Podcast appearances and mentions of Mark Thornton

Mark Thornton replays his Rothbard University lecture on government spending and taxation, using Rothbard's framework of binary intervention to overturn the standard civics-story that taxes are “the cost” of government and spending is “the benefit.” Mark argues both are economically destructive and distortionary, and that treating them as neutral is a category mistake. Drawing on John C. Calhoun's class analysis, he distinguishes net taxpayers from net tax-consumers, explaining how political finance systematically transfers wealth, reshapes production, and undermines saving, family formation, and long-run growth. The lecture closes with a vivid “wagon” analogy: as more people move from pulling to riding, the whole economy slows and eventually stalls.2026 is the Year of Rothbard—Murray's 100th birthday—and we're celebrating by giving away free copies of Keynes the Man through June 30. Grab yours today at https://mises.org/issuesfreeRegister for our upcoming Mises Circle, Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?, June 27 in Windham, New Hampshire: https://mises.org/events/why-healthcare-system-broken-mises-circle-new-hampshire20% off listener offer on the insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Interview recorded - 3rd of June, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on Dr Mark Thornton. Dr Mark Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and a leading voice of the Austrian School of economics, author of The Skyscraper Curse. He is one of the few economists to have warned about the housing bubble well before 2008.During our conversation we spoke about his current view on the economy, Austrian Economic Theory, the FED's betrayal, what would fix the current situation, which assets to perform and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction2:06 - Current view of economy6:22 - Austrian Economic Theory11:50 - Wages going up?16:11 - Recent inflation23:00 - Kevin Warsh balance sheet28:36 - Solution35:30 - Which assets to perform?42:40 - One message to takeawayMark Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute, and was the Peterson-Luddy Chair in Austrian Economics from 2021-2023. He hosts two podcasts, Minor Issues and Unanimity, and serves as the Book Review Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. His publications include The Economics of Prohibition (1991), Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War (2004), The Quotable Mises (2005), The Bastiat Collection (2007), An Essay on Economic Theory (2010), The Bastiat Reader (2014), and The Skyscraper Curse and How Austrian Economists Predicted Every Major Crisis of the Last Century (2018). [high-res photo]Dr. Thornton served as the editor of the Austrian Economics Newsletter and was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Libertarian Studies and several other academic journals. He has served as a member of the graduate faculties of Auburn University and Columbus State University. He has also taught economics at Auburn University at Montgomery and Trinity University in Texas. Mark served as Assistant Superintendent of Banking and economic adviser to Governor Fob James of Alabama (1997-1999), and he was awarded the University Research Award at Columbus State University in 2002. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and received his PhD in economics from Auburn University. In 2014, he debated in opposition to the “War on Drugs” at Oxford Union.Dr. Thornton has been featured in American Spectator, Barron's, Bloomberg, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, Forbes, Investors' Business Daily, Le Monde, New York Post, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Economic Times (India), Financial Times (Norway), and Tejarat-e-Farda (Iran). He has also had regular multiple appearances on Russia Today and Press TVHis editorials and interviews have appeared in the following leading regional newspapers: Apple Daily (Hong Kong), Atlanta Constitution, Birmingham News, Business Alabama, Chicago Sun-Times, Houston Chronicle, Mobile Press Register, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, Montgomery Advertiser, New York Post, Orange County Register, Richmond Times Dispatch, Tampa Tribune, and the Washington TimesHis commentary appears regularly in the Mises Daily and the Mises Wire. He also appears regularly on Boom-Bust, RT, Butler on Business, Tom Woods Show, Thom Hartmann Show, Scott Horton Show, Press TV and Freedom Works.Dr Mark Thornton - Misses Institute - https://mises.org/X - https://x.com/DrMarkThorntonWTFinance -Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Mark Thornton shares his recent Rothbard University lecture on the division of labor, the concept Adam Smith made famous as chapter one of The Wealth of Nations but never fully explained. Smith described workers specializing in tasks and productivity rising, then attributed the result to an invisible hand he couldn't account for. Rothbard accounted for it: the entrepreneur decides how to organize production, the capitalist funds it, and the price system guides both. Without them, the workers in Smith's pin factory would have no factory, no pins, and no wages. Mark traces this insight from Sparta versus Athens to feudalism versus Venice to Henry Ford's assembly line, showing why every system that ignored the entrepreneur failed for the same reason.2026 is the Year of Rothbard—Murray's 100th birthday—and we're celebrating by giving away free copies of Anatomy of the State through May 31. Grab yours today at https://mises.org/issuesfreeRegister for our upcoming Mises Circle, Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?, June 27 in Windham, New Hampshire: https://mises.org/events/why-healthcare-system-broken-mises-circle-new-hampshire20% off listener offer on the insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton replays his wide-ranging Kitco News interview with Jeremy Szafron, connecting today's “two economies” to Ludwig von Mises's Austrian business cycle theory. Easy money and credit inflation lift asset owners, big corporations, and government finance, while working families get the bill through higher prices and weaker real wages. They discuss late-cycle signals in tech and AI and broader corporate credit, and how war-driven energy shocks feed into a wider commodity surge. Mark also breaks down Cantillon effects at the kitchen-table level and closes with bottom-up strategies like local resilience, savings, and removing tax barriers to using gold and silver as practical inflation protection.2026 is the Year of Rothbard—Murray's 100th birthday—and we're celebrating by giving away free copies of Anatomy of the State through May 31. Grab yours today at https://mises.org/issuesfreeRegister for our upcoming Mises Circle, Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?, June 27 in Windham, New Hampshire: https://mises.org/events/why-healthcare-system-broken-mises-circle-new-hampshire20% off