Ludwig von Mises Archives

Ludwig von Mises

4.5 (11)
PODCASTS

Only a few recordings survive of the great economist, and only those after his immigration to the United States.

03/05/2020

The Political Consequences of the Welfare State

Ludwig von Mises speaks about the political consequences of the welfare state. He begins by recounting the origin and semantics of the term welfare state. He then concentrates on how the interests of individual members of a legislature is not the welfare of the nation, but the welfare of its constituents. Mises believes the system of interventionist government leads to inflation. Delivered at the meeting of the Mont Pèlerin Society in Princeton, New Jersey, on September 9, 1958.
03/02/2020

Language and the Inflation Debates

Ludwig von Mises discusses inflation, labor unions, and issues of the adoption of improper terminology and widespread public misinformation. Delivered at the ninth meeting of the Mont Pèlerin Society; Princeton, New Jersey; September 11, 1958. A transcript of this lecture is available here: Mises.org/wire/mises-adopt-keynesian-terminology-legitimize-it
01/24/1972

Why Socialism Always Fails

Ron Paul alludes to this speech in his book End the Fed (pp. 51-52): Mises, at the time, was elderly but sharp. His subject was socialism, and his lecture explained why socialism always fails due to the absence of a free market pricing structure for capital goods... The lecture was held in a modest-sized classroom, but the place was overflowing. Popularizing Austrian economics at the time was in its very early stages, but it was obvious even then that there was a starvation for truth in economics. Presented at the University of Houston in 1972.
03/26/1971

Question and Answer Session

Two important questions to be answered: (1) What is inflation? What causes it? What are the effects? Inflation is an increase in the quantity of money available caused by an increased in the production of gold and silver, or an over-issuance of paper money. Prices rise. Purchasing power falls. (2) Why should somebody hoard money? Cash-holding plays an important part in building capital. Every unit of capital is in some way dedicated to production. Owning cash is either a sound or an unsound investment, but it is always an investment. The two processes - increased cash holding and increased capital accumulation - take place side by side. Recorded March 26,1971. Special thanks to Bettina Bien Greaves for making this important recording available. [1:08:43]
06/23/1970

Monetary Problems

The monetary problem – the market problem – is the medium of exchange. The illusion is that one would be better off if only one had more money. Everybody should have more money. Therefore, make more money. This creates the system of inflation. This increase in the quantity of money brings about higher prices. Individuals are left with no real possibilities of acting. So, in truth, the medium of exchange (money) must, first of all, be restricted in quantity. Why gold? Gold is scarce. Its quantity cannot be easily increased by governments. Two models for society exist. One model is the absolute rule of one. All must obey. The totalitarian system produces order which is slavery. Another model is individuals acting by their own ideas. The market system produces exchanges and social cooperation through everybody voluntarily making choices. Recorded June 23,1970. Special thanks to Bettina Bien Greaves for making this important recording available. [1:00:53]
05/02/1970

Socialism versus Free Market Exchange

Human beings are collaborators with each other. Socialism is one kind of cooperation of people. One thing determines the socialist organization. It is the lack of freedom and the complete obedience to a Fuehrer (leader). Not surprisingly, everyone considers themselves to be part of the ruling group, forcing others to submit. But, the system of exchange of products and services has been helped by the technical creation of a medium of exchange. We now have a system of civilization that works better than any other– a free market capitalist system. Recorded at the University of Washington; May 2, 1970. [1:14:44]
02/21/1970

The Free Market Society

Division of labor and an exchange economy are the basis of society. Various commodities competed for being money, but gold prevailed as the medium of exchange, without any interference by governmental authorities. We should have again a gold standard all over the world. When government increases the money supply it does not matter what the government does with the money. The increase alone dilutes the purchasing power of each unit of money, making everyone but first receivers worse off. Governments are in the position of destroying the monetary system. The quantity of money must be restricted. Recorded February 21,1970. Special thanks to Bettina Bien Greaves for making this important recording available. [1:03:15]
11/08/1969

A Seminar on Money

From a practical point of view, the supply of money is very different from the supply of any other good. An increase in other goods, like shoes or meat, is a welcome event, but an increase in the supply of money dilutes the purchasing power of each money unit. The world laughs at the idea of gold as money, yet the only reason that paper money is favored by governments is that the government wants to spend more without openly taxing the people, so they run the printing press. Inflation is a vicious stealth tax. Such inflation happened in 1781 during the continental revolution. Inflation of money supplies has happened during all ages, even before printing. Coins were debased, adding lesser metals to those of higher value. Money must be something that cannot be increased by government. Recorded November 8,1969. Special thanks to Bettina Bien Greaves for making this important recording available. Note that this recording ends abruptly. [41:33]

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Very Unique

03/11/2011

Shaolin Ninja

For those of us who have found amazing rational insights in the works of von Mises, it is very unique to hear the man speak for himself. Thank you for providing these recordings. LVMI, you're doing great work!
Absolute Legend

12/05/2022

Yotashii

I highly recommend this series of lectures.