Why do economists across the spectrum—even Paul Krugman and Karl Marx—support free trade? Mark Thornton explores this surprising consensus. Do tariffs force people to think more like economists, considering long-term ramifications taught by Bastiat and Hazlitt. Is it a true understanding of the Austrian perspective, or just a fleeting moment of clarity? Mark suggests economists often compartmentalize principles, opening the door to conflicting ideologies. Tune in to discover why free trade might be the one issue that forces economists to think straight, and what Austrians can learn from the mainstream. Additional Resources "Why Smart People Are Rightly Confused About Tariffs" (Unanimity, Episode 4): http://mises.org/U4 “The Twin Deficits” (Minor Issues, Episode 115): https://mises.org/MI_115 "Free Trade in the Twenty-First Century” (Minor Issues, Episode 113): https://mises.org/MI_113 "Tariff Increases vs. Tax Cuts" (Minor Issues, Episode 107): https://mises.org/MI_107 Join us May 15-17, 2025, at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, for our Revisionist History of War Conference. This is our first history conference in almost thirty years. For more details and to register, visit https://Mises.org/rhw . Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues
