Mis-Inflation: The Truth about Inflation, Pricing, and the Creation of Wealth

Doug and David raise many questions on economics, but the ultimate answer to the questions raised by the dismal science is found in the continued labor and creativity of man. God made man for work and has prepared good works for His people. Get to work Christian!

Mis-Inflation: The Truth about Inflation, Pricing, and the Creation of Wealth

Found quite an interest in the topic as I discussed with friends. I know several followed up with purchases.

This book was great. It was informative and interesting in simple and clear ways. I️ learned so much from reading these interactions between the two authors. Also, the end leaves you inspired to love others and serve the Lord.

As a career financial manager, I have long wondered the question that drives this book: "Where did all the inflation go?" While my doomsday-predicting friends and colleagues were busy hoarding gold (and watching its value stagnate or decline), I reluctantly continued to add to my 401k, both mystified and glad that its value skyrocketed.
Then Biden took the helm. I was 100% positive his policies would wreck our economy, that the delicate balance of the spinning top would finally teeter and collapse. Biden pulled the final Jenga block, right? Incredulously, the tower still stands. And I am left as slackjawed as the rest.
"Mis-inflation" hit my confusion head on, driving home concepts you don't hear from either side of the political aisle. Neither the Austrian camp nor the Keynesian camp can answer what's going on in our economy right now. As Bahnsen and Wilson show, it's because (in part) neither camp is approaching something as complex as a nation's economy with a Scriptural mindset. And that makes all the difference.
As with much of God's ways, the answer lies in the harmonization of extremes, not the polarization of them. It's not Law or Grace, Sovereignty or Choice, Jew or Gentile, Slavery or Freedom, Spirit or Truth, Austrian or Keynesian--it's both.

Mind sufficiently blown. Thank you.

This book is easily understood by a layman with very little formal education in economics and finance. But neither is it dumbed down. Banking (both central and commercial) are explained quite clearly. I worked in a cyclical industry for 45 years so I understand first hand markets both good and bad. Take it from me disinflation/deflationary periods are not fun. I was edified by the segments dealing with those issues.
But I enjoyed most the discussion from a Christian worldview perspective. Pastor Doug and David Bahnsen never wander from that perspective.
I recommend this book for everyone who wishes to grasp the sometimes puzzling financial news we are fed daily by media and our own financial advisors.
Jerry

Excellent, explains difficult concepts in an easy to understand format.

Excellent book that gave me some peace of mind on the economic issues of our day. It also convicted me to work harder and not be sluggish in my work unto the Lord in the application pieces toward the end of the book.

I really appreciate this book due to its conversational tone. Pastor Wilson does a great job articulating questions in a way that sets the table for a great conversation about a subject we should care more about. Mr. Bahnsen provides great expertise in a digestible format.

This was a fun read. David responds to Doug's questions about the economy in a way that is easy for an infant in economics (like me) to understand. The general premise of David's philosophy behind what we are seeing in the American economy is similar to what we've been seeing in Japan; deflation.

Money is not created when the treasury prints it. It is not created when the banks receive it. It isn't even created once a citizen takes a loan out from it. It is created once that loaned money is spent. Printed money doesn't do anything unless it is actually used. Using the money creates velocity. Once there is velocity, if there is no increase in supply/goods, but the demand is raised by the increase of money production (actually being spent on goods), then you have inflation. The reason we aren't seeing inflation the way "dooms dayers" have predicted is because even though the government has handed citizens a decent amount of money over the last few years, that money is being saved, or spent once (maybe twice) and then being saved again; it isn't in circulation, thus not creating inflation.

The reason we are seeing inflation in housing, student loans, and medical is because those are the three sectors of the economy that the government has subsidized the most. If the government has its money involved in a particular sector, you can expect that sector to rely more and more on the government and become more and more of a burden to the people.

The moral of the story: smaller federal government, larger self-government. We need more Christians with a robust post-millennial worldview, who believe the Gospel is going to take over the earth, to be risk takers; not like those who hide their talents waiting for the Master to return because they are afraid of losing some of it. What the Lord has given you, invest; trust Him and with wisdom, try turning a profit on it. What value can you add to society? What can you build that might help your neighbor? In what ways can you give? How can you invest? An increase in self-government will increase productivity. Increasing productivity creates goods and services, which stimulates growth. This is the backbone of a thriving economy; entrepreneurial men and women of God.

Really insightful stuff, easy to read, and very helpful in beginning to get my mind wrapped around how the economy works and what variables affect what commodities. I'm interested in reading Bahnsen's book "There's No Free Lunch: 250 Economic Truths" next.