The Mises Institute is pleased to present this very beautiful hardbound edition of Rothbard's most famous monetary essay--the one that has influenc...
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Jun 26, 2008
Rick
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I learned or rather rediscovered my passion for economics by reading Dr.Rothbard's book. His effort here is a very short, concise, surprisingly easy one to read. Rothbard suggests that it is government meddling and its monopolistic strangehold on the creation of money that is responsible for boom-bust business cycles. He expounds on this sentiment in his narrative regarding the perfect storm of several interdependent events which drive the destructive hyperinflation of our currency. The disso
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Dec 20, 2009
Andrew
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This book, along with "The Mystery of Banking" make for fantastic introductions into the system of economic theory known as the Austrian-School.
Austrian-School economics is the foundation for economic theory among most libertarians. If you've come to regard economics as boring, you're missing out! Austrian-School theory is intuitive, commonsensical, and empowering. It's the only fully integrated theory of economics which can simply and reliably explain (and predict!) the up More...
Austrian-School economics is the foundation for economic theory among most libertarians. If you've come to regard economics as boring, you're missing out! Austrian-School theory is intuitive, commonsensical, and empowering. It's the only fully integrated theory of economics which can simply and reliably explain (and predict!) the up More...
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May 14, 2009
P.
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The first two sections of this book are essentially a review of the history of currency in general, its utility, and how it has been abused by government action. The reminder that currency itself is a commodity in a truly free market is a useful one in our current age of endlessly inflatable fiat currency.
What was most interesting to me though was the last section of the book which covered the history of government's interaction with currency between the Napoleonic wars and the 19 More...
What was most interesting to me though was the last section of the book which covered the history of government's interaction with currency between the Napoleonic wars and the 19 More...
Feb 13, 2011
Bill
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Confused about how the Federal Reserve works, or why we need it? Can't figure out what causes inflation? Does the whole financial crisis have you baffled? This is a great place to start working through the muck. If you don't read anything else, read the section on money warehouses, though the whole book is worth a read.
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Aug 04, 2011
Rothbard argues that federal tampering with money depreciates the value of the dollar, thus increasing inflation. More money in the economy is not necessarily good. If I increase the money supply by 10%, then people have more money to spend on goods. However, in order to make a profit (or not go broke), the entrepreneur must increase his prices by 10%, so we are back at square one.
But it is more sinister than that. The FED, by means of controlling central bank, can create wealth ex nihilo, s More...
But it is more sinister than that. The FED, by means of controlling central bank, can create wealth ex nihilo, s More...
Apr 21, 2011
Marcus
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Rothbard is the man. His brutally methodical and rational approach to what money is, and what it should be, make his case for a gold standard seem obvious, despite the majority of economists supporting government controlled, fiat currencies and condescendingly mocking 'goldbugs.'
After reading from various sources on inflation, deflation, the gold standard, the merits and evils of saving (aka hoarding) and the role of government in creating and regulating money I am convinced that this More...
After reading from various sources on inflation, deflation, the gold standard, the merits and evils of saving (aka hoarding) and the role of government in creating and regulating money I am convinced that this More...
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Oct 21, 2011
Ash
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I read this book as one of a list of 5, and I wrote a blog post to summarise it. This review is taken from my blog post An Economics Reading List by Ron Paul, so go there for more. The full list of books is: The Law, Economics in One Lesson, What Has Government Done to Our Money?, The Road to Serfdom and Economics for Real People.
Murry Rothbard’s short text is a three-part book that explains first, what money is; second, how governments have meddled with it; and third, the history of More...
Murry Rothbard’s short text is a three-part book that explains first, what money is; second, how governments have meddled with it; and third, the history of More...
Aug 29, 2010
Snehal
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Governments change, but policies rarely seem to.
After all, when the creation of false dilemmas is deemed an occupational necessity, their perpetuation becomes an unspoken imperative. So, regardless of the degree of fiscal conservatism practiced, and monetary policy tightening encouraged; all governments tend to be inherently inflationary.
This assertion itself is not greatly disputed, and Rothbard demonstrates why this is so in the first part of the book; What Has Governm More...
After all, when the creation of false dilemmas is deemed an occupational necessity, their perpetuation becomes an unspoken imperative. So, regardless of the degree of fiscal conservatism practiced, and monetary policy tightening encouraged; all governments tend to be inherently inflationary.
This assertion itself is not greatly disputed, and Rothbard demonstrates why this is so in the first part of the book; What Has Governm More...
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May 25, 2009
Matt
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Rothbard is ever the genius. This review will not do his book justice.
He promotes a free market monetary system with no government control/meddling. He clearly favors a hard metal currency, and a single currency within a country. I am more of a believer in any currency (metal or no) that the free market determines. Thus, I would be more than happy to see concurrent currencies. However, Rothbard does not really broach that issue, he simply mentions it in passing.
The b More...
He promotes a free market monetary system with no government control/meddling. He clearly favors a hard metal currency, and a single currency within a country. I am more of a believer in any currency (metal or no) that the free market determines. Thus, I would be more than happy to see concurrent currencies. However, Rothbard does not really broach that issue, he simply mentions it in passing.
The b More...
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Sep 24, 2010
Mitch
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I read this a few years ago, and it has had a tremendous impact on my position-forming since.