listener offer on the insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton opens with a candid assessment of his own prediction record: what he got right, what he got wrong, and why Austrian economics tells you what must come but not when. He then turns to the current landscape: every major valuation metric is flashing red, market concentration exceeds the level on the cusp of the 1987 crash, deficit spending is at World War II levels, and the Fed is injecting $40 billion a month in new liquidity. Yet Wall Street remains unanimously bullish. The second half features an interview with Kaniki Kojo on gold, fiat currencies, and the Austrian school's growing global influence.2026 is the Year of Rothbard—Murray's 100th birthday—and we're celebrating by giving away free copies of Anatomy of the State through May 31. Grab yours today at https://mises.org/issuesfreeRegister for our upcoming Mises Circle, Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?, June 27 in Windham, New Hampshire: https://mises.org/events/why-healthcare-system-broken-mises-circle-new-hampshire20% off listener offer on the insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton opens this episode with a strategic assessment of the war's economic fallout: not the headlines, but the second- and third-order effects that are only now becoming visible. Oil production facilities across the Gulf have been destroyed, disrupted, or shut down, and restarting them is not a matter of flipping a switch. Some older wells will need to be redrilled entirely. Meanwhile, the disruption to fertilizer production threatens the next crop season and potentially longer-term food prices worldwideMark also provides a skyscraper curse update: the Jeddah Tower, once expected to reach record height in early 2027, has been pushed further out as Saudi finances and Gulf logistics are redirected toward reconstruction. The commodity super cycle thesis, he argues, remains fully intact despite the gold correction.The second half features a detailed interview from Palisades Gold Radio in which Mark unpacks these themes further, covering the Austrian micro approach versus the Keynesian macro framework, why the stock market can hit all-time highs while the real economy deteriorates, and why the world is slowly but steadily moving back toward commodity money.2026 is the Year of Rothbard—Murray's 100th birthday—and we're celebrating by giving away free copies of Anatomy of the State through May 31. Grab yours today at https://mises.org/issuesfreeRegister for our upcoming Mises Circle, Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?, June 27 in Windham, New Hampshire: https://mises.org/events/why-healthcare-system-broken-mises-circle-new-hampshire20% off listener offer on the new insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books, signed if ordered by the end of April: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton opens with a detailed analysis of the gold correction. Is the three-month decline a sign that inflation is over, or a temporary reallocation driven by war? The answer is in the data: the CRB commodity index continues to climb, the money supply is at an all-time high, and there is no evidence of deflation anywhere in the price structure. The inflation regime remains firmly in place, and the gold correction is a normal feature of bull markets whose real-world zigzags get smoothed away on long-term charts.The second half features a panel interview from VRC Media with Rick Rule, hosted by Darrell Thomas. Rule lays out the case for a decade-long commodity super cycle driven by 30 years of underinvestment in productive capacity. He delivers a sobering calculation: $39 trillion in on-balance-sheet federal debt plus $120 trillion in off-balance-sheet unfunded entitlement promises (a combined $160 trillion against $170 trillion in total private American net worth). The only realistic resolution, Rule argues, is a "dishonest default," inflating away the purchasing power of the dollar, just as happened in the 1970s when the dollar lost 75% of its value. Mark concurs, noting that the money supply is growing at record pace even as Washington insists it's being "restrictive."Mark's "Gold vs CRB Index" graph is available here: https://mises.org/MI175_GraphThe original VRIC interview is online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kMiiC08TNo20% off listener offer on the new insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books, signed if ordered by the end of April: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Your host, Stijn Schmitz welcomes back Dr. Mark Thornton to the show. Dr. Mark Thornton is Economist and Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute. This discussion centers on global economic disruptions, particularly in commodity markets and energy sectors, stemming from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Dr. Thornton highlights the significant impact of potential oil and gas supply disruptions, estimating that 15-20% of global supply might be affected. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:05 – Global Economy Uncertainty 00:04:10 – Middle East Disruption Impact 00:04:57 – Stock Market vs Oil Discrepancy 00:06:52 – Supply Chain Byproducts Effects 00:11:13 – Oil Cutoff Long-term Consequences 00:14:33 – Global Pain Points Analysis 00:22:38 – Reshoring vs Free Trade 00:31:26 – Natural Gas Opportunities North America 00:39:08 – Unleashing US Resource Potential 00:43:43 – Petrodollar System Cracks 00:50:25 – Gold Settlement Currency Role 00:56:03 – Gold & Fiat Currencies 01:02:42 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://mises.org X: https://x.com/DrMarkThornton E-Mail: mailto:mthornton@mises.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+thornton+minor+issues Book-Hayek: https://mises.org/library/book/hayek-21st-century-essays-political-economy Dr. Mark Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and formerly held the Peterson-Luddy Chair in Austrian Economics. He hosts the podcasts Minor Issues and Unanimity and is Book Review Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. His books include The Economics of Prohibition, Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation, The Bastiat Collection, and The Skyscraper Curse. He has served on multiple editorial boards, taught economics at several universities, and worked as Assistant Superintendent of Banking and adviser to Alabama Governor Fob James. He holds degrees from St. Bonaventure University and Auburn University and has debated the “War on Drugs” at the Oxford Union. Dr. Thornton has been featured in major outlets such as The Economist, Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, along with numerous international and regional newspapers. His commentary appears regularly on the Mises Institute's platforms and on programs such as Boom-Bust, the Tom Woods Show, and the Scott Horton Show.

