Economic Methodology Reading List

An excellent resource.

Human Action Comics by Lilburne

Issue #	Topic	Picassa	Facebook	YouTube
1	The Basics	View in Picassa	Temporarily Unavailable in Facebook	View in YouTube (older, incomplete version)
2	Subjective Theory of Value	View in Picassa	View in Facebook	View in YouTube
3	Marginal Theory of Value	View in Picassa	View in Facebook	View in YouTube
"3.2"	Diminishing Marginal Utility	View in Picassa	Unavailable in Facebook	Unavailable in YouTube
4	Opportunity Cost and the Entrepreneur	View in Picassa	View in Facebook	Currently Unavailable in YouTube
5	Capital Theory	View in Picassa	Temporarily Unavailable in Facebook	Currently Unavailable in YouTube
6	Simple Exchange	View in Picassa	View in Facebook	Currently Unavailable in YouTube

Ever since I first started studying the Austrian tradition, I have never accepted the characterization of economics as the "dismal science".

Economic truths are only "dismal"--in the sense of "depressing"--to busy-body statists who long for a free hand in coercively remaking society according to their own liking.  To those who love freedom, however, economics is a scientific affirmation of what we already know in our hearts: that freedom works.

And economic truths are only "dismal"--in the sense of "dreary"--to those unfortunate enough to have learned mainstream neoclassical economics from textbooks.  To students of the Austrian tradition, who learned economics from, for example, reading the penetrating prose of Ludwig von Mises or listening to the hugely enjoyable lecture archive of Murray Rothbard, economics is the thrilling study of ACTION.

In the spirit of economics thus conceived, I have started a new project to communicate the basic principles of Austrian economics in the most action-oriented medium around: comics.  I would like to introduce you to that project.  I usually wouldn't write a "review" of my own work.  But the great Lew Rockwell suggested I do so.  And when Mr. Rockwell says "write", I say "how much?"

In my new series, Human Action Comics, I try to explain the principles of Austrian Economics in a manner as simple, as clear, and as enjoyable as possible.  I'm no visual artist, so don't expect dazzling graphics.  But I am a teacher by profession and a writer by passion.  So, in Human Action Comics, I try to bring my communicative and creative strengths to bear through:

• Clear explanations and examples (with extensive use of "Crusoe Economics")
• Dynamic character interaction (by giving life and personality to great figures from the history of economic thought)
• Generous dollops of humor (witness the power of Menger's beard in Issue #3)
• Even a bit of drama (Issue #2 ends with a cliff-hanger!)

My hope is that these comics will make the "cost of entry" of being introduced to Austrian Economics so low that even those skeptical friends and family that all libertarians have will take a gander.

Here's some feedback I've received in the past week:

"Excellent... thanks for making it so enjoyable to understand."

"...you might have actually given me the tools to show my fiancee that economics is actually fun!"

"I find your Human Action Comics very funny and enlightening. I think that if someone has a drive to learn about economic theory, your stuff is spot on."

"You just keep outdoing yourself! Thanks again, these help me introduce friends to Austrian economics and open up discussions. Loving them."

All six current issues (and all future ones) can be found in the table at the top of this post.  I hope you will enjoy them.

Human Action Comics #5: Capital Theory

Click here to view in Facebook (no account required) or watch below (After clicking play, click pause, and then advance through the slides at your own pace).

The New Home of Summa Anthropica

For those already familiar with Summa Anthropica, I'm switching over to Blogger due to technical difficulties at the previous host.  It will take a while, but I will move each post over, one at a time.

I may still crosspost at the old site.

Human Action Comics #3: Marginal Theory of Value

View the slides in Facebook (no account required), watch a narrated version on YouTube or watch below (After clicking play, click pause, and then advance through the slides at your own pace).

Human Action Comics #2: Subjective Theory of Value

Click here to view in Facebook (no account required), watch on YouTube with narration, or view below as a Picassa slideshow. (After clicking play, click pause, and then advance through the slides at your own pace).

Human Action Comics #1: The Basics

View in Facebook (no account required), watch on YouTube with narration, or view as a Picasa slideshow below (After clicking play, click pause, and then advance through the slides at your own pace).