Rothbard's historical inclusions are fascinating; in its short length, this book provides a background knowledge to the basic concept of money, how civilizations (and states) have used (and abused) that concept and specific information on how "Western" states have sucked the beautiful, helpful, essential-to-prosperity notions from their subjects' ideas of "money."
Rothbard's historical inclusions are fascinating; in its short length, this book provides a background knowledge to the basic concept of money, how civilizations (and states) have used (and abused) that concept and specific information on how "Western" states have sucked the beautiful, helpful, essential-to-prosperity notions from their subjects' ideas of "money."
Jan 23, 2009
Travis
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This is an excellent overview of how and why government interferes with the proper use and role of money in society. Nationalization of currency creates unnatural barriers between nations that don't exist where "hard money" (gold) is used. Governments that are too cowardly to tax their citizens the way they would like to, simply steal their money through inflation. They can only inflate at will if they remove the checks on credit pyramiding. We have no practical checks to inflation lef
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Jan 14, 2012
Anthony
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If you have even a passing interest in economics and the systems that drive money, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Rothbard is a brilliant economist who expertly and clearly explains how money works and how the government is destroying our currency through its constant intervention in the money supply through the Federal Reserve and Fractional Reserve Banking.
Nov 26, 2008
Quote. Introduction to Fourth Edition:
Monetary policy is—aside from war—the primary tool of state aggrandizement. It ensures the growth of government, finances deficits, rewards special interests, and fixes elections. Without it, the federal leviathan would collapse, and we could return to the republic of the Founding Fathers.
Monetary policy is—aside from war—the primary tool of state aggrandizement. It ensures the growth of government, finances deficits, rewards special interests, and fixes elections. Without it, the federal leviathan would collapse, and we could return to the republic of the Founding Fathers.
Oct 11, 2009
David
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Well, it's certainly dry, but I think he has a really good explanation of what money is. Who cares you say? Well, unless you think government creates wealth or you want to be poor for ever, you should. Failure to understand what money IS is a serious issue in our society.
Jan 19, 2009
Brendan
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Rothbard's writing is top-notch - no one explains economics better. This book makes a great introduction to how money and inflation work, and is a good primer for the major points of monetary history in the last century or so. Highly recommended.
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Sep 13, 2008
Zinger
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This is an amazingly simple and clear book that would get anyone up to speed on what is money and the basics of how it works. What was new to me, was the argument that coinage of money should be privatized and get rid of government monopolies of coining money.
His argument against those who think privatizing the coinage of money would result in chaos and scams of every kind was to point to precision machine shops. They work with precise amounts of metal and offer very good quality a More...
His argument against those who think privatizing the coinage of money would result in chaos and scams of every kind was to point to precision machine shops. They work with precise amounts of metal and offer very good quality a More...
Apr 27, 2011
Haley
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Very good 'nuts and bolts' book about economics. Slightly technical at times for the econ-tarded like me, but provides an excellent understanding of the fundamentals that have led us to our current financial mess. Great for a beginner who doesn't have much economics background or understanding. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants a better understanding of current events.
Jan 12, 2010
Von
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An excellent case for the gold standard with intelligent rebuttals to the claimed pitfalls of the same. The essay at the end, Case for the 100 Percent Gold Dollar, is a great short read if you don't have as much time, or if you want to decide whether to read the book, but the book is far more detailed and perhaps even more reader friendly. What is monetary policy? What is even money? Why do even some otherwise free market types yet call for government regulation of money? Is there a place for fr
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Nov 30, 2009
Naxa
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A close to perfect introduction to money. Gives an explanation for how and why it is necessary to emerge on the free market and also how government negatively effects it as a commodity.
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Sep 25, 2009
Margaret
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I learned that fiat money has lead to our expanded government and will continue to do so. I now believe the dollar is in danger of collapse.
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May 17, 2009
Dave
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Available as a free download at http://www.mises.org/money.asp
Q: What has government done to our money?
A: Nothing good.
Q: What has government done to our money?
A: Nothing good.
Sep 25, 2010
Steven
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The case against modern monetary policy of inflation-targeting central banking to a free-market money such as gold.
Sep 23, 2010
What Has Government Done to Our Money? Case for the 100 Percent Gold Dollar by Murray N. Rothbard (2005)
Jul 28, 2011
Giyanto
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Buku ini dengan enteng mengubah ideologiku berbalik 180 derajat, dari sosialis ke anarcho-chapitalism :D
Apr 07, 2010
Christopher
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"WHERE'S THE GOLD? LET'S GO GET THE GOLD!!!" --ATHF
Ever wonder why gold's breaking $900 (Jan 2008), or "if our money isn't based on the gold standard anymore, then what is it based on?"
Wonder why our government has rendered our money increasingly worthless for their own power and self-aggrandizement?
This book is pretty damn good if you want to take the red pill and see why our government is leading us to financial ruin.
As a bonu More...
Ever wonder why gold's breaking $900 (Jan 2008), or "if our money isn't based on the gold standard anymore, then what is it based on?"
Wonder why our government has rendered our money increasingly worthless for their own power and self-aggrandizement?
This book is pretty damn good if you want to take the red pill and see why our government is leading us to financial ruin.
As a bonu More...
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Sep 26, 2010
Joe
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Didn't answer the real problems that would be created with a gold standard.
