60 http://www.EconTalk.org en-us ℘ & © 2006-2018 Library of Economics and Liberty & Liberty Fund, Inc. EconTalk is an award-winning weekly talk show about economics in daily life. Featured guests include renowned economics professors, Nobel Prize winners, and exciting speakers on all kinds of topical matters related to economic thought. Host Russ Roberts, of the Library of Economics and Liberty and the Hoover Institution, draws you in with lively guests and creative repartee. Topics include health care, business cycles, economic growth, free trade, education, finance, politics, sports, book reviews, and the curiosities of everyday decision-making. Look for related readings and the complete archive of previous shows at EconTalk.org, where you can also comment on the podcasts and ask questions. Economics Brought to Life, Library of Economics and Liberty EconTalk: Russ Roberts, Library of Economics and Liberty EconTalk is an award-winning weekly talk show about economics in daily life. Featured guests include renowned economics professors, Nobel Prize winners, and exciting speakers on all kinds of topical matters related to economic thought. Topics include health care, business cycles, economic growth, free trade, education, finance, politics, sports, book reviews, parenting, and the curiosities of everyday decision-making. Russ Roberts, of the Library of Economics and Liberty (econlib.org) and the Hoover Institution, draws you in with lively guests and creative repartee. Look for related readings and the complete archive of previous shows at EconTalk.org, where you can also comment on the podcasts and ask questions. Library of Economics and Liberty webmaster@econlib.org clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Jul 2018 06:30:00 EST Alberto Alesina of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how people in the US and five European countries perceive the population and characteristics of legal immigrants. Reporting on research with Armando Miano and Stefanie Stantcheva, Alesina finds that individuals systematically overestimate the number of immigrants while underestimating their standard of living. His research also finds that support for welfare payments to the poor is related to the perception people have of the size of the immigrant population and their economic status. The conversation concludes with a discussion of why people's perceptions are so inaccurate and the implications of perception for public policy. Alberto Alesina of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how people in the US and five European countries perceive the population and characteristics of legal immigrants. Reporting on research with Armando Miano and Stefanie Stantcheva, Alesina finds that individuals systematically overestimate the number of immigrants while underestimating their standard of living. His research also finds that support for welfare payments to the poor is related to the perception people have of the size of the immigrant population and their economic status. The conversation concludes with a discussion of why people's perceptions are so inaccurate and the implications of perception for public policy. Alberto Alesina talks with host Russ Roberts about how people in the US and 5 European countries perceive legal immigrants. He and his coauthors find that individuals overestimate the number of immigrants while underestimating their standard of living. They also find that support for welfare payments to the poor is related to the perception people have of the size of the immigrant population and their economic status. The conversation concludes with a discussion of why people's perceptions are so inaccurate and the implications of perception for public policy. economics, Alberto Alesina, immigrants, research, welfare, population, legal, illegal, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Alesinaimmigration.mp3 1:06:15 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Jul 2018 06:30:00 EST Teppo Felin of the University of Oxford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about perception, cognition, and rationality. Felin argues that some of the standard experimental critiques of human rationality assume an omniscience that misleads us in thinking about social science and human capability. The conversation includes a discussion of the implications of different understandings of rationality for economics, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Teppo Felin of the University of Oxford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about perception, cognition, and rationality. Felin argues that some of the standard experimental critiques of human rationality assume an omniscience that misleads us in thinking about social science and human capability. The conversation includes a discussion of the implications of different understandings of rationality for economics, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Teppo Felin talks with host Russ Roberts about perception, cognition, and rationality. He argues that some of the standard experimental critiques of human rationality assume an omniscience that misleads us in thinking about social science and human capability. The conversation includes a discussion of the implications of different understandings of rationality for economics, entrepreneurship, and innovation. economics, Teppo Felin, psychology, cognitive sciences, gorilla, fallacy of obviousness, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Felinrationality.mp3 1:04:31 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Jul 2018 06:30:00 EST EconTalk host Russ Roberts does a monologue on how political discourse seems to have deteriorated in recent years and the growth in outrage, tribalism, and intolerance for those with different views from one's own. Roberts suggests that part of the problem is the revolution of the market for information caused by the internet that allows people to customize what they see to fit their own political narratives and worldview. In short, the market for news works to make us feel good rather than to help us to discover the truth. The monologue closes with some suggestions for how we might improve the way we consume information and interact with those we disagree with. EconTalk host Russ Roberts does a monologue on how political discourse seems to have deteriorated in recent years and the growth in outrage, tribalism, and intolerance for those with different views from one's own. Roberts suggests that part of the problem is the revolution of the market for information caused by the internet that allows people to customize what they see to fit their