A journalist in Venezuela encounters the real life effects of price controls, and documents in a day's shopping what it's like to buy eight common goods when the State dictates prices. [3 min] "We used to produce rice and we had excellent coffee; now we produce nothing. With the situation here people abandoned the fields..." --The Guardian: Venezuela food shortages: 'No … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving: a Celebration of Property Rights?!
Journalist John Stossel explains how Thanksgiving would have been (and nearly was) "Starvation Day," but for a change in policy from communal planting to...private property. [4 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] Reason tells the the true story of how the introduction of property rights by Governor Bradford saved the Pilgrims. [3 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] The … [Read more...]
Poverty, Inc. | Film Review
WINNER: ANTHEM FILM FESTIVAL, GRAND PRIZE WINNER: TEMPLETON FREEDOM AWARD Poverty Inc. examines the unintended consequences of efforts by the West to alleviate poverty in less-developed countries, suggesting that free markets would do more good than charity. [ Dir: Michael Matheson Miller/ 94 min/ Documentary/ Econ 101, Pro-capitalism/ 2014] Institutions inescapably … [Read more...]
Trailblazers: The New Zealand Story (2017)
The story of New Zealand's fall and rise, as the country -- once bankrupted by decades of socialism -- fought its way back to prosperity through radical free market reforms. [ Trailblazers: The New Zealand Story credits: Dir: James Tusty & Maureen Castle Tusty/ Narrator: Johan Norberg/ 60 min/ Documentary/ Econ 101, Anti-Socialism, Pro-Capitalism] Imagine living in a … [Read more...]
Yes Minister: The Five Standard Excuses
In this clip from the hit British TV series Yes Minister, one official explains to another how to evade blame for failure through the use of five standard excuses. The running theme of the series is that government bureaucracy operates in its own interest. Yes Minister was cited in the academic journal Economic Affairs as useful in teaching public choice economics, which … [Read more...]
Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
A documentary examination of Bitcoin -- its history, future, and rapidly intensifying battle with the monetary status quo. [ Banking on Bitcoin credits: Dir: Christopher Cannucciari/ 90 min/ Documentary/ Anti-Regulation, Econ 101] External Reviews "The central theme of the film focuses on regulation and mainstream bitcoin adoption.” --Brave New Coin "The Banking on … [Read more...]
The Real Adam Smith (2016)
A documentary examination of Adam Smith's life, revolutionary ideas about economics and morality, and how his insights on those two topics are related. [ The Real Adam Smith credits: Dir: Jim Taylor/ Johan Norberg/ 123 min/ Documentary/ Econ 101, Libertarian Heroes] External Reviews "Gives those unfamiliar with Smith's thought a good introduction to his life and work in … [Read more...]
India Awakes (2015)
Swedish author Jonah Norberg reveals how market liberalization is breaking down India's centuries-old caste system and lifting millions of formerly impoverished Indian citizens out of poverty. [ India Awakes credits: Dir: James Tusty, Maureen Castle Tusty/ 60 min/ Documentary/ Pro-Capitalism, Econ 101, Anti-Socialism] The full documentary may be viewed here: In the last … [Read more...]
I.O.U.S.A. (2008)
Two government debt experts travel the U.S. on a "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour" trying to warn the public that the U.S. is on the brink of a fiscal catastrophe that has gone largely unreported. [ I.O.U.S.A. credits: Dir: Patrick Creadon/ 85 min/ Documentary/ Incompetent Government, Econ 101] External Reviews "This thoroughly admirable picture by documentary film-maker Patrick … [Read more...]
Friedrich Hayek: Libertarian Video Shorts
The essentials of Friedrich Hayek's Road to Serfdom are outlined in this short film based on illustrations originally published in 1945 in Look magazine. The film does a good job of laying out the key steps by which freedom not only can be lost but was lost in many countries in the last century. Inasmuch as it's just the original Look magazine illustrations accompanied by … [Read more...]