Bob Murphy Show
317 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 451 ratingsThe podcast promoting free markets, free minds, and grateful souls.
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Episodes
Ep. 167 Gad Saad on Mind Viruses, and the Evolutionary Explanation for SJWs
December 04, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBGad Saad is Professor of Marketing and holds the Concordia University Research Chair in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences and Darwinian Consumption. He talks with Bob about his new book, The Parasitic Mind, and its relationship to the culture wars. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Gad Saad's website. Saad's books The Parasitic Mind and The Evolutionary Basis of Consumption. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from q...
Ep. 166 Explaining Kenneth Arrow's Impossibility Theorem for Social Choice
November 27, 2020 13:00 - 54 minutes - 44 MBFirst Bob explains his contest involving Adventures in Pacifism--winner gets 100 smackers. Then he explains the incredibly powerful, and surprisingly Austrian, result by which Kenneth Arrow showed it was impossible to coherently aggregate individual preferences into a social ranking. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The blog post explaining the rules for the contest, Adventures in Pacifism: Louie CK Edition. Bob's link for those interested in joining Liberty Classroom...
Ep. 165 Dan McCarthy Trusts the People More Than the Elites
November 23, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBDan McCarthy, Editor at Large of The American Conservative, joins Bob to discuss his view that conservatives and libertarians should stop heaping contempt on democracy. McCarthy argues that the elites are the real threat to liberty, not the masses. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The homepages for Modern Age and The American Conservative. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by P...
Ep. 164 Analyzing Arguments for Mask Mandates
November 17, 2020 13:00 - 42 minutes - 34.1 MBBob explains a problem with arguments against mask mandates that claim vindication whether new case loads are very low or very high. He then points out that Biden's own expert on covid-19 was skeptical of mask mandates in a June 2020 podcast episode. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Michael Osterholm's CIDRAP episode. His March 2020 appearance on Joe Rogan. Bob's article on funny defenses of the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). Help support the Bob Murphy Show. Th...
Ep. 163 Bob Murphy Talks Faith and Economics on the "More Christ" Podcast
November 16, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBBob was recently on Mark Connolly's "More Christ" podcast, out of Dublin. Bob fields questions about his faith, economics, and anarcho-capitalism. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The "More Christ" podcast. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 162 The NPR Thought Police and Bob’s Dispelling of One Particular Vote Fraud Claim
November 12, 2020 13:00 - 56 minutes - 45.4 MBBob laments the media's thought policing of discussion about voter fraud. However, Bob tests one particular claim alleging a "signature" of fraud and finds no smoking gun. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The Washington Post map that Bob used to derive total votes by state for senator. Bob Murphy Show ep. 92 on FBI spying on the Trump campaign. Bob's analysis of the IPCC reports showing that there is no "existential threat" to humanity from climate change. Help supp...
Ep. 161 Steve Landsburg and Bob Murphy on Whether God or Math Is the Answer to Why
November 07, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBIn a very philosophical episode, University of Rochester economist Steve Landsburg makes his pitch that mathematics is the reason there is something rather than nothing. Bob argues that this approach lacks one critical component: God. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Steve Landsburg's presentation, "Why Is There Something Instead of Nothing?" Steve Landsburg's books The Armchair Economist and Can You Outsmart an Economist? #Comm...
Ep. 160 Jeff Deist on the Character and Contributions of Henry Hazlitt
November 03, 2020 13:00 - 44 minutes - 36 MBMises Institute President Jeff Deist discusses the voluminous output of Henry Hazlitt as well as his role in helping Ludwig von Mises when he first came to the US. Jeff also explains the Institute's give-away offer for Hazlitt's classic work, Economics In One Lesson. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The link for the Mises Institute's Hazlitt giveaway. Jeff Deist's original appearance on BMS ep. 4. Help support the Bob Murphy Sh...
Ep. 159 Gregory Gordon on Left vs. Right Libertarianism
October 31, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBGregory Gordon joins Bob to discuss his recent Mises,org article on the Left vs. the Right and how it relates to libertarianism. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Greg Gordon's Mises.org article on the left -right divide in libertarianism. Paul Gottfried on the Tom Woods Show. Rob Bradley on ep. 77 of the Bob Murphy Show. Jordan Peterson on hierarchies. Adrian Lee Oliver on ep. 135 of the Bob Murphy Show. The 2d political spe...
Ep. 158 A Geometric Analogy to Reconcile Paul and James on the Doctrine of Salvation Through Faith and Works
October 27, 2020 13:00 - 25 minutes - 20.8 MBBuilding on his discussion in episode 146, Bob uses an analogy with squares and rectangles to reconcile the Biblical epistles of Paul and James and their treatment of faith and works. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: BMS ep. 146, stating and defending the Protestant doctrine of salvation through faith alone. Bob's debate with David Friedman on method in economics. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 157 Peter Schiff on the Coming Crash, Minarchism vs. An-Cap, and Going Ex Pat
October 23, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 75.3 MBPeter Schiff famously called the housing crash but thinks the real crash is still on the way. He talks with Bob about his background in the financial sector, and why the networks no longer book him for interviews. They also discuss minarchism vs. anarcho-capitalism, and Peter's decision to move to Puerto Rico. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The website for Peter's books. Peter's books Crash Proof and The Real Crash. #Commission...
Ep. 156 Econtradictions: Bob Discusses Free Trade, Welfare Benefits, Price Gouging, and Utility Theory
October 20, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 51.5 MBBob unveils a new series in which he explains and then evaluates apparent contradictions in the way free-market libertarians handle certain issues. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Bastiat's "Petition of the Candlemakers" Bob's article on price gouging. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 155 Chris Coyne on How American Militarism Abroad Leads to Tyranny at Home
October 18, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 74.8 MBGMU economics professor Chris Coyne explains how US militarism abroad ends up violating civil liberties on the home front. They also discuss the contributions of James Buchanan that should interest Austrian economists. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Chris Coyne's webpage and his book Tyranny Comes Home. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) The LSE essays on cost (edited by Buchanan). T...
Ep. 154 Bob Murphy Analyzes “The Hunt” and “The Purge” Movies as an Anarchist
October 15, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBBob offers his commentary on the movies "The Hunt" and "The Purge"--both produced by Blumhouse Productions--and focuses on whether The Purge storyline offers a challenge to Rothbard's depiction of anarcho-capitalism. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: A National Review article arguing Donald Trump botched his reaction to "Red State, Blue State." Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 153 Mark Brennan on Wall Street Corruption, US Imperialism, and Friedman's Rule for Corporate Philanthropy
October 10, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBMark Brennan has had an interesting career, working on Wall Street and seeing the coming housing bust and then getting his PhD to become a college professor on business ethics. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Mark Brennan's NYU page. Bob's book (co-authored with Doug McGuff) The Primal Prescription. #CommissionsEarned. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) Friedman on corporate philanthropy. Help support ...
Ep. 152 The Coming Darkness and Renaissance
October 06, 2020 13:00 - 40 minutes - 32.8 MBBob lays out the grim news: there is a coming age of darkness, with economic and political turmoil that leads to large-scale violence. Yet he also explains that after the chaos, out of the rubble will emerge a new class of artists, poets, and creators who will constitute the new renaissance. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The cringeworthy Jimmy Kimmel Emmy skit. Information (including the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing coat of arms) about the Fabian Society. Mish says Fe...
Ep. 151 David Ramsay Steele on Socialist Calculation, Mental Illness, and the JFK Assassination
October 02, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 82.1 MBLibertarian writer David Ramsay Steele joins Bob for a fun tour of some essays from his collection, *The Mystery of Fascism*. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. David Ramsay Steele's books The Mystery of Fascism and From Marx to Mises. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) Bryan Caplan's article endorsing the Thomas Szasz approach to mental illness. Comedian Bill Hicks on the JFK assassinat...
