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This dissertation explores four big topics in the Austrian economic theory. Chapter 1 elucidates the Austrian theory of capital. It introduces basic tools that are further used in the analysis of the business cycle. It also clarifies some misunderstandings in this theory. Chapter 2 investigates the evolution of the interest rate over the business cycle that is predicted by the Austrian theory of economic fluctuations. Chapter 3 examines the pure time preference theory. It shows with the help of a simple neoclassical graphical and mathematical apparatus that there is a fundamental flaw in this theory. It suggests that the notions of want and good must be explicitly separated, and it concludes that the time preference as well as the subjective exchange ratio between present goods and future goods may take on any value. Chapter 4 explores the business cycle dynamics in the economy with permanently rising natural output. Simple monetary policy rule that was designed to eliminate economic fluctuations is discussed in detail.

This bachelor thesis analyzes business cycle theory from the point of view of the Austrian school of economics which sees the main problem in expansion (boom) driven by low interest rates, contrary to mainstream school, which considers the time of recession with insufficient expenditures as the main problem. Therefore, in the first part of this thesis is provided theoretical framework which describes the main features of the Austrian business cycle theory. After the theoretical explanation follows the second, practical, part of the thesis in which I employed the theory from the first part in order to interpret the situation in Japanese economy since 1980 until present. The main reason is that after the bust of 1990 is Japanese economic still not fully recovered in spite of many recovery attempts based on mainstream macroe- conomic approach. At the end of the thesis it is shown that the Austrian business cycle theory is capable of interpreting the economic development in Japan as well as propose solutions that will lead to recovery. 1

The main goal of this thesis is to present the true explanation of the Great Depression, which will be the basis for the critical analysis of the current situation in developed economies. This thesis contains three chapters: the first presents the Austrian business cycle theory, which is then applied in the second chapter to the Great Depression. The third chapter deals with the critical analysis of the state and its economic policies, which seeks to answer the question, why the economic crises keep repeating, which is the partial goal of this thesis.