own political narratives and worldview. In short, the market for news works to make us feel good rather than to help us to discover the truth. The monologue closes with some suggestions for how we might improve the way we consume information and interact with those we disagree with. EconTalk host Russ Roberts does a monologue on how political discourse has deteriorated in recent years. He suggests the revolution of the market for information caused by the internet, allowing people to customize what they see to fit their own political narratives is part of the problem. In short, the market for news works to make us feel good rather than to help us discover the truth. He closes with some suggestions for how we might improve the way we consume information and interact with those we disagree with. economics, Russ Roberts, political science, arguments, internet, debates, truth, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Robertsinformationrevolution.mp3 1:01:31 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Jul 2018 06:30:00 EST Political Scientist and author Patrick Deneen of the University of Notre Dame talks about his book Why Liberalism Failed with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. By liberalism, Deneen means the modern enterprise--the push for self-actualization free of the constraints of tradition, family, and religion that typifies modern culture. He argues that both the left and the right have empowered the state and reduced liberty. He argues for a smaller, more local, more artisanal economy and a return to the virtues of self-control and self-mastery. Political Scientist and author Patrick Deneen of the University of Notre Dame talks about his book Why Liberalism Failed with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. By liberalism, Deneen means the modern enterprise--the push for self-actualization free of the constraints of tradition, family, and religion that typifies modern culture. He argues that both the left and the right have empowered the state and reduced liberty. He argues for a smaller, more local, more artisanal economy and a return to the virtues of self-control and self-mastery. Patrick Deneen talks about his book, Why Liberalism Failed, with host Russ Roberts. By liberalism, he means the modern enterprise--the push for self-actualization free of the constraints of tradition, family, and religion that typifies modern culture. He argues that both the left and the right have empowered the state and reduced liberty. He argues for a smaller, more local, more artisanal economy and a return to the virtues of self-control and self-mastery. economics, Patrick Deneen, political science, liberals, family, politics, culture, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Deneenliberalism.mp3 1:14:58 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Jul 2018 06:30:00 EST Economist and author Arnold Kling talks about the economic impact of culture and morality with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Drawing on a recent essay on the importance of social interactions, Kling explores the role of culture and norms and their broad impact on economic life. At the end of the conversation, Roberts discusses the implications of human sociality for the way economics is taught and the way economists think about public policy. Economist and author Arnold Kling talks about the economic impact of culture and morality with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Drawing on a recent essay on the importance of social interactions, Kling explores the role of culture and norms and their broad impact on economic life. At the end of the conversation, Roberts discusses the implications of human sociality for the way economics is taught and the way economists think about public policy. Arnold Kling talks about the economic impact of culture and morality with host Russ Roberts. Kling explores the role of culture and norms and their broad impact on economic life. Roberts discusses the implications of human sociality for the way economics is taught and the way economists think about public policy. economics, Arnold Kling, customs, social behavior, norms, morals, markets, public policy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Klingmorality.mp3 1:06:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:30:00 EST Journalist and author Michael Pollan talks about his book, How to Change Your Mind, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Pollan chronicles the history of the use of psychedelic drugs, particularly LSD and psilocybin, to treat addiction, depression and anxiety. He discusses his own experiences with the drugs as well. Much of the conversation focuses on what we might learn from psychedelic drugs about their apparent spiritual dimension, the nature of consciousness, and the nature of the mind. Journalist and author Michael Pollan talks about his book, How to Change Your Mind, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Pollan chronicles the history of the use of psychedelic drugs, particularly LSD and psilocybin, to treat addiction, depression and anxiety. He discusses his own experiences with the drugs as well. Much of the conversation focuses on what we might learn from psychedelic drugs about their apparent spiritual dimension, the nature of consciousness, and the nature of the mind. Michael Pollan talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, How to Change Your Mind. He chronicles the history of psychedelic drug use, particularly LSD and psilocybin, to treat addiction, depression, and anxiety. He discusses his own experiences with the drugs as well. Much of the conversation focuses on what we might learn from psychedelic drugs about their apparent spiritual dimension, the nature of consciousness, and the nature of the mind. economics, Michael Pollan, brain, psilocybin, LSD, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, addiction, depression, consciousness, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Pollanpsychedelic.mp3 1:12:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Jun 2018 06:30:00 EST Richard Reinsch, editor of Law and Liberty and the host of the podcast Liberty Law Talk, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Enlightenment. Topics discussed include the search for meaning, the stability of liberalism, the rise of populism, and Solzhenitsyn's indictment of Western values from his Harvard Commencement Address of 1978. Richard Reinsch, editor of Law and Liberty and the host of the podcast Liberty Law Talk, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Enlightenment. Topics discussed include the search for meaning, the stability of liberalism, the rise of populism, and Solzhenitsyn's indictment of Western values from his Harvard Commencement Address of 1978. Richard Reinsch talks with host Russ Roberts about the Enlightenment. Topics include the search for meaning, the stability of liberalism, the rise of populism, and Solzhenitsyn's indictment of Western values from his Harvard Commencement Address of 1978. economics, Richard Reinsch, history, liberalism, populism, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Reinschenlightenment.mp3 1:06:42 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 Jun 2018 06:30:00 EST Journalist and author Moises Velasquez-Manoff talks about the role of dirt in fighting climate change with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Velasquez-Manoff explains how changes in farming can allow dirt and plants to absorb carbon and potentially reduce climate change. At the end of the conversation he discusses the state of the science on hygiene, parasites, and auto-immune disorders that he discussed in his previous appearance on EconTalk in 2014. Journalist and author Moises Velasquez-Manoff talks about the role of dirt in fighting climate change with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Velasquez-Manoff explains how changes in farming can allow dirt and plants to absorb carbon and potentially reduce climate change. At the end of the conversation he discusses the state of the science on hygiene, parasites, and auto-immune disorders that he discussed in his previous appearance on EconTalk in 2014. Moises Velasquez-Manoff talks with host Russ Roberts about the role of dirt in fighting climate change. He explains how changes in farming can allow dirt and plants to absorb carbon and potentially reduce climate change. He also discusses hygiene, parasites, and autoimmune disorders, topics he discussed in his 2014 EconTalk appearance. economics, Moises Velasquez-Manoff, environment, climate change, global warming, agriculture, soil quality, atmosphere, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/VelasquezManoffclimate.mp3 1:14:20 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 Jun 2018 06:30:00 EST Historian and author Janet Golden talks about her book, Babies Made Us Modern, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Golden chronicles the transformation of parenting in first half of the 20th century. It's a fascinating story of how our knowledge of infant health and behavior grew dramatically but remains imperfect. At the same time, government, business, and private organizations responded to that imperfect knowledge. Historian and author Janet Golden talks about her book, Babies Made Us Modern, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Golden chronicles the transformation of parenting in first half of the 20th century. It's a fascinating story of how our knowledge of infant health and behavior grew dramatically but remains imperfect. At the same time, government, business, and private organizations responded to that imperfect knowledge. Janet Golden talks about her book, Babies Made Us Modern, with host Russ Roberts. She chronicles the transformation of parenting in first half of the 20th century--how our knowledge of infant health and behavior grew dramatically but remains imperfect. At the same time, government, business, and private organizations responded to that imperfect knowledge. economics, Janet Golden, infants, children, health, parenting, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Goldenmodern.mp3 1:03:04 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 May 2018 06:30:00 EST Psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist talks about his book, The Master and His Emissary, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. McGilchrist argues we have misunderstand the purpose and effect of the divided brain. The left side is focused, concrete, and confident while the right side is about integration of ourselves with the complexity of the world around us. McGilchrist uses this distinction to analyze the history of western civilization. This is a wide-ranging conversation that includes discussions of poetry, philosophy, and economics. Psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist talks about his book, The Master and His Emissary, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. McGilchrist argues we have misunderstand the purpose and effect of the divided brain. The left side is focused, concrete, and confident while the right side is about integration of ourselves with the complexity of the world around us. McGilchrist uses this distinction to analyze the history of western civilization. This is a wide-ranging conversation that includes discussions of poetry, philosophy, and economics. Iain McGilchrist talks about his book, The Master and His Emissary, with host Russ Roberts. McGilchrist argues we have misunderstand the purpose and effect of the divided brain. The left side is focused, concrete, and confident. The right side is about integration of ourselves with the complexity of the world around us. McGilchrist uses this distinction to analyze the history of western civilization. This is a wide-ranging conversation that includes discussions of poetry, philosophy, and economics. economics, Iain McGilchrist, left brain, right brain, western civilization, psychology, philosophy, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/McGilchristbrain.mp3 1:26:09 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 May 2018 06:30:00 EST Economist Glen Weyl of Microsoft Research New England and Visiting Senior Research Scholar at Yale University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book (co-authored with Eric Posner) Radical Markets. Weyl urges a radical transformation of land and housing markets using a new federal real estate tax based on self-assessment. Owners would be required to sell their houses at the self-assessed price. Weyl argues this would eliminate the market power home owners have in the re-sale market and the revenue tax would could be used to reduce inequality. In the last part of the conversation, Weyl proposes an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy by having residents sponsor immigrants for a fee. Economist Glen Weyl of Microsoft Research New England and Visiting Senior Research Scholar at Yale University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book (co-authored with Eric Posner) Radical Markets. Weyl urges a radical transformation of land and housing markets using a new federal real estate tax based on self-assessment. Owners would be required