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

(13 reviews)
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David L. Bahnsen & Douglas Wilson

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"I believe the practical applications of this dialogue are vast. But none is more important to me than re-starting the process of Christian testimony on economics and policy in the public square. I believe the one-note inflation issue has compromised that, and made right-wing believers too synonymous with survivalists and inflation hawks, unable to meaningfully contribute to the conversation about why government spending is suffocating economic growth. Ironically, those who believe the government will create inflation from their ill-conceived policies are validating government policy–the government most certainly wants to create inflation; my argument is that they’re not very good at it." ~David L. Bahnsen

David L. Bahnsen is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a wealth management firm based in Newport Beach, California. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox News, and Fox Business, and is a regular contributor to National Review. He is also the author of Crisis of Responsibility (2018), The Case for Dividend Growth (2019), and There’s No Free Lunch: 250 Economic Truths (2021).

Douglas Wilson is the minister of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, which is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC). He is a Senior Fellow of theology at New St. Andrews College and the author of numerous books, including Reforming Marriage, The Case for Classical Christian Education, and When the Man Comes Around. He and his wife Nancy have three children and a horde of grandchildren.

AUTHORS: David L. Bahnsen & Douglas Wilson

PUBLISHER: Canon Press

PAGE COUNT: 140 pages

SIZE: 5.5x8.5"

BINDING: Paperback

ISBN 10: 1957905093

ISBN-13: 9781957905099 

PUB. DATE: March 22, 2022

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Everyone’s talking about inflation, and everyone seems remarkably misinformed. 

In this conversational book, Douglas Wilson takes all his burning economic questions and pitches them to David L. Bahnsen. Doug starts their discussion with this one: Conservatives have been prophesying hyperinflation for generations now… so where is it?

Readers get to follow along as David’s answer to this question exposes false assumptions on both the right and the left (yes, even some of Doug’s). More questions follow: The inflation-hawk approach to public policy screams about creating inflation without realizing that that’s what government policies intend to do—they’re just terrible at it, as David shows. And those on the left continue to suffocate economic growth as they pursue their own counterproductive goals. But what both sides miss is that the best solution against inflation, deflation, and stagnation is found in enterprise. And it’s in their discussion of wealth creation that Doug and David begin to sketch a vision of how a faithful, successful nation might handle its people and their money. No, it’s not by putting gold coins in a sock or nosediving into bitcoin. Get the book to join the conversation.  

You can purchase this as an audiobook here or on Audible.*

* All purchases made through this link will earn us a small commission through Amazon Associates, an affiliate program.

Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
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J
James
Ye Old Dismal Science

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!

I
Isabel C.L.

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

W
William’s g.
Mis-Inflation

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

M
Michael F.
Inspiring Informative and Interesting

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.

A
Andrew T.
Turns convention economics on its head

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.

J
Jerry E.
Mis*Inflation

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

D
David D.
Great book

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

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zac l.
Highly recommended for those who frantically search "inflation" every morning

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.

V
Vernon F.
Small book, big subject

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.

K
Kevin G.
Great book!

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.

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