Ep. 150 Explaining the Plan to Dismantle Schools and the Fed's Alchemy
September 29, 2020 13:00 - 31 minutes - 25.2 MBBob reads from an article recently tweeted out by the NEA, which calls for an end to schooling as we know it in order to promote anti-racism. He then discusses what the Fed has been up to since the coronavirus panic began. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this episode (with lots of visuals). Karlyn Borysenko's YouTube episode on the NEA tweet. Jamilah Pitts' article on school transformation. Fed article talking about dividend payments to membe...
Ep. 149 George Selgin Critiques MMT and Debates Murphy on Free Banking
September 26, 2020 13:00 - 2 hours - 104 MBMonetary economist George Selgin agrees with Bob on the flaws with MMT, but then the two continue their debate (started at the Soho Forum) on fractional reserve free banking. The episode also includes George's background and thoughts on Bitcoin. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. George's monograph Praxeology and Understanding. Mises' book Theory and History. Bob's review of MMT. George and Bob debate at the Soho Forum. George'...
Ep. 148 Donnie Gebert on The Art of War, 2020
September 23, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBFormer Military Intelligence Sergeant Donnie Gebert returns to the show, this time to explain some of the major elements of his new book, *The Art of War 2020.* Gebert draws on his eclectic background to give techniques for navigating the modern world. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Donnie Gebert's The Art of War, 2020 (pdf). Donnie's original appearance on BMS ep 42. Daily Show bit on Ron Paul. SNL bit poking fun at Ross Pe...
Ep. 147 Richard Ebeling Fills in the History of the Austrian School
September 18, 2020 13:00 - 55 minutes - 44.4 MBRichard Ebeling is the BB&T Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Free Enterprise Leadership at The Citadel. (He was also a professor at Hillsdale College, where he taught Bob Murphy.) As a master of the history of economic thought, as well as a personal participant in some of the major events, Richard recounts to Bob some of the important history of the Austrian School in the 20th century. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Richar...
Ep. 146 Stating and Defending the Reformed Protestant Doctrine of Salvation Through Faith Alone
September 15, 2020 13:00 - 57 minutes - 46.5 MBBob uses both Bible texts and intuitive arguments to state and explain the controversial Reformed Protestant doctrine that a person is saved not through good works, but by believing in Jesus. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: A compilation of verses on the topic of justification by faith alone. The various Bible chapters Bob referenced: John chapter 3, John chapter 6, and James chapter 2. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was pro...
Ep. 145 Michael Rectenwald on Recovering from Marxism and His New Book *Beyond Woke*
September 13, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBDr. Michael Rectenwald was a professor of liberal studies at NYU from 2008 to 2019. Although at one point he was a committed Marxist, he gradually lost faith, and is now an outspoken critic of campus activists. Bob asks Rectenwald about apparent contradictions in the current cultural Marxist / postmodern movement, and they discuss several themes from his new book, *Beyond Woke*. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Michael Rectenwald...
Ep. 144 Bob Murphy Fields Questions on Austrian Economics and Libertarianism
September 09, 2020 13:00 - 31 minutes - 25.3 MBFor the LP Mises Caucus, Bob received a slew of questions to be answered in a half hour. The topics range from business cycle to free trade to a "voluntary" State. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this episode. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 143 Eric July on Making Music, Debating Socialists, and Reading Comics
September 04, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBEric July is the front man for the street-hop/metalcore group Backwordz. He discusses his personal odyssey in navigating the leftist metal scene. Bob then asks Eric about another of his major interests, comic books. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Eric July's homepage. The website for Backwordz. Eric's YouTube review of Captain Marvel. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 142 Explaining John Nash’s Dissertation and Why Russell Crowe Got It Backwards
August 30, 2020 13:00 - 53 minutes - 43.4 MBIn the Ron Howard movie "A Beautiful Mind," Russell Crowe plays John Nash, a major figure in game theory. Although it was a good movie, it totally misconstrues Nash's doctoral dissertation and how it fit into the pre-existing literature. In this episode, Bob sets the record straight. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: John Nash's doctoral dissertation. Bob's link for Liberty Classroom. (If you click this link and then register, the site will know you came from me.) Syl...
Ep. 141 Dan Sanchez on How to Make Superman Movies Great Again
August 27, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBDC execs think Superman is "too perfect" to resonate with modern audiences, but Dan Sanchez profoundly disagrees. He and Bob discuss this issue and other topics in the intersection of politics & superhero movies. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Dan Sanchez's FEE article. Bob's previous interview with Dan on the Joker. The Captain America clip. Bob's article Superman Needs an Agent. Jordan Peterson on Cain and Abel. Some Supes clips mentioned: one, two, three, and...
Ep. 140 The Theory and Brief History of the U.S. Gold Standard
August 20, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBBob explains some of the highlights of his newly released chapter for the Mises Institute book on "Understanding Money Mechanics." He explains the operation of the classical gold standard, as well as some of the issues of U.S. bimetallism during the 1800s. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Bob's new essay on the gold standard. Bob's book on capitalism. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) Bob on the 1920-1921 Depression. Help ...
Ep. 139 George Reisman on Studying With Mises, Meeting Ayn Rand, and His Contributions to Economic Theory
August 16, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBGeorge Reisman is economics professor emeritus at Pepperdine University. He is one of the few people to get his PhD under Mises. After sharing anecdotes about Mises and Rand, he discusses his contributions to economic theory. In particular, George argues that profits, not wages, are the original form of income. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. George Reisman's website and Capitalism.net, and his Twitter account. Reisman's book C...
Ep. 138 Why the Left Hates Christianity
August 13, 2020 13:00 - 45 minutes - 37 MBBob first observes that the Left (institutionally) hates Christianity, and that standard explanations, such as its alleged bigotry, don't explain why the Left gives Islam a pass. Christianity stands in the way of the Leftist agenda. Moreover, if the Devil exists, he would favor not just the "false religion" of environmentalism and Marxism, but also postmodernism, for Jesus is the Logos. Ultimately, the gospel reconciles God and man, which is not what the Devil wants. Mentioned in the Episod...
Ep. 137 Tom DiLorenzo Explains the Problem With Abe Lincoln
August 10, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBTom DiLorenzo is a Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute who has written several books critical of Lincoln. His latest is "The Problem With Lincoln." Bob asks Tom about his early career in economics, and then they discuss the various ways in which Abe Lincoln was actually a horrible president. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Tom DiLorenzo's books The Problem With Lincoln and The Real Lincoln, and with Jim Bennett The Food and D...
Ep. 136 MMT Follow-up: A Framework for Money, Inflation, and Debt
August 07, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBAs a follow-up to his discussion on MMT with Rohan Grey (in ep. 130), Bob goes solo to explain the basic cash balance framework for thinking about money, inflation, and debt. Specifically, Bob will explain why he thinks it's far more important to know how the government finances a deficit rather than knowing what it spends the money on. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: BMS ep. 130 with Rohan Grey. Bob's infamous inflation bet: response to Krugman/DeLong and his explan...
Ep. 135 Adrian Lee Oliver on Police Abuse and the Pros & Cons of BLM
August 04, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBAdrian Lee Oliver wrote a Twitter thread on the BLM protests and how they are contributing to racial polarization. The thread took off, leading to Adrian's appearance on Benjamin Boyce's podcast. Bob wanted his own listeners to hear Adrian's personal story of police brutality along with his critique of today's "anti-racism" campaign. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Adrian Lee Oliver's original Twitter thread that brought him att...
Ep. 134 David Friedman on Physics, Coase, Anarcho-Capitalism, and Cancel Culture
July 30, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBDavid Friedman is one of the pioneering theorists of anarcho-capitalism, as laid out in his book The Machinery of Freedom. In this free-wheeling discussion, he discusses physics versus economics, the work of Ronald Coase, his dad's view of anarchism, and what happened to the SlateStarCodex site. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. David Friedman's homepage. David's book The Machinery of Freedom. Heinlein's classic The Moon Is a Har...
Ep. 133 Bob Murphy Debates Thaddeus Russell on Postmodernism as Foundation for Liberty
July 27, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBThaddeus Russell, creator of Renegade University, has been arguing that libertarians should embrace postmodernism as their philosophical foundation, rather than blame it for today's "social justice warriors" as Jordan Peterson has done. Bob profoundly disagrees, arguing that the Judeo-Christian notions of truth and morality are a much better foundation. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The homepage for Thaddeus Russell and YouTub...
Ep. 132 Scott Beyer Shows How Free Markets Can Revitalize Our Cities
July 25, 2020 13:00 - 51 minutes - 41.7 MBScott Beyer is the author of the Market Urbanism Report, which applies free market economic principles to urban issues, such as traffic congestion and housing affordability. Bob asks about these topics while bringing up obvious objections from the man on the street. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The Market Urbanism Report website and the Facebook group. Jane Jacobs' classic book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. #...
Ep. 131 Brett Venoitte on the Prussian Roots of US Education and Assessing Experts on the Coronavirus
July 20, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBBrett Venoitte is host of the School Sucks podcast. After explaining his background in education, Brett explains how Horace Mann drew from authoritarian Prussian in designing public education in the US. He and Bob then discuss the competing experts in the debate over the coronavirus. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The School Sucks Project website. Brett's video "The American Way" on US education and Nazi Germany. The Harper's...
Ep. 130 Rohan Grey Does a Deep Dive on Legality and Theory of MMT and Trillion Dollar Platinum Coin
July 17, 2020 13:00 - 2 hours - 134 MBIn a very comprehensive discussion, Bob talks with Rohan Grey, Assistant Prof. of Law at Willamette University. Rohan is an expert on the history of US fiscal and monetary legislation, as well as Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Rohan Grey's CV, and his paper on the history of US coinage. Rohan's presentation on money as a creature of the law, not the State. Jon Stewart rips Paul Krugman on the tri...
Ep. 129 Identity Politics Is Hurting Young People--Of All Colors
July 09, 2020 13:00 - 53 minutes - 43.3 MBPointing to a recent Twitter thread from a progressive detailing his white male cisness, Bob shows how narrow the focus is on only particular "privileges" and not others. More generally, the effort to demonize white men is causing young people great harm, whether white or otherwise. The movement is based on power politics and relies on economic ignorance. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Nathan Tankus' twitter thread on his privileges. News story on US national women'...
Ep. 128 Bob Murphy Reviews Stephanie Kelton's New Book on MMT
July 08, 2020 13:00 - 46 minutes - 37.3 MBBob wrote a lengthy review of Stephanie Kelton's new book on MMT, The Deficit Myth, for the Mises Institute. In this episode he narrates his review. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Bob's original book review at Mises.org. Kelton's book, The Deficit Myth. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) Bob's older critique of an MMT accounting argument. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provide...
Ep. 127 Michael Hardin on Sacrifice vs. the Gospel of Peace
July 05, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBMichael Hardin is a theologian with a radical message of Jesus' forgiveness and peace. He and Bob have a lively and deep discussion on the true meaning of the gospel and how today's Christians often misunderstand it. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Michael Hardin's website Preaching Peace. Michael Hardin's book Knowing God?: Consumer Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production ...
Ep. 126 Keith Knight Interviews Bob on Krugman's Zombie Book
July 02, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 66 MBKeith Knight walks Bob through a meticulous critique of Krugman's new book on Arguing With Zombies. Topics include the babysitter co-op, the deregulation that allegedly caused the housing bubble, and the tax rates of the 1950s. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Krugman's latest book, Arguing With Zombies. #CommissionsEarned (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) Keith Knight's YouTube channel. Help support th...
Ep. 125 Mateusz Machaj on the Structure of Production in Economic Theory, and the Political Philosophy of the Star Wars Prequels
June 25, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 81.7 MBAustrian economist and Mises Institute Fellow Mateusz Machaj discusses two of his books. The first is a technical work explaining how the Austrian structure of production concept can help resolve puzzles in economics. Machaj's second book analyzes the political philosophy behind the Star Wars prequels. This episode contains deep insights that will inform even advanced students of both economic theory and the Star Wars universe. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouT...
Ep. 124 The Right Way to Defund the Police, and an Eyewitness Account of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ)
June 18, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 87.9 MBBob first discusses the theory of transferring police services away from the government and to the private community. Then he interviews Whitney Davis, a Rothbardian with a history of libertarian activism, who is a Seattle resident and happens to live down the street from the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Bob's booklet Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy. Bob's lecture on private la...
Ep. 123 Faulty Economic Justifications for the Coronavirus Lockdowns
June 12, 2020 13:00 - 39 minutes - 32.2 MBBob explains some of the basic--but crucial--errors in the cost/benefit analyses that have been offered by economists to justify the political lockdowns issued in light of the coronavirus. Specifically, economists have conflated voluntary physical distancing with coerced lockdowns, and they are also misusing the concept of a Value of a Statistical Life (VSL). Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: Some papers/articles on the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) concept: one, tw...
Ep. 122 Alex Salter on the Empty Slogan of “State Capacity” and the Famous Somalia Challenge
June 02, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 49 MBAlex Salter is an economist with the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University. Bob asks him about his recent article (with Vincent Geloso) criticizing "state capacity" as an explanation for economic development. Along the way, they also discuss the historical record and its challenge to modern-day anarchists. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. Alex Salter's website and his twitter account. Alex and Vincent Geloso's article o...
Ep. 121 The Tenth Amendment Center's Michael Boldin on Hanging Out with 2 Live Crew and Sticking it to the NSA
May 25, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBLibertarians know Michael Boldin as the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center, but he started out as a leftist promoting clubs in LA and other major cities. In this fun conversation, Michael explains his origins and how he ended up advising state governments on how to kick the NSA out of their backyard. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The Tenth Amendment Center homepage. The Tenth Amendment Center's report on the State of the N...
Ep. 120 The Guys Behind the Babylon Bee Interview Bob on the Fed, Krugman, and Jesus
May 21, 2020 13:00 - 42 minutes - 34.2 MBThe editors of the Babylon Bee have a podcast, and they invited Bob on to discuss the economic situation. Then they asked a series of fun questions, against the backdrop of their shared Christianity. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. The Babylon Bee main page. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Ep. 119 Guido Hulsmann Protests the Lockdown in France, and Discusses His Mises Biography and Novel Theory of Interest
May 13, 2020 13:00 - 47 minutes - 38.1 MBGuido Hulsmann is a Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute and professor of economics at the University of Angers in France. He first discusses his article protesting the covid-19 lockdown in France. The conversation then turns to Guido's biography of Ludwig von Mises. The final segment of the episode is devoted to Guido's novel theory of interest, which rejects the standard pure time preference theory. Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this inter...
Ep. 118 David R. Henderson Critiques Stimulus Bill and Organizes Protest of CA Lockdown
May 07, 2020 13:00 - 56 minutes - 45.3 MBMentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. David R. Henderson's Hoover article on the "anti-stimulus" bill. David's past appearance on the Bob Murphy Show. David's Soho Forum debate (against Justin Wolfers) on the lockdown. A news article on the protest David helped organize. Sample issues of the Lara-Murphy Report. Help support the Bob Murphy Show. The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.