In this interview with Trey Reich, Mark Thornton explains why gold's long-run trend is driven less by headlines and more by monetary debasement, and why Middle East conflict can perversely pressure gold in the short run by pushing oil higher and taking Fed rate cuts “off the board.” Mark walks through Austrian business cycle theory, the scale of malinvestment in private equity/credit and the AI boom, and why the Fed's real priorities are debt-rollover finance and backstopping the banking system. He also discusses why CPI is a flawed policy guide, why the global monetary regime is shifting away from the dollar standard, and why gold and silver could move dramatically higher as the next credit break forces the Fed back into aggressive easing.The original interview is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlzCEchFNOY

On this episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton shows what most economic commentary misses: the market's intricate structure of production. Starting with a single oil-and-gas byproduct—sulfur—Mark traces how it becomes sulfuric acid, a foundational input for fertilizers, batteries, and especially metal mining. The lesson is practical: war and intervention can disrupt these unseen links, shrinking real incomes and quietly raising the cost of everything from food production to data centers, and even your next plumbing bill.In the second part of the episode, Mark features his recent interview on The Julia La Roche Show.20% off listener offer on the new insulated Minor Issues tumbler and three of Mark's books, signed if ordered by the end of April: https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumbler. Use coupon code Thornton.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Dr. Mark Thornton, Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and Austrian economist, returns to the show to deliver a sweeping macro warning rooted in Austrian business cycle theory. After 16 years of Fed-fueled boom, he argues we are somewhere in the middle of a cycle that ends in crisis. He unpacks the Cantillon Effect and its direct link to the K-shaped economy, explains why gold is both a canary in the coal mine and a personal financial fire extinguisher, and makes the case that the petrodollar is unraveling in real time — pushing us further down what he calls "the highway to hyperinflation." Despite the dark outlook, Dr. Thornton closes with genuine optimism: Austrian economics is experiencing a rebirth, and the bottom-up solutions it champions are resonating louder than ever.LinksX: https://x.com/DrMarkThorntonFree Hayek book: https://store.mises.org/Hayek-for-the-21st-Century-P11367.aspxMises Institute: https://mises.org/profile/mark-thorntonTimestamps: 0:00 Intro and welcome Dr. Mark Thornton 1:24 – 16 years of boom: What the Fed has really been doing 3:45 – The K-shaped economy and who's actually winning 6:32 – Where are we in the cycle? Signposts that worry him most 8:17 – Private equity, private credit & "sequestered capital" 10:20 – How Dr. Thornton discovered Austrian economics 7:57 – The Cantillon Effect explained: Who gets new money first 20:48 – The Skyscraper Index: Record buildings predict crises 23:25 – Bubbles, billionaires & trillion-dollar fortunes 25:23 – Federal Reserve outlook: Rate cuts off the table? 27:15 – Kevin Warsh, the Fed's "real mandate" & what they won't admit29:40 – Gold, silver & oil: What precious metals are telling us now 31:30 – Gold as a "canary in the coal mine" AND a "fire extinguisher" 37:02 – Are gold and silver going much higher from here? 38:24 – Why record stock markets are actually dangerous 40:45 – The highway to hyperinflation: Has anything changed? 44:46 – The end of the petrodollar and US reserve currency status 47:16 – BRICS, crypto & the unraveling of dollar dominance 49:39 – The Middle East war's hidden impact on food, fertilizer & global supply chains 53:46 – Where to find the Mises Institute & parting thoughts

Earn up to a 4% yield on your physical gold or silver, paid in gold ounces: https://Monetary-Metals.com/CommodityMark Thornton thinks the recent dip in the silver price is a temporary phenomenon, and as the Fed executes stealth QE, debt and deficits spiral out of control, and wartime spending breaks the government coffers, the rise of both silver and gold is inevitable up ahead.Get Your 'Stack Silver Not Fiat' Shirt: https://commodity-culture-shop.fourthwall.com/products/stack-silver-not-fiat-t-shirtFree Hayek book of greatest hits articles from the Mises Institute: https://mises.org/hayek21The Mises Institute: https://mises.orgMinor Issues Podcast: https://mises.org/podcasts/minor-issuesFollow Jesse Day on X: https://x.com/jessebdayCommodity Culture on Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/CommodityCulture

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton discusses the recent whiplash in precious metals: historic run-ups, sharp pullbacks, and renewed claims of manipulation. He also explains how, as war and liquidity pressures evolve, markets pivot back to credit stress, rising interest rates, and ballooning government debt. What will central banks do next?Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On this episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton replays two short interviews: one recorded with Daniela Cambone weeks before the outbreak of war in the Middle East, and another with Dunagun Kaiser recorded days ago as the conflict escalates. Mark breaks down why precious metals are unusually volatile, how war and interventionism collide with inflationary fiat regimes, and why rising interest rates and commodity prices point to a more dangerous long-run trend. He also connects the dots between the Fed's “liquidity” talk, a deeper leverage problem in finance, and the way wars can be used to divert attention from economic failures at home.Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Daniela Cambone interviews Dr. Mark Thornton on why gold's surge signals a deeper breakdown: collapsing confidence in dollar assets, runaway deficits, and debt-service costs heading for a fiscal wall. Mark also explains why he's even more bullish on silver than gold, warning that precious metals aren't a panacea without real monetary reform.The original interview is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1HNeez2v1g

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton tackles the “Austrians don't care about the poor” smear, arguing that Austrian monetary theory is designed to explain how political elites rig the system against working people. From Cantillon's original gold mine thought experiment to today's Fed-driven credit expansion, Mark explains how cheap money concentrates wealth and fuels the “K-shaped” economy, while a market-based monetary system would sharply limit this dynamic and restore more durable wage growth and stability.Additional Resources"Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 1%" (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): https://mises.org/MI_168_Graph"Monetary Metals 101: How Gold and Silver Work in a Free Market" (Minor Issues, Episode 141) https://mises.org/MI_141"The K-Shaped Economy" (Minor Issues, Episode 150): https://mises.org/MI_151"Past Tense" (Minor Issues, Episode 83): https://mises.org/MI_83"The Fed vs. the Real Economy" (Minor Issues, Episode 58): https://mises.org/MI_58Order a free paperback copy of Hayek for the 21st Century by F. A. Hayek: https://mises.org/Hayek21Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton appears on Arcadia Economics with Chris Marcus during a volatile week for gold and silver amid the escalation with Iran. They unpack the risks and “unintended consequences” of the conflict, along with what all of this means for markets, the dollar, and investor psychology. Mark closes with a hard look at the Fed-fueled, fifteen-year bubble of credit and debt, the growing stress in sovereign debt markets, and why central bankers can't “magic away” the structural problems that created this mess.The original episode is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQn1GenrMyQOrder a free paperback copy of Hayek for the 21st Century by F. A. Hayek: https://mises.org/Hayek21Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Iran War Spreads, & Here's What It Means For Gold Price The stock markets are down today in response to the latest escalation of the war in Iran, where Iran claims to have just attacked an oil tanker, which has sent the oil price soaring. Meanwhile, it's like the markets are still figuring out how this impacts the gold price. But fortunately Dr. Mark Thornton of The Mises Institute joins me to talk about what the Iran war will do to the gold market, and how to be prepared for what's coming So to find out more at this crucial time, click to watch this video now! - To get a free copy of the 'Hayek for the 21st Century' book Dr. Thornton referenced in his interview go to: https://mises.org/hayek21 To read Dr. Thornton's book 'The Skyscraper Curse: And How Austrian Economists Predicted Every Major Economic Crisis of the Last Century' go to: https://mises.org/library/book/skyscraper-curse-and-how-austrian-economists-predicted-every-major-economic-crisis-last-century - To find out more about the blowout 4th quarter earnings from First Majestic Silver go to: https://www.firstmajestic.com/investors/news-releases/first-majestic-reports-q4-2025-and-full-year-2025-financial-results-announces-quarterly-dividend-payment - Get access to Arcadia's Daily Gold and Silver updates here: https://goldandsilverdaily.substack.com/ - Join our free email list to be notified when a new video comes out: click here: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/email-signup/ - Follow Arcadia Economics on twitter at: https://x.com/ArcadiaEconomic - To get your copy of 'The Big Silver Short' (paperback or audio) go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/thebigsilvershort/ - #silver #silverprice #gold And remember to get outside and have some fun every once in a while!:) (URL0VD) This video was sponsored by First Majestic Silver, and Arcadia Economics does receive compensation. For our full disclaimer go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/disclaimer-first-majestic-silver/Subscribe to Arcadia Economics on Soundwise

On this episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton appears on Reinvent Money with Paul Buitink for a “state of the system” conversation. Mark breaks down the US economy as an “everything bubble,” explains what's really behind the trade deficit and the dollar's reserve status, and grades Trump's first-year economic agenda. He closes with a practical Austrian roadmap toward sound money: real savings, capital accumulation, and removing tax penalties on interest, dividends, and long-term gains.The original episode is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgqsHCQxSrwOrder a free paperback copy of Hayek for the 21st Century by F. A. Hayek: https://mises.org/Hayek21Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On this special episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton shares his recent interview with Darrell Thomas on VRIC Media. Mark explains how Keynesian ideas normalized chronic deficits and a debt-financed state. They discuss tariffs and policy volatility, how inflation has been partly masked by cheap imports, and why distorted price signals hit entrepreneurs and small businesses hardest. The conversation also covers rising interest costs, pressure for renewed yield-curve suppression, and what it all implies for gold, silver, and commodities.The original episode is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9Y-lITpnQPurchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

In this episode, Mark Thornton offers a practical “seven-word” framework for navigating economic life, especially when policy chaos and uncertainty make long-term planning harder. Mark connects everyday action (work, learning, planning, saving, spending, giving, and prayer) to core Austrian themes: purposeful choice, psychic profit, time preference, entrepreneurship under uncertainty, and the distortions created by inflation and debt-driven policy.Donate today to celebrate 20 years of Mises Media on YouTube. Donate $30 or more and we'll send you a free, physical copy of Hunter Lewis's book, Crony Capitalism in America: http://mises.org/youtube20Additional Resources"Billionaires, Workers, and the Exploitation Theory" by Bob Murphy (Human Action Podcast, Episode 534): https://mises.org/MI_164_AHuman Action by Ludwig von Mises: https://mises.org/MI_164_BMan, Economy, and State by Murray N. Rothbard: https://mises.org/MI_164_CThe Quotable Mises edited by Mark Thornton: https://mises.org/MI_164_DOrder a free paperback copy of Hayek for the 21st Century by F. A. Hayek: https://mises.org/Hayek21Purchase a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton sits down with Ben Mumme of Living Your Greatness for a wide-ranging, long-form conversation, starting with gold and silver's run-up and sudden correction, zooming out to inflation, saving, and why Austrian economics matters for everyday life. Watch the original interview at https://livingyourgreatness.org/podcastOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Has silver become a Giffen good, the famous textbook anomaly where higher prices supposedly lead to higher demand? In this episode, Mark Thornton argues the story is compelling... but wrong. Mark explains why recent surges in silver demand amid rapidly rising prices don't overturn the law of demand. They reflect shifting demand curves as market conditions, expectations, and classifications change. The bottom line is that silver is not a paradox: it's a timely lesson in how markets adjust while economic laws hold.Additional Resources"What Are Giffen Goods? Definition, Examples, and Economic Insights" by Andrew Bloomenthal (Investopedia): https://mises.org/MI_162_A"Did Silver Break a Fundamental Law of Demand?" Money Metals' Weekly Market Wrap Podcast (December 10, 2025): https://mises.org/MI_162_B"Money Costs, Prices, and Alfred Marshall" by Murray Rothbard (Man, Economy, and State with Power and Market): https://mises.org/MI_162_C“Notes on the History of the Giffen Paradox” by George J. Stigler (The Journal of Political Economy, April 1947): https://mises.org/MI_162_D"Giffen Behavior: Theory and Evidence" by Robert T. Jensen and Nolan Miller: https://mises.org/MI_162_E“Gray and Giffen Goods" by Etsusuke Masuda and Peter Newman (The Economic Journal, December 1981): https://mises.org/MI_162_F“Beware of Giffen-ish Vibes in the Money Market” by Tim Hartford (Financial Times, May 2025): https://mises.org/MI_162_G“Sir Robert Giffen and the Great Potato Famine: A Discussion of the Role of a Legend in Neoclassical Economics,” by Terrence McDonough and Joseph Eisenhaur (Journal of Economic Issues, September 1995): https://mises.org/MI_162_HOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

In this special episode, Mark Thornton presents a timely interview with Elijah K. Johnson that underscores how quickly “melt-ups” can flip into sharp corrections. Mark frames the discussion around three themes: why investors should temper expectations after a major run-up; why political and financial elites will move aggressively to protect their interests when markets wobble; and why soaring gold and silver prices (however tempting) ultimately signal deeper economic and social distress rather than a clean “win” for the private sector.Join us for the Mises Institute's first event of 2026, featuring Keith Smith, Caitlin Long, Ryan McMaken, Per Bylund, and Timothy Terrell: "Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics: Mises Circle in Oklahoma City." Register today at https://mises.org/okcOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton explains why the modern discussion of the division of labor is distorted by bad theory and political incentives. Mark contrasts Adam Smith's view with the Austrian tradition—especially Mises's—where the division of labor is driven and continuously reorganized by entrepreneurial judgment under uncertainty, disciplined by profit and loss. Mark also shows why technocrats and social engineers love an entrepreneur-less story of specialization, why Marxists found support in Smith's labor-theory drift, and why the real gains from specialization depend on individual differences that markets harmonize through exchange.Enter the 2026 Stocks vs. Manure Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/stocks-vs-manure-2026See “The Division of Labor Is at the Very Core of Economic Growth” by Per Bylund in The Next Generation of Austrian Economics: Essays in Honor of Joseph T. Salerno: https://mises.org/MI_160_AJoin us for the Mises Institute's first event of 2026, featuring Keith Smith, Caitlin Long, Ryan McMaken, Per Bylund, and Timothy Terrell: "Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics: Mises Circle in Oklahoma City." Register today at https://mises.org/okcOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton shares an in-depth interview with Jeremy McKeown of In the Company of Mavericks on the long rivalry between Austrian and Keynesian economics, and why Austrian ideas may be gaining new traction today. They trace how Austrian economics moved from a small academic outpost to a wider public audience, touching on the Mises Institute's role, the influence of figures like Roger Garrison and Ron Paul, and the ways online media and “alternative finance” have helped spread Austrian perspectives.We're entering the final week to enter the 2026 Stocks vs. Manure Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/stocks-vs-manure-2026Join us for the Mises Institute's first event of 2026, featuring Keith Smith, Caitlin Long, Ryan McMaken, Per Bylund, and Timothy Terrell: "Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics: Mises Circle in Oklahoma City." Register today at https://mises.org/okcOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Kitco News anchor Jeremy Szafron sits down with Dr. Mark Thornton to break down why central banks are fleeing Treasuries for physical gold and what the "Skyscraper Curse" signals for a 2026 crash. They discuss the massive 150-ton gold purchase by Poland, a strategic move by a NATO ally that signals a loss of trust in the debt-based system. Mark also exposes a critical, under-reported crisis in the silver market: supply is "inelastic" and "wasted" on war and solar panels, meaning the market cannot physically respond to price spikes. With Japanese bond yields spiking and the Jeddah Tower restarting construction, the signals for a major economic pivot are flashing red.The original interview is available on YouTube.

