Tag Archives: economics

Why Not A Jubilee?

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Joel D. Hirst

There’s nothing that highlights the coming financial debacle like the news I read this morning: Costa Rica is considering open-pit gold mining and deep sea fracking to cover the epic, yawning, gaping hole in their finances. Um, say what??? Now, … Continue reading →

Posted in America, International Affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Africa’s Turn?

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Joel D. Hirst

It was to be Africa’s turn. That was the promise and the hope. The great forces that converged in the last half of the 20th century to give the world the most remarkable surge into prosperity known to man would … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, International Affairs, philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

What Causes Poverty? — (Hint, nothing)

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Joel D. Hirst

What causes poverty? Nothing. Nothing causes poverty; poverty is the natural state of man. Naked and in the dark – that is how nature birthed us. But just as we figured out how to take the fibers from banana plant … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Liberty, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Power of Progress

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Joel D. Hirst

Words are funny things, slippery and somehow hard to pin down; little moving targets making thought difficult or missiles correctly aimed in order to destroy in far worse ways than the whips and chains of old. Language has always been … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberty, Literature, philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On Putting Down the Shovel

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Joel D. Hirst

The year was 2006, and the table was set for a party. A coronation of sorts; Hugo Chavez had succeeded in overcoming six years of instability which included multiple electoral challenges, a national strike, an attempted coup. Those had been … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 10 Comments

“The Great Escape” by Angus Deaton – A Book Review

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Joel D. Hirst

There is no more controversial of the social sciences these days than the study of economics. Yes, a social science – the study of human interactions; and though it does contain laws (supply and demand, unintended outcomes) proven and repeatable, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

OPEC, Tariffs and Foolishness

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Joel D. Hirst

“Did you know that OPEC has been colluding to destroy America’s frackers, prop up the price of their own oil and continue to get rich as they just laugh at our expense? How dare they!? How do we stop them? … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Liberty, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

But They Don’t Do Math

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Joel D. Hirst

A few weeks ago I was engaged in an online debate with a gentleman who objected to my advocacy for Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala. Specifically, he didn’t like their focus on Austrian economics. The issue that the anonymous blogger … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberty, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 54 Comments

An Austrian University in Guatemala

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Joel D. Hirst

I recently ran across a good article called “Freedom U.” in the National Review, written by Jay Nordlinger. The article is about Universidad Francisco Marroquin (UFM). UFM is located in Guatemala – at the heart of Central America. Founded more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Honor, International Affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments