As Houston continues to deal with the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Florida stands prepared for the impact of Irma. It is during times of crisis like this, when government feels the greatest need to control, that sound economics is most needed. This is why laws on "price gouging," no matter their intent, bring tragic consequences. This is also how government intervention in insurance markets has only increased the costs of flooding. Unfortunately, there are still those who see the damage done by these storms as a good thing for the economy. Of course, such a dangerous misunderstanding of economics may qualify such pundits for one of the vacant Federal Reserve positions.
On Mises Weekends, we shift our attention from a natural disaster to a man-made one. Our friend Scott Horton joins Jeff to discuss his important new book — Fools Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan This is the definitive treatment of the war itself, the history and factions involved, and the disturbing policy mindset that keeps this deeply unpopular conflict churning. Don't miss this interview with one of the leading antiwar libertarians of our time.
And in case you missed them, here are this weeks Mises Wire and FedWatch articles, covering a wide array of topics:
Trump's Deal With Dems Increases His Power over GOP by Mark ThorntonWill Low Unemployment Cause Accelerating Inflation? by Frank ShostakSlow Wage Growth Could Be Thanks to 'Sticky Wages' by Curtis WilliamsWhy the War Party Loves to Call Foreign Leaders Insane by Ryan McMakenTrump's Historic Opportunity with the Federal Reserve by Tho BishopThe Progressive Era Still Haunts Us Today by Patrick NewmanStanley Fischer Is Out at the Fed by C.Jay EngelBank of Canada Raises Interest Rates ... Again by Caleb McMillan3 Good Things about "Price Gouging" by Robert P. MurphyHow the Feds Blocked Effective Flood Insurance by Dale SteinreichMarkets, Not Government, Improve Race Relations by Richard M. EbelingBank of Mexico: Bread Today, Hunger Tomorrow by Edgar OrtizWhy Government Cannot Be Run Like a Business by Peter G. KleinThe Broken-Window Fallacy Is Still Alive and Well by Robert A. McKeownDoes Government Spending Create More Economic Growth? by Frank ShostakPublic Policy Always Costs Somebody Something by Gary Galles