Contra Krugman
Channel Details
Contra Krugman
Join Bob Murphy and Tom Woods in this weekly libertarian podcast as they teach economics by refuting Paul Krugman's New York Times column. Plus, expect special guests like Ron Paul, David Stockman, and more!
Recent Episodes
225 episodesEp. 225 The Final Episode
On this final episode of Contra Krugman after nearly five years, we analyze Krugman's horrified response to state reopenings after the lockdowns.
Ep. 224 Krugman Bravely Comes Out Against Killing Workers
With his usual magnanimity, Krugman declares that the epidemiologists have been completely accurate in their warnings during the pandemic, whereas tho...
Ep. 223 Krugman Unwittingly Agrees the Fed Has Driven Stock Market Since 2007
In his attempt to praise Powell and criticize Trump, Krugman admits that the "real economy" is in terrible shape, and that the stock market has done w...
Ep. 222 Why Won't We Listen to the Experts?
Krugman is unhappy that the "right wing" is more apt to listen to people he considers quacks than to people he considers experts, and he says the COVI...
Ep. 221 The Destructive Coronavirus Response, Cheered by Krugman
Guest co-host Richard Ebeling -- who was one of Bob's own economics professors -- joins me to discuss Krugman's qualified support for the $2 trillion...
Ep. 220 Coronavirus Economics
This episode delves into all the key questions surrounding the economics of the coronavirus crisis: bailouts, Federal Reserve policy, payments to indi...
Ep. 219 Krugman Wants Perpetual Deficits
In a perhaps surprising move for someone who said "deficits matter again" upon Trump's election, Krugman now makes the case for perpetual budget defic...
Ep. 218 We Need Financial Regulation, Says Krugman
What really matters, says Krugman, is financial regulation. And only Elizabeth Warren can deliver, because Bernie will expend his political capital on...
Ep. 217 Do Deficits Help Depressed Economies?
Krugman complains that during the Obama years, when deficit spending was desperately needed, obstructionist Republicans opposed it out of what they cl...
Ep. 216 Krugman Hearts Greta Thunberg
Krugman says Greta Thunberg is closer the economics mainstream than are her critics. Quite a few whoppers to deal with in this one, as you can surely...
Ep. 215 Don't Worry About the Deficit!
That's Krugman's message now. Interestingly, back in 2003 the very indicators he's now using to tell us not to worry were actually less pronounced, an...
Ep. 214 Austerity Is Just What the World's Economies Needed
Krugman blames the "austerity" that began a decade ago for ensuing economic ills and political instability. This is a fashionable enough view, but the...
Ep. 213 Trump's Tariff War a Flop?
Although details are still emerging, a deal has evidently been reached between China and the United States regarding trade. Did Trump accomplish anyth...
Ep. 212 Trump, Crony Capitalism, and Impeachment
We discuss the impeachment, Krugman's selective praise for whistleblowers, and what the correct approach to the problem of "crony capitalism" should b...
Ep. 211 LIVE FROM VIENNA: Is Europe an Example for the U.S.?
We recorded this episode before a live audience at -- of all places -- the Austrian central bank in Vienna, where the Austrian Economics Center held a...
Ep. 210 Elizabeth Warren's Fiscal Fantasies
Krugman is impressed by the detail and alleged seriousness of Elizabeth Warren's Medicare for All plan and how it will be paid for. Bob and Tom, by co...
Ep. 209 Robots Aren't the Problem
Krugman criticizes Democrats who think automation is behind American job losses. But just when he's sounding sensible, he jumps back into "inadequate...
Ep. 208 Debt Is Money We Owe to Ourselves, Idiot!
We got a lot of requests for an episode on debt after Krugman tweeted that "debt is money we owe to ourselves." What's the real truth?
...
Ep. 207 Krugman Embraces Warren, Discards Economics
Historian and podcast host Brion McClanahan joins Bob to discuss Krugman's defense of Elizabeth Warren against the big bad plutocrats, who apparently...
Ep. 206 Are You Deranged for Opposing Regulation?