Mark Thornton revisits the Skyscraper Curse—the eerie pattern linking record-height towers to major busts—and argues the next signal is flashing for 2026. Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower has restarted and is reportedly adding floors fast, poised to surpass the world record. Mark explains why skyscraper records tend to coincide with late-cycle excess, and how to read the next 12–24 months without superstition.The Skyscraper Curse: And How Austrian Economists Predicted Every Major Economic Crisis of the Last Century by Mark Thornton: https://mises.org/curseAnatomy of the Crash, edited by Tho Bishop: https://mises.org/crashJoin us for the Mises Institute's first event of 2026, featuring Keith Smith, Caitlin Long, Ryan McMaken, Per Bylund, and Timothy Terrell: "Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics: Mises Circle in Oklahoma City." Register today at https://mises.org/okcOrder a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerEnter the 2026 Stocks vs. Manure Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/stocks-vs-manure-2026Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton revisits the history—and present risk—of hyperinflation. Mark explains the threshold that defines hyperinflation, why measuring prices under chaos is hard (yet still revealing), and how the social damage mirrors war: savings vaporize, capital is destroyed, and civic trust collapses. He closes with practical takeaways: why gold and silver often move first as “fire alarms” and why studying past episodes builds the psychological and analytical readiness to face low-probability, high-impact events."The Road to Hyperinflation" (Minor Issues, Episode 136): https://mises.org/MI_136"The Gold-Silver Ratio" (Minor Issues, Episode 119): https://mises.org/MI_119"On Hyperinflation: New Evidence from Zambia, the Central African Franc Zone, and Belarus" by Steve H. Hanke and Nicole Saade (World Economics Journal, December 2025): https://mises.org/MI_157_A"Hyperinflation and the Destruction of Human Personality" by Joseph T. Salerno (lecture): https://mises.org/MI_157_B "Hyperinflation and The Destruction of Human Personality" by Joseph T. Salerno (Studia Humana, 2013): https://mises.org/MI_157_C>>> Order a Minor Issues tumbler today! https://mises.org/MinorIssuesTumblerEnter the 2026 Stocks vs. Manure Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/stocks-vs-manure-2026Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton kicks off 2026 with the new Minor Issues prediction contest (stocks vs. manure) and a hard look at the monetary-metals squeeze. Mark explains why $50 silver triggered “growing pains”: spot–futures disconnects, margin hikes, empty coin shops, and weird retail premiums. As investor demand collides with industrial stockpiling, price spikes invite political scapegoating (“hoarders!”) and intervention that backfires. Expect more meddling before genuine market adjustments can work.Enter the 2026 Stocks vs. Manure Prediction Contest at https://mises.org/form/stocks-vs-manure-2026Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton appears on Metals and Miners with Gary Bohm. They explore the Federal Reserve's policies, geopolitical impacts, commodity underinvestment, AI's economic role, precious metals like gold and silver, stock market valuations, and the path to prosperity through free markets. Mark shares Austrian economics perspectives on the 2026 outlook, deflation benefits, and why government intervention fails.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

The Minor Issues year-end episode: what 2025 really taught us and what 2026 may bring. Mark Thornton revisits tariffs, inflation, metals, and interest rates; recaps his Bitcoin vs. Gold contest; and explains why a steepening yield curve could arrive even as the Fed cuts short rates. Mark also maps the risks of an un-inversion and why today's calm in CRE, private credit, and AI capex may mask fragility. Looking ahead, Mark previews the 2026 prediction contest: Stocks vs. Manure.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton joins Scott Horton to discuss the state of the economy, the boom-bust cycle, and why anybody—left, right, and center—who cares about the wellbeing of the working class needs to oppose the existence of the Federal Reserve.Visit the Scott Horton Show at http://scotthortonshow.comBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton argues that interest is a core price that coordinates time, investment, and growth, and that the Federal Reserve has turned it into an administered number. Mark warns the long-run trend may be turning: bigger states and debts, weaker anti-inflation ideology, and aging populations imply longer, higher for longer. What are the implications? Keep that 2% Covid-era mortgage, expect poor long-bond returns and lower real equity performance, and look for commodities to fare relatively better. Gold's surge shows some investors already see the shift.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton of the Mises Institute joins the show to talk about the state of the economy, the boom bust cycle and why anybody—left, right, and center—who cares about the wellbeing of the working class needs to oppose the existence of the Federal Reserve. Discussed on the show: “The Seven Deadly Economic Sins” (Mises.org) The Minor Issues Podcast Mark Thornton is a senior fellow at the Mises Institute. His most recent book is The Skyscraper Curse: And How Austrian Economists Predicted Every Major Economic Crisis of the Last Century. Follow him on Twitter @DrMarkThornton Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app:  https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show! For more on Scott's work: Check out The Libertarian Institute:  https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott's other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott's books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/47jMtg7 (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/3tgMCdw Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/3HRufs0 Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated https://rrbi.co Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/https://scotthortonshow.com or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Download Audio. Mark Thornton of the Mises Institute joins the show to talk about the state of the economy, the boom bust cycle and why anybody—left, right, and center—who cares about the wellbeing of the working class needs to oppose the existence of the Federal Reserve. Discussed on the show: “The Seven Deadly Economic Sins” (Mises.org) The Minor Issues Podcast Mark Thornton is a senior fellow at the Mises Institute. His most recent book is The Skyscraper Curse: And How Austrian Economists Predicted Every Major Economic Crisis of the Last Century. Follow him on Twitter @DrMarkThornton Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show! For more on Scott's work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott's other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott's books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/47jMtg7 (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/3tgMCdw Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/3HRufs0 Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated https://rrbi.co Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/https://scotthortonshow.com or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow

