Economist Warns: War, Trade Wars & Inflation Are Breaking Adam Smith’s Model | Mark Skousen

Is the 2026 market volatility a warning sign or a "Roaring 20s" buying opportunity? Legendary economist Dr. Mark Skousen joins The Big Skinny to share why he remains bullish on productivity despite a global "war trade" and rising taxes. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Skousen reveals his surprising shift toward Bitcoin and blockchain technology, why he believes AI is creating more jobs than it destroys, and his current success with a concentrated 17-position portfolio. You’ll get the "big skinny" on the sectors he's currently favoring—including defense and a specific "magical metal" commodity—and why he believes the "Invisible Hand" of the market is still at work. Whether you are a traditional gold bug or a tech-forward investor, Dr. Skousen’s balanced approach to fundamentals and future tech is a must-watch. Key Takeaways: • The AI Productivity Boom: Why we are in the middle of a multi-year technology revolution. • Commodity Deep Dive: Dr. Skousen’s take on Southern Copper vs. Freeport-McMoRan. • The "Roaring 20s" Repeat: How productivity gains will eventually hit corporate bottom lines. • Crypto & Gold: Navigating the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK) and Bitcoin-Gold combos. Subscribe for more expert interviews and deep-dive market analysis to stay ahead of the curve. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not financial advice. For entertainment only. See full Terms & Conditions on TheBigSkinny.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - New to The Big Skinny? 🖥️ Livestream Every Monday @5pm ET The Big Skinny LIVE cuts through Wall Street noise so Main Street can actually win — with data, charts, and zero fluff. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just trying to figure out what the heck the Fed actually does, we break it all down in a way that makes sense — no MBA or nap required. Subscribe and never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@Lou_Basenese 📩 Stay Ahead of the Market Want the key insights from The Big Skinny delivered straight to your inbox? Get Lou’s latest market analysis in 1 headline, 1 chart and 1 investment insight in each mailing before everyone else. Join thousands of investors staying informed — not reacting. Sign up here: https://www.thebigskinny.com 👉 Follow Lou on Social Media: Twitter: https://x.com/LouBasenese LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-basenese-174821128/ ------------------------ CHAPTERS: ------------------------ 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Adam Smith Day & Market Volatility 02:30 The Economics of War: Inflation & High Taxes 03:40 Why AI is "Creative Destruction" (Not a Job Killer) 04:22 Why This Gold Bug is Embracing Bitcoin & Blockchain 05:43 Portfolio Update: 10 out of 17 Positions Profitable 06:40 The "Magical Metal" & Commodity Sector Opportunity 07:44 Why Defense and Biotech Stocks are Flashing Buy Signals 08:35 The "Roaring 20s" Repeat: Productivity Gains in 2026 09:44 Adam Smith’s "Invisible Hand" in Modern Markets 11:00 Copper Outlook: Southern Copper vs. Freeport-McMoRan 11:42 Bitcoin & Ethereum: The ETF Approach (BLOK) 12:12 Closing Thoughts: The Bitcoin-Gold Combo (BTGD) #gold #silver #stockmarket #oil #inflation #markskousen

Added 22 Aug 2026