Krugman says people on the political right get inordinately worked up over minor regulations that have a clear public benefit, and that such people no...
Ep. 205 Is This Evidence of an Authoritarian Regime?
Krugman argues that an undemocratic, authoritarian regime is being built in the United States, and cites Sharpiegate and Trump's treatment of the auto...
Ep. 204 Krugman's Worst Blunders
We take listener questions in this episode, from Krugman's worst blunders, to how the Fed might return interest rates to their natural level, to a for...
Ep. 203 Deeper Economic Analysis of Slavery, Free Trade vs. Welfare, and Debt Repudiation
Because Krugman is a bore, Tom and Bob field questions from the listeners. They handle objections about their recent arguments concerning the economic...
Ep. 202 David Stockman on Western Regimes Entering Cuckoo Land
David Stockman, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, joins Tom (Bob is on vacation) to explain what's really happening...
Ep. 201 The White Nationalist Hoax
The ordinarily serene Bob Murphy is genuinely outraged in this episode, in which we cover Krugman's casual claim that Donald Trump is trying to establ...
Ep. 200 Krugman on Bonds & Uncertainty: Interesting, But Still Wrong
Bob minds the store and explains what is interesting about Krugman's discussion on bonds vs. stocks as ways to forecast recession, how an inverted yie...
Ep. 199 Krugman: Trump's Tax Cuts Make the 1% -- and Rich Foreigners -- Richer
Krugman says that since Trump's tax cuts amounted to nothing but a giveaway to wealthy shareholders, and since many of those are foreigners, the tax c...
Ep. 198 Should We Prevent the Rich from Living Longer?
In an "op-ed from the future," Krugman speculates about a world in which "the rich" have access to life-extending technology. Should they be allowed t...
Ep. 197 Is Privatization (Including Prisons) Expensive and Evil?
Krugman suggests that although it makes sense for much of the economy to be in private hands, there are some sectors where private control would yield...
Ep. 196 There Aren't Any Socialists in the Democratic Party?
There aren't any real socialists running in the Democratic Party, says Krugman, because none of them want to abolish private ownership of the means of...
Ep. 195 Trump Demands Lower Interest Rates; Krugman's Head Explodes
Krugman is horrified at Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. Yet he thinks a case can be made for doing precisely that. Wh...
Ep. 194 Elizabeth Warren Has Some Great Ideas
Krugman is very impressed by Elizabeth Warren, who he thinks has a whole bunch of very good, detailed policy proposals. This is precisely what the wor...
Ep. 193 How Dare Trump Criticize Britain's National Health Service
Krugman is horrified that Donald Trump has been critical of the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain. Why, the NHS is doing a great job! We put Kr...
Ep. 192 Your Deepest Questions About the Fed Answered
We do another Q&A episode this week, a good portion of which revolves around the Federal Reserve: the best ways to undermine it, how we might transiti...
Ep. 191 Krugman Admits Hurting Trump Better Than Helping the Country, When It Comes to Infrastructure
Bob flies solo to point out a shocking admission in Krugman's column: He actually thinks Democrats are lucky that Trump backed out of an infrastructur...
Ep. 190 Universal Basic Income, Trade Deficits, and Other Areas of Confusion
Bob and Tom take some outstanding and very important and helpful listener questions in this episode, such as: what is one legitimate contribution a Ke...
Ep. 189 The Truth About Trump and the Tariffs
The issue of international trade is not a simple one of a difference of opinion: Trump genuinely appears not to understand the subject. We sort it all...
Ep. 188 Trump's Economy Proves Keynesianism is Right, Says Krugman
After having predicted that the election of Trump would lead to economic hard times as far as the eye could see, Krugman's new line is that of course...
Ep. 187 It's OK for Bernie to Be Rich Because He's Not Evil
Krugman addresses the claim that Bernie Sanders, who until recently had been railing against "millionaires and billionaires," is a hypocrite since he'...
Ep. 186 Krugman Finally Mentions Mueller -- and It's Straight Outta Orwell
Had the Mueller report truly vindicated Krugman, we can be certain his victory-lap column would have come swiftly. Now that he's finally gotten around...