In this special mid-week episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton joins Julia LaRoche for a wide-angle tour of the macro landscape, and why gold's surge is a market verdict on deficits, rate manipulation, and fiat fatigue. Mark outlines the Austrian business cycle story behind today's “everything bubble,” and explains why a more dovish Fed in 2026 won't cure malinvestment. He also contrasts Bitcoin with commodity money and sketches a practical exit: sound money, hard budget constraints, and decentralization.Check out The Julia LaRoche Show at https://JuliaLaRoche.comBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On the latest episode of Minor Issues, Mark Thornton takes apart the media's “K-shaped economy” cliché. He explains the divergence the Austrian way: Cantillon effects from decades of deficit spending and artificially low rates that lift asset holders and big borrowers, while eroding wages and pricing-out families. Mark shows why the usual fixes like tax tweaks and rate cuts backfire. He also lays out a real cure: deep federal spending cuts, program eliminations, market-set interest rates, and sound money that restores honest price signals for everyone.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

In a special midweek episode of the Minor Issues podcast, Mark Thornton appears on Palisades Gold Radio with Stijn Schmitz. Mark argues that gold's surge isn't a fad: it's a market verdict on runaway deficits, central-bank credibility, and fiat money itself. He also explains why manipulated rates breed booms, busts, and inequality, while sound money and decentralization restore real signals.The original episode ("Dr. Mark Thornton: Early Innings for Gold, Silver Manipulation, Black Swans & Failing Markets") is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2FUnca1q3cBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Dr. Mark Thornton to the show. Dr. Mark Thornton is Economist and Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute. The discussion centers on the current state of precious metals, monetary policy, and economic systems, with a particular focus on gold and silver’s role in the global financial landscape. Thornton argues that gold is fundamentally money, and governments have only recently forced their way into replacing commodity money with fiat currency. He suggests that the current precious metals market is still in its early stages, with central bank buying and distrust in the US dollar driving significant interest. The gold and silver markets are experiencing growing pains, with increasing investor attention and potential for further price appreciation. The conversation delves into the fundamental differences between Austrian and Keynesian economics. Thornton criticizes Keynesian economics as a state-controlled ideology that promotes government spending and manipulates interest rates, whereas Austrian economics advocates for market-driven monetary systems and private property rights. He highlights how central bank policies create economic bubbles and exacerbate wealth inequality by favoring asset-rich individuals. Thornton sees potential for a significant monetary transformation, potentially triggered by the current precious metals bull market. He believes the collision between Western and Eastern financial markets, coupled with the rise of cryptocurrencies, could lead to a fundamental restructuring of monetary systems. The possibility of a return to a gold standard or a gold-backed settlement currency is discussed as a potential future scenario. The economist also warns about potential economic bubbles in artificial intelligence and private equity, arguing that the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies have created unsustainable conditions across various sectors. He believes that while central banks have been able to temporarily extend economic cycles, their power is not infinite, and a significant market correction is inevitable. Thornton concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding Austrian economic principles and encourages listeners to explore the works of economists like Friedrich Hayek to gain deeper insights into monetary systems and economic dynamics. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:19 – Gold as Money 00:04:21 – Central Bank Distrust 00:05:52 – Bull Run Early Stages 00:09:35 – Historical Parallels 1980s 00:14:15 – Return to Gold Standard 00:18:16 – Bond Markets Unraveling 00:24:07 – Austrian vs Keynesian Economics 00:31:19 – Flexible Inflation Targeting 00:33:53 – Silver Monetary Role 00:45:46 – AI Private Equity Bubbles 00:51:11 – Future Recession Outlook 00:55:41 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://mises.org X: https://x.com/DrMarkThornton E-Mail: mailto:mthornton@mises.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+thornton+minor+issues Book-Hayek: https://mises.org/library/book/hayek-21st-century-essays-political-economy Dr. Mark Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and formerly held the Peterson-Luddy Chair in Austrian Economics. He hosts the podcasts Minor Issues and Unanimity and is Book Review Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. His books include The Economics of Prohibition, Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation, The Bastiat Collection, and The Skyscraper Curse. He has served on multiple editorial boards, taught economics at several universities, and worked as Assistant Superintendent of Banking and adviser to Alabama Governor Fob James. He holds degrees from St. Bonaventure University and Auburn University and has debated the “War on Drugs” at the Oxford Union. Dr. Thornton has been featured in major outlets such as The Economist, Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, along with numerous international and regional newspapers. His commentary appears regularly on the Mises Institute's platforms and on programs such as Boom-Bust, the Tom Woods Show, and the Scott Horton Show.

