Economics Archives

The Impact of the Black Death: Parallels to the COVID Pandemic?

What were the origins of the Black Death? What impact did the plague have on society? Are there similarities to the Covid-19 pandemic? In The Silk Roads, historian Peter Frankopan discusses the Black Death in the context of East-West dynamics. He notes how it changed the world economy and the balance of power. Some commentators compare that shift to today’s Great Resignation. Keep reading to understand the impact of the Black Death and how it compares to what we’re seeing with Covid-19.

The Rise of the British Empire: From Obscurity to Center Stage

Why did Spain and Portugal decline in power? How did England take their place as the economic center of Europe? As the Middle Ages gave way to the early modern period, Europe began to enjoy global economic dominance. One power, in particular, emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries: England. Historian Peter Frankopan explains how this small nation became so powerful. Read more to learn about the rise of the British Empire.

Abolishing the Federal Reserve: A Proposed 2-Step Strategy

If we were to abolish the Federal Reserve, how should we go about it? What are some alternatives to the Fed? Edward Griffin believes the Fed destabilizes the economy and encourages banks to engage in fraudulent practices that harm the public and benefit the elite. In his book, The Creature from Jekyll Island, he identifies four major problems with the Fed and insists that it should be abolished. Read more to learn Griffin’s proposed two-step strategy to abolish the Federal Reserve.

Why Is the Federal Reserve Bad for the Economy? 4 Key Reasons

Why is the Federal Reserve bad for the economy? In what ways is it harmful and even unethical? Even if you don’t believe there’s a sinister conspiracy behind the Fed, you might be interested to know that there are plenty of other reasons why it should be abolished. That’s the assertion of Edward Griffin, who calls out four major problems with the system. Continue reading to learn about these four ways the Fed does more harm than good.

Will the Housing Market Leave Our Economy in Crisis?

How are the housing market and economy connected? What happens if the housing market crashes? Will there be another recession? As home prices drop and rumors of recession haunt headlines, concerns are mounting that we might be headed for a repeat of the Great Recession of 2007-2009. According to Naked Economics, modern markets are all interconnected, so the failure of one part of the economy can cause a domino effect. Read on to learn what the future holds for the U.S. housing market and the larger economy.

How Does the Federal Reserve Affect the Economy?

How does the Federal Reserve affect the economy? Does it help or harm? Helping to stabilize the economy is allegedly a key part of the Fed’s mission, but Edward Griffin argues that, in fact, it tends to destabilize the economy. It does this in two ways: amplifying normal business cycles and protecting banks from bad investments. Continue reading to learn about the Fed’s negative impacts on the economy.

Inflation Is Taxation Without Legislation: Was Friedman Right?

Is the Federal Reserve responsible for inflation? Is inflation essentially a tax? Milton Friedman once said that inflation is taxation without legislation. Edward Griffin agrees. He asserts that the Federal Reserve is responsible for inflation, and he’s concerned that inflation constitutes an unfair, hidden tax whereby the American people pay for the government’s expenditures without realizing it. Read more to understand Griffin’s argument.

Fractional Reserve Lending: How the Fed Facilitates Fraud

What’s fractional reserve lending? Is it ethical? Edward Griffin asserts that the Federal Reserve facilitates and legalizes fraud by allowing banks to engage in fractional reserve lending. He explains what the practice is and argues that it’s not ethical. Read more to understand this prolific banking practice.

Federal Reserve Conspiracies: Bank Cartel & World Domination

What conspiracies are associated with the Federal Reserve? Is there anything to them? Edward Griffin discusses two conspiracies that are said to be behind the Federal Reserve: the bank cartel conspiracy and the world domination conspiracy. Griffin believes that these help us understand what’s going on with the Fed specifically and economics and politics in general. Keep reading to learn about these two Federal Reserve conspiracies.

The Creature From Jekyll Island: Book Overview & Takeaways

How does the Federal Reserve System affect the economy? Should it be abolished? If so, how? In his book The Creature from Jekyll Island, Edward Griffin argues that much of what the Federal Reserve does is contrary to the best interests of the American people. He lays out a case that the Fed harms the economy, and he offers a strategy to abolish the system. Continue reading for an overview of this thought-provoking book.