PODCAST

Minor Issues

Mark Thornton

Succinct economic commentary by Dr. Mark Thornton, senior fellow at the Mises Institute.

business

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Separation 101

Minor Issues ·

2023/10/14

Mark contemplatesthe political divide in America, the lack of a middle ground, the political divisions in DC, and the turmoil over the Speaker of the House. Looking around the world, similar problems exist in many places;but, there is a tried and true solution, which Mark explains. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Hometown Entrepreneurs in Mississippi

Minor Issues ·

2023/10/07

In this week's episode, Mark looks at the "Home Town" entrepreneurs in Laurel, Mississippi, who have done so much to turn around the fortunes of their poor and struggling hometown. Mark points out that this is going on all around us, but is seldom recognized—except in the isolation of forgotten small towns. Entrepreneurs make the good of the world we live in, and can help fix the problems that we face. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Data Shutdown—Smokescreen?

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/30

This episode examines the impending Government Shutdown, which will suspend new releases of the government's "vital" economic statistics. How will the "Data Dependent" Fed manage its policy behind the cloak of missing data? Mark suggests it's best to consider that the Fed is playing its typical confidence game. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Data Shutdown—Smokescreen?

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/29

Touch-and-Go

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/23

In this week's episode, Mark interprets the Fed's new economic projections for the economy, in which the Fed "doubles-down" on current economic growth and the economy's prospects moving forward. Essentially, the Fed is saying that they are taking us from the "touch-and-go" economy of the last three years to a touch-and-go landing, where the economy will take off and perform much better than anyone anticipates. Don't bet on it. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Where's the Beef?

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/16

Americans are mad about the economy, and particularly about the Fed's inflation of prices and declining inflation-adjusted wages and incomes. Keynesian economist Paul Krugman, on the other hand,thinks that you are ignorant and that everything in the economy is great. Mark looks at Beef prices and consumption to provide some insight into why Americans are rightfully mad at the Federal Reserve, Democrats, and Republicans. Markconcludes that Americans have a legitimate beef! Be sure to follow Minor

The Producer Price Index

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/09

In this week's episode, Mark looks at PPI—the Producer Price Index—which provides evidence of the costs for suppliers in various industries, macroeconomic instability, and the potential for economic recovery. Here, very low prices provide the potential for recovery;and rising prices can indicate both recovery in the economy, as well as inflationary pressures moving forward. The Covid Bubble and restrictions caused a 50% increase in producer prices, and since the peak in 2022, PPI has only corrected

The Producer Price Index

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/08

Navigating by the Stars on a Cloudy Night

Minor Issues ·

2023/09/02

In this episode, Mark examines Fed Chairman Jay Powell's recent confession that the Fed is "navigating by the stars on a cloudy night." This reveals the fundamental methodological weakness of the Fed's economic policy and mainstream economics in general ("data dependency"). In contrast, it also reveals the strengths of Austrian economics, economic theory, and the self regulation of the free market. Mark suggests that we all be prepared for big negative surprises in the economy and additional Federal

Why We Need a Crash Landing

Minor Issues ·

2023/08/26

In this episode, Mark explains why we need a Crash (or very Hard) Landing in the US economy and the world economy. Specifically, whyis a crash landing better to resolve the malinvestments caused by the Fed?Why is a crash landing betterin many waysfor the productive class of workers and savers?And, how would a crash landing placemuch of the pain and the overall burden on the rich, politically-connected classes? Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues. Additional Resources "The Fed's

Crash Landing

Minor Issues ·

2023/08/19

Will we get asoft landing or a hard landing in the economy? Or, should we hope for a crash landing? Mark Thornton explains. See also "Soft Landing? Not Likely" featuring Bob Murphy and Jonathan Newman on the Human Action Podcast: Mises.org/HAP407 Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Update on Toilet Paper

Minor Issues ·

2023/08/12

In this episode, Mark updates his early March 2023 episode (Mises.org/Minor11) on the high price of toilet paper. He shows how economic changes, so far, in 2023 seem to have vindicatedhis forecast of lower toilet paper and paper towel prices. It also demonstrates how the market process works on a minor scale, even when largedeterminants like Amazon, Covid, and the US home construction industry get tangled up with politicians and bureaucrats. Be sure to followMinor Issues at

There Are No Constraints on US Government Borrowing

Minor Issues ·

2023/08/05

In this week's episode, Mark reviews what people have said about Fitch's downgrade of US government debt. Mark sees it as a good thing, but not good enough. The "minor issue" in the latest debt ceiling agreement is ignored bythe mainstream media:politicians suspended the debt ceiling into 2025, rather than raising it to some arbitrary, higher figure. Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Credit Card Debt: Economic Pain Looms

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/29

In this week's episode, Mark discusses the record levels of credit card debt and how it is a major contributing factor to economic pain from the Fed's impact ofcausing higher prices for consumergoods. This is expected tointensify when the recession officially hits. Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Explore the Minor Issues Archives

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/22

This week Mark invites you to explore the Minor Issues archives. We have produced about a half a year's worth of short audio commentaries about the economy, and we are grateful to our listeners for their feedback. Topics range from the price of toilet paper to macro-business cycle topics, but our specialty is highlighting issues that the mainstream media ignores or misrepresents as insignificant. Thank you for listening. Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Dollar is Down

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/15

In this episode, Mark looks at the "minor issue" of the value of the dollar. While everything in the economy seems great—including stock markets, price inflation, unemployment, and consumer confidence—the value of the dollar index has fallen 12% during the rebound in stocks since last October. Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Dollar is Down

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/14

Two More Elephants in Your Electric Vehicle

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/08

On this week's episode, Marksummarizes the many problems with EVs, and focuses on two consequences funded by taxpayer subsidy. Large, overpriced, long range vehicles have been subsidized at the expense of more efficient technological applications. These EVs are significantly heavier compared to their fossil fuel counterparts (which have engines and gas tanks). These heavier vehicles create greater crash risks for passengers andpedestrians. Failure to disclose such issues reveals some uncomfortable

The Mystery of the Inverted Yield Curve

Minor Issues ·

2023/07/01

In this week's episode, Marklooks back at the history of the Inverted Yield Curve. While many observers have now dismissed the significance of the yield curve inversion in 2022—and no recession, yet—Markshows that the history of the IYC may back a completely opposite interpretation. Be sure to followMinor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

The Reality of the Market Process

Minor Issues ·

2023/06/28

As we enter the dog days of summer, I have heard several media conversations and a few private ones that express exasperation over languishing capital markets. Why do things take so long to unravel? What will happen next? When will X, Y, or Z happen? Why are tech stocks so bullish now? The market takes time to process the information that it already has — or is in "process" — and everyday brings new data. The Austrian perspective highlights the role of reality in the market process. This is

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