Dr. Mark Thornton, Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and Austrian economist who correctly called the housing bubble, warns that we're living in an everything bubble with a flock of black swans ready to ignite a crisis. From commercial real estate cover-ups to private equity opacity, data center spending without defined returns, and trillions in government debt, Dr. Thornton explains how Fed manipulation and artificial interest rates have created malinvestments across the economy—and why Trump's push for lower rates will only fuel more bubble activity. He breaks down Austrian Business Cycle Theory, why we're on the on-ramp to hyperinflation with 2026 looking turbulent, and makes the case for gold and silver as essential hedges against fiat money depreciation in a world of central bank money printing and currency debasement.This episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF: http://vaneck.com/REMXJuliaLinksX: https://x.com/DrMarkThorntonFree Hayek book: https://store.mises.org/Hayek-for-the-21st-Century-P11367.aspxMises Institute: https://mises.org/profile/mark-thorntonTimestamps: 0:00 Intro and welcome Dr. Mark Thornton 01:09 Concerns about the macro economy 6:35 Fed manipulation creating vast array of potential swans 12:00 What if inflation ticks up? Long-term government debt and currency depreciation fears 14:50 Living through an everything bubble 18:40 Fed outlook22:30 Austrian Business Cycle Theory explained 28:30 Malinvestment and artificial credit expansion 34:50 Who really benefits from the Fed's policies? 44:50 Inflation to pay off the national debt 46:00 Gold and silver as hedges against fiat money depreciation 52:40 Early on in the precious metals bull market, silver going above $50 is 'the end of the beginning' 1:00:03 Path to hyperinflation 1:07:01 Bitcoin and Austrian School of Economics compatibility 1:10:31 Final thoughts and closing

Mark Thornton dissects “contagion” hype and argues it's not a market pathology. He shows why, in a free market, failures reallocate customers, labor, and capital to better firms rather than spread panic. Contagion appears only when government links balance sheets and distorts prices. Mark traces how credit booms set up busts, and why even the Fed now sits upside-down, while homeowners are “rate-locked” and supply is frozen. The takeaway: politicians and central bankers invoke "contagion" to demand more power and money, while their interventions cause the very fragility they decry.See also "Fight Inflation Now" (Minor Issues, episode 72): Mises.org/MI_72Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton traces seven headline “problems” back to one engine: monetary inflation. Drawing on Austrian insights, Mark explains how new money distorts prices and wages; why cheap credit spawns debt booms, asset bubbles, and zombie firms; how deficit finance and central banking turn war into a budget line; and why rising prices erode family formation, savings, and civic trust. He connects the dots to today's policy mix and sketches a bottom-up remedy: hard budget constraints, sound money, and decentralization that restores real price signals. Mark makes the case that inflation isn't just “too many dollars”: it's the hidden subsidy powering them all.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

On this marathon episode of Minor Issues, Mark stitches together four recent interviews for a fast-moving tour of today's economy: why gold spiked while precious metals whipsawed, how ballooning US debt and rising servicing costs tilt policy toward monetization, and what that means for inflation, markets, and families. Along the way Mark explains the Austrian lens behind his calls and why using it beats siloed, headline-driven takes.Highlights include: the recent precious metals pullback and what to watch next; the mechanics of debt monetization; distributional effects that favor asset holders over wage earners; and why hyperinflation risk is slow… until it's fast.Additional Resources"Dollar Demise and the New Era for Gold & Silver" (The Freedom Report), November 7, 2025: https://Mises.org/MI_146_A"GOLD: You Will NOT Get A Second Warning!" (Soar Financially), October 28, 2025: https://Mises.org/MI_146_B"Gold Ringing Alarm Bells, Silver Setting Up to Skyrocket" (Investing News), October 28, 2025: https://Mises.org/MI_146_C"The Fed and Runaway Government Debt Undermine the Very Basis of Civilisation" (maneco64), November 1, 2025: https://Mises.org/MI_146_DBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Is silver “manipulated,” or are fundamentals doing the work? Mark Thornton sifts the evidence and finds a simpler story. Big players have gamed markets before, but the long arc of silver prices reflects structural forces: the 1960s demonetization that pushed vast coin hoards into private stockpiles, decades of shifting industrial demand, and the rise of by-product mining. Add environmental compliance and hard-to-recycle “green” uses that sequester silver, and the result is stubbornly low real prices.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Speaking at the recent Mises Institute Supporters Summit, Mark Thornton argues that lasting reform comes from the bottom up, not from political edict. Drawing on Hayek's “worst get to the top” insight, Mark contrasts elite-driven prohibition with the citizen-led wave of decriminalization and legalization across states and abroad. Mark also explains the role of “salutary neglect” by local officials, the Oregon backlash as a failure of property-rights enforcement—not of liberty—and the scholarly case against the drug war. The crux: markets and civil society integrate; top-down policy divides.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton reviews David Howden's data-driven guide to long-horizon investing in commodities, useful even for Austrians wary of statistics. Mark explains how the book's method ranks assets by relative valuation, generates 10-year return forecasts, and frames risk premiums, using gold and silver as case studies. Mark highlights how a formal model can still complement Austrian fundamentals and capital-allocation thinking, and he previews an upcoming episode on silver that will build on these results.Purchase The Almanac of Commodities by David Howden at http://mises.org/almanacBe sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Mark Thornton shares a timely conversation from the Liberty & Finance podcast with Elijah K. Johnson. Mark explains why $50 silver is a psychological barrier, and how decades of tech shifts, by-product mining, and central-bank gold buying shaped today's divergence between gold and silver. The thread tying it all together: easy money seeds malinvestment and fragility; metals hedge the fallout.Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues