroys the market tendency to adjustment and brings about losses and misallocation of resources in satisfying consumer wants.The principles of minimum price controls apply to minimum wage laws, which lead to involuntary mass unemployment. Part 5 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tUGkZp11cfo Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 4. Intro to Micro: Price Controls in the Oil Industry The disappearance of oil has been forecast every decade. Prices were overlooked. When the price is high it is more profitable to look for oil. Total reserves on the ground are higher than they were in 1890. Treating demand as a fixed quantity, the oil industry tried to control production and prices. Gas rationing was implemented. 55 MPH limit was legislated without economic or safety benefit. Safety belts increased fatalities of pedestrians. Natural gas experienced increasing shortages when it became artificially cheap. An insane price structure led to the shut down of older wells. Part 4 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wbovXtZ8PHg Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the ab

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 3. The Determination of Prices Price is determined by the equilibrium price and the equilibrium quantity. If your good is not selling, you lower the price. If your goods fly off the shelves you are selling too cheaply and you raise prices. Demand changes constantly, e.g. the shift to white wines away from dark hard liquor. Prices will fall when demand falls. Part 3 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture as a Podcast: http://enemyofthestate.podomatic.com/ Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Murray N. Rothbard. We curate content on the www.ReadRothbard.com site including books, lectures,

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS Presented by Murray N. Rothbard in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. Recorded by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. 2. Intro to Micro: Value Why is it that things like bread and water which have high use values are cheap while on the other hand luxury items like diamonds are very expensive? This paradox was not solved until it became understood that people choose only a marginal unit - this loaf or this diamond. Value can be attached to a good only by individuals' desires to use it directly in the present or in the present expectation of selling to such individuals in the future. It is subjective only. Part 2 of 14. Presented in 1986 at New York Polytechnic University. This lecture as a Podcast: http://enemyofthestate.podomatic.com/ Sourced from: https://mises.org/library/introduction-microeconomics We are not endorsed or affiliated with the above. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode Presented by Read Rothbard: Read Rothbard is comprised of a small grou