@DrSamuelGregg discusses commercial virtues and a flourishing society "One of the things that Smith says is that paradoxically enough, without people intending it to be the case, a flourishing commercial society relies upon and encourages people to pursue these commercial virtues, these classical virtues, as well as these virtues of benevolence. So in that sense, the improvement that comes about in a commercial society... it's not just economic advancement. Economic advancement and growth is indispensable. But he says that part of the genius of this new civilized commercial society that's coming into being is that it allows these higher forms of improvement in the way that people think about themselves, the way they think about the world, and the way they choose and act in their daily lives." Buy it on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/1641775300

You think affordability is bad, wait till you get to unavailability." Duke professor @RichardSalsman3 tells AIER's @DrPaulMueller what price controls really do. Full episode: aier.org/podcast/the-40-tril…

In the new episode of Qualified Opinions, @veroderugy speaks with @Dave_Hebert, @Econ_Goggles, and @peter_c_earle about Trump, a national wealth tax, and the push to rename everything. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Duke University professor @RichardSalsman3 with @DrPaulMueller on who gets blamed when prices go up. The grocer is right there. The real cause is much harder to see. See the full conversation in the podcast below.

The $40 Trillion Question: Can America Escape Its Debt Trap? The government is spending more on interest payments than on national defense. How did America get here? And why do politicians keep spending more than they collect in taxes? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, host @DrPaulMueller is joined by AIER Research Fellow @thomas_savidge and Duke University professor @RichardSalsman3 to explore the political economy of government debt. They examine how excessive borrowing affects inflation, interest rates, affordability, and economic growth; why neither tariffs nor faster growth are likely to solve the problem on their own. The conversation also explores why both political parties have incentives to perpetuate deficits, whether bond markets can force fiscal discipline, and what reforms might help put government finances on a more sustainable path. Is a debt crisis inevitable, or can America change course before the costs become even harder to ignore?

In this new AIER Explainer, David Hebert lays out the process for creating the federal budget. Read it here: aier.org/article/how-the-fed…

Who really controls corporate America—the shareholders who own companies, or the executives and institutions managing their money? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, AIER's @DrPaulMueller is joined by @allenmendenhall of @Heritage and @ThePolForum of the @SFOF_States to examine the growing influence of stakeholder capitalism, ESG investing, and political activism in America's financial markets. From BlackRock's enormous influence over corporate decisions to the controversial use of public pension funds, the conversation explores how investment managers can pursue political agendas with money that isn't theirs. The discussion also challenges the promise of ESG investing: Does prioritizing environmental and social goals actually produce better outcomes, or does it undermine profitability, accountability, and shareholder rights? As more financial power becomes concentrated in fewer hands, one question becomes increasingly important: Who gets to decide how your money is used? Listen to the full episode here - aier.org/podcast/the-truth-a… The Economist Next Door is brought to you by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), making complex economic ideas accessible. No PhD required.

From the origins of money to the future of monetary policy. At AIER’s Monetary Economics Harwood Graduate Colloquium, graduate students spent several days examining the institutions and ideas behind modern monetary systems. Sessions moved from monetary foundations and the rise of central banking to monetary policy today, and what it might look like tomorrow. Between lectures, discussions, and conversations around campus, participants had plenty of opportunities to test ideas and learn from one another. A Great Barrington week devoted to sound money, serious inquiry, and good company. #AIER #MonetaryEconomics #SoundMoney #EconomicEducation

The $40 Trillion Question: Can America Escape Its Debt Trap? The government is spending more on interest payments than on national defense. How did America get here? And why do politicians keep spending more than they collect in taxes? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, host @DrPaulMueller is joined by AIER Research Fellow @thomas_savidge and Duke University professor @RichardSalsman3 to explore the political economy of government debt. They examine how excessive borrowing affects inflation, interest rates, affordability, and economic growth; why neither tariffs nor faster growth are likely to solve the problem on their own. The conversation also explores why both political parties have incentives to perpetuate deficits, whether bond markets can force fiscal discipline, and what reforms might help put government finances on a more sustainable path. Is a debt crisis inevitable, or can America change course before the costs become even harder to ignore?

The $40 Trillion Question: Can America Escape Its Debt Trap? The government is spending more on interest payments than on national defense. How did America get here? And why do politicians keep spending more than they collect in taxes? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, host @DrPaulMueller is joined by AIER Research Fellow @thomas_savidge and Duke University professor @RichardSalsman3 to explore the political economy of government debt. They examine how excessive borrowing affects inflation, interest rates, affordability, and economic growth; why neither tariffs nor faster growth are likely to solve the problem on their own. The conversation also explores why both political parties have incentives to perpetuate deficits, whether bond markets can force fiscal discipline, and what reforms might help put government finances on a more sustainable path. Is a debt crisis inevitable, or can America change course before the costs become even harder to ignore?

Who really controls corporate America—the shareholders who own companies, or the executives and institutions managing their money? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, AIER's Paul Mueller is joined by Allen Mendenhall of The Heritage Foundation and Stephen Soukup of the State Financial Officers Foundation to examine the growing influence of stakeholder capitalism, ESG investing, and political activism in America's financial markets. From BlackRock's enormous influence over corporate decisions to the controversial use of public pension funds, the conversation explores how investment managers can pursue political agendas with money that isn't theirs. The discussion also challenges the promise of ESG investing: Does prioritizing environmental and social goals actually produce better outcomes, or does it undermine profitability, accountability, and shareholder rights? As more financial power becomes concentrated in fewer hands, one question becomes increasingly important: Who gets to decide how your money is used? Listen to the full episode here - aier.org/podcast/the-truth-a…