InFi: The Future of Finance

Dr. Robert P. Murphy

130 episodes
EP 148

Why Mamdani Marts Will Hurt Poor New Yorkers

Bob explains the numerous flaws with NYC Mayor Mamdani's proposal to have government-run grocery stores sell key items at 30% below retail. Bob also explains the problem with a popular meme asking why people pay taxes if the government can just print money.

MAMDANI MARTS — WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

NYC Mayor Mamdani wants to open five city-run grocery stores selling a core set of items at 30% below typical retail prices. It sounds like a win for struggling New Yorkers — but the economics tell a very different story.

Bob walks through the cascade of problems this creates:
The Competition Problem
The "Savings" Illusion
The Shelf-Stripping Problem
Who Actually Benefits?
The Opportunity Cost
Better Alternatives Exist


Bob then responds to a Libertarian Party-retweeted image asking why people pay taxes if government can print money, warning it echoes MMT-style misconceptions: at current spending levels, replacing taxation with money printing would trigger massive inflation and currency collapse, similar to financing everything by borrowing without taxation. He cites the Fed’s balance-sheet expansion during COVID and the ensuing high inflation to illustrate limits of monetary financing.
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About the Show

Where economics meets innovation

Hosted by Dr. Robert P. Murphy — American economist, author, and Chief Economist at infineo — InFi explores emerging trends in finance, life insurance, asset management, and technology.

Each week, tune in for dynamic discussions with business pioneers about the forces shaping modern finance. New episodes drop every Thursday.

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