Lecture series · recorded 1958–1972
Ludwig von Mises Archives
Ludwig von Mises Archives is a free lecture series (13 recordings, 11.4 hours) you can stream or download at freecapitalists.org, with Ludwig von Mises.
Only a few recordings survive of the great economist, and only those after his immigration to the United States.
EducationWorld HistoryMoney and BanksFree MarketsBig GovernmentInflationMedia and Culture
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01
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Liberty and Property 1958
In this 1958 speech, Ludwig von Mises explains why, under socialism, "freedom" means the elimination of dissent. The socialist goal is bondage, not liberty.
Austrian Economics OverviewPhilosophy and MethodologyPolitical TheoryPrivate Property
Read the transcript 5,104 words
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02
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Recollections from the University of Vienna 1962
The private seminars that Mises held, and which were so successful in Vienna beginning in 1919, were actually separate from the University. Mises here remembers many of his seminar participants, like Hayek, Haberler, Schütz, and Machlup. He was glad to have contributed to the development of international cooperation among so many economists.
Austrian Economics OverviewOther Schools of ThoughtPhilosophy and MethodologyPolitical TheoryEducation
Read the transcript 3,113 words
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03
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Socialism versus Free Market Exchange 1970
Human beings are collaborators with each other. Socialism is one kind of cooperation of people. One thing determines the socialist organization. It is the lack of freedom and the complete obedience to a Fuehrer (leader). Not surprisingly, everyone considers themselves to be part of the ruling group, forcing others to submit.
Austrian Economics OverviewCalculation and KnowledgePhilosophy and MethodologyPolitical TheoryWorld History
Read the transcript 6,597 words
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04
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Monetary Problems 1970
The monetary problem – the market problem – is the medium of exchange. The illusion is that one would be better off if only one had more money. Everybody should have more money. Therefore, make more money. This creates the system of inflation.
Austrian Economics OverviewMonetary TheoryPhilosophy and Methodology
Read the transcript 5,105 words
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05
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On Money 1969
Human cooperation means that everybody tries to contribute to the improvement of human conditions. It is in the market that I give something in order that you give something. Exchange leads to higher standards of living. Voluntary exchanges create civilization.
Austrian Economics OverviewMoney and BankingValue and ExchangeMoney and Banks
Read the transcript 6,243 words
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06
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A Seminar on Money 1969
From a practical point of view, the supply of money is very different from the supply of any other good. An increase in other goods, like shoes or meat, is a welcome event, but an increase in the supply of money dilutes the purchasing power of each money unit.
Austrian Economics OverviewMoney and BankingMoney and Banks
Read the transcript 3,555 words
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07
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Balance of Payments 1969
The doctrine in favor of the balance-of- payments is the worst illusory idea. Governmental interventions that seek to regulate international monetary flows to provide the necessary quantities of money for the economy are superfluous.
Austrian Economics OverviewValue and ExchangeMoney and Banks
Read the transcript 6,341 words
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08
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Political Economy 1969
The paramount matter is the conflict between economic freedom as represented in the market economy and totalitarian government omnipotence as realized by socialism.
Philosophy and MethodologyPolitical Theory
Read the transcript 2,332 words
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09
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The Free Market Society 1970
Division of labor and an exchange economy are the basis of society. Various commodities competed for being money, but gold prevailed as the medium of exchange, without any interference by governmental authorities. We should have again a gold standard all over the world.
Austrian Economics OverviewFree Markets
Read the transcript 5,475 words
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10
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Question and Answer Session 1971
Two important questions to be answered: (1) What is inflation? What causes it? What are the effects? Inflation is an increase in the quantity of money available caused by an increased in the production of gold and silver, or an over-issuance of paper money. Prices rise. Purchasing power falls.
Austrian Economics Overview
Read the transcript 6,048 words
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11
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Wage Earners and Employers 1962
"Are the interests of the American wage earners in conflict with those of their employers, or are the two in agreement?" The affluence of the rich in a capitalistic economy is not at the expense of the poor. Profits are plowed back into enterprise, benefiting the common man.
Austrian Economics OverviewProduction TheoryMoney and Banks
Read the transcript 672 words
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12
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The Problems of Inflation 1968
Printed paper is the least fit to serve as money. Paper destroys the monetary system. Various commodities have been employed until silver and gold and then gold alone won out because its quantity cannot be manipulated by the governments.
History of the Austrian School of EconomicsPhilosophy and MethodologyValue and Exchange
Read the transcript 6,042 words
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13
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Socialism 1972
Mises explains why socialism always fails due to the absence of a free market pricing structure for capital goods.
Other Schools of ThoughtPhilosophy and Methodology
Read the transcript 2,804 words
People in this series
Speakers
Recording dates, summaries and topics for 13 of these 13 lectures come from the Mises Institute's page for Ludwig von Mises Archives, checked 2026-07-23.
Questions
About this series
- Is Ludwig von Mises Archives free to listen to?
- Yes. All 13 mirrored recordings stream in the browser or download as audio, at no cost and with no signup.
- How long is Ludwig von Mises Archives?
- 13 recordings, 11.4 hours in total.
- Who lectures in Ludwig von Mises Archives?
- Ludwig von Mises.
- When was Ludwig von Mises Archives recorded?
- 1958–1972, per the recording dates recovered for this series.
- Is there a transcript of Ludwig von Mises Archives?
- Yes. Every lecture in the series has one, 59,431 words in total, free to read on each lecture's page and searchable in the browser.