Robert P. Murphy, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism, discusses his article “Who Needs War for Oil;” why the US military doesn’t need to intervene in the Middle East to “secure” supplies of oil; how embargoes hurt oil exporting countries more than their customers (shown by the US-supported embargo on Iran); and the contrarian theory that oil scarcity and higher prices are the true US policy goals.

Robert P. Murphy, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism, discusses his article “The Economics of War;” how open markets and free trade make expansionist states and war unnecessary; a cost/benefit analysis of empire and “war for oil;” and the $15 trillion US debt (a trillion here, a trillion there, and soon you’re talking real money).

Robert P. Murphy discusses the "boom and bust" business cycle and what exacerbates it; why the Federal Reserve - with a primary mandate of ensuring price stability - is a demonstrable failure; how Ron Paul popularized the Austrian school of economics and removed the aura of infallibility from Fed chairmen Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke; why we shouldn't focus solely on the Fed - lest we forget the pernicious roles of big banks and insurance companies; whether Bernanke is an academic doggedly...

Robert P. Murphy, senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, discusses the skirting the US debt ceiling, which can continue for a few more months, the GOP's current pretensions of fiscal restraint, why a failure to raise the ceiling doesn't mean default is impending since spending could be cut or govt. assets sold, how missed payments to bond holders would bring a big increase in interest rates, as in greece; debt/gdp ratios and economic death spirals, and the Republicans who converted...

Robert P. Murphy, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism, discusses why the old adage “war is good for the economy” is simply not true; the hidden costs in “trickle down” benefits from large government and military expenditures (like the highway system and communications infrastructure); the Obama administration’s inconsistent policy on large government deficits; and how US money creation prompts other countries to follow suit, debasing currencies around the world and leading...