Radical Discourse
5 HN recommenders · recommended in 10 months, 2011–2024
8:43 · 5.9M views · Apr 28, 2011
A hip-hop music video from EconStories in which Keynes and Hayek rap-battle over how to handle recessions and government spending. It is the second round after the first rap battle.
Offered as a quick, entertaining primer on Keynesian versus Austrian economics, especially for newcomers to Hayek.
10 comments from Hacker News
You take the Keynesian view. It's difficult to discuss this in more than a soundbite, but the Hayekian view is well explained by these two videos: [LINK] this video Well worth watching if you haven't seen them. In short, the opposite/Hayekian view contends that taxation is seizure of resources from profitable/efficient entities and redistribution towards unprofitable/inefficient entities. We saw this in extremis in the bank bailout, and more controversially in microcosm with individual redistribution. If you accept this -- that "profitable" correlates with "efficient", and conversely, though the correlation is not perfect -- then taxation is not a Robin Hood sort of thing that increases well being, but rather a move that ties the legs of the efficient sectors of the economy -- those that can post a profit even in tough times -- to those that are already underwater.
You have very strang opinions. One the one hand you speak well of hayke on the other point you use the exact opposit of what hayek belived to explain the recovery from the great depression. I dont want to go into the hold Great Depression discussion, I just wanted to point out that hayek would have made the argument that the New Deal made the GD much longer, same with the WW2. The idea that a war can help the economy would made hayek cry. Watch this modern Rap-Video of Hayek vs. Keynes and listen closly when the talk about the war. this video
There have been a number of Hayek posts, though sadly few of them gained much traction: [LINK] For those new to Hayek, here is an entertaining overview: Fear the Boom and Bust: Keynes vs. Hayek [LINK] Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek this video
If anyone wants a fun quick summary of Hayek this throwback to the 2008 crisis is an easily consumed primer on Keynes vs Hayek: Keynes vs Hayek rap battle 1: [LINK] Keynes vs Hayek rap battle 2: this video
I don't always agree with him but I always enjoy reading Hayek's writing. Another little treat - Keynes and Hayek discussing the 2008 crisis in the US: this video