to sell their houses at the self-assessed price. Weyl argues this would eliminate the market power home owners have in the re-sale market and the revenue tax would could be used to reduce inequality. In the last part of the conversation, Weyl proposes an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy by having residents sponsor immigrants for a fee. Glen Weyl talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, Radical Markets. Weyl urges a radical transformation of land and housing markets using a new federal real estate tax based on self-assessment. Owners would be required to sell their houses at the self-assessed price. Weyl argues this would eliminate the market power home owners have in the re-sale market and the revenue tax would could be used to reduce inequality. In the last part of the conversation, Weyl proposes an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy by having residents sponsor immigrants for a fee. economics, Glen Weyl, land taxes, property taxation, immigration, markets, real estate, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Weylradical.mp3 1:03:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 May 2018 06:30:00 EST Peter Boettke of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the proper role of the state in the economy. This is a wide-ranging conversation on political economy. Topics include Adam Smith's view of the state, the tension between the state as enabler of real vs. crony capitalism, the potential for the poor to flourish in a market economy, and the challenges of democracy. Peter Boettke of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the proper role of the state in the economy. This is a wide-ranging conversation on political economy. Topics include Adam Smith's view of the state, the tension between the state as enabler of real vs. crony capitalism, the potential for the poor to flourish in a market economy, and the challenges of democracy. Peter Boettke talks with host Russ Roberts about the proper role of the state in the economy. Topics include Adam Smith's view of the state, the tension between the state as enabler of real vs. crony capitalism, the potential for the poor to flourish in a market economy, and the challenges of democracy. This is wide-ranging conversation on political economy. economics, Peter Boettke, government, political science, democracy, markets, capitalism, state, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Boettkepublic.mp3 1:12:46 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 May 2018 06:30:00 EST How did the CEO of a real estate development company become chairman of an airline? How can a competent manager learn to trust his subordinates? Joel Peterson, chairman of the Board at JetBlue Airways and author of The 10 Laws of Trust, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his career at Trammell Crow and JetBlue and how the concept of trust, outlined in his book, has helped his career. He closes the conversation with a discussion of how he overcame his personal weaknesses that would have handicapped his career--or as he puts it, how he "rewrote his operating system." How did the CEO of a real estate development company become chairman of an airline? How can a competent manager learn to trust his subordinates? Joel Peterson, chairman of the Board at JetBlue Airways and author of The 10 Laws of Trust, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his career at Trammell Crow and JetBlue and how the concept of trust, outlined in his book, has helped his career. He closes the conversation with a discussion of how he overcame his personal weaknesses that would have handicapped his career--or as he puts it, how he "rewrote his operating system." Joel Peterson talks with host Russ Roberts about his career at real estate developer Trammell Crow and airline JetBlue and how the concept of trust has helped his career. He closes the conversation with a discussion of how he overcame his personal weaknesses that would have handicapped his career--or as he puts it, how he "rewrote his operating system." economics, Joel Peterson, JetBlue, real estate, trust, organization of firms, self makeovers, chairman of the board, industry, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/PetersonJCleadership.mp3 1:13:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Apr 2018 06:30:00 EST Author Ryan Holiday discusses his book, Conspiracy, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. This is a crazy episode about a crazy book about a crazy set of events--the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against the website Gawker, a lawsuit that was secretly funded by Peter Thiel. Holiday explains how this happened and the lessons for all of us related to conspiracies, patience, strategy, and revenge. Along the way, Holiday discusses his techniques for reading and lessons for how to grab someone's attention when looking for a job or opportunity. Author Ryan Holiday discusses his book, Conspiracy, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. This is a crazy episode about a crazy book about a crazy set of events--the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against the website Gawker, a lawsuit that was secretly funded by Peter Thiel. Holiday explains how this happened and the lessons for all of us related to conspiracies, patience, strategy, and revenge. Along the way, Holiday discusses his techniques for reading and lessons for how to grab someone's attention when looking for a job or opportunity. Ryan Holiday discusses his book, Conspiracy, with host Russ Roberts. The book details the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against the website Gawker, a lawsuit that was secretly funded by Peter Thiel. Holiday explains how this happened and lessons related to conspiracies, patience, strategy, and revenge. He also discusses his techniques for reading and how to grab someone's attention when looking for a job or opportunity. economics, Ryan Holiday, Gawker, Peter Theil, Hulk Hogan lawsuit, conspiracies, reading, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Holidayconspiracy.mp3 1:17:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Apr 2018 06:30:00 EST Jonah Goldberg of National Review talks about his latest book, Suicide of the West, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Goldberg argues that both capitalism and democracy are at risk in the current contentious political environment. He argues that we take for granted what he calls "the miracle"--the transformation of the standard of living in the democracies with market economies. Goldberg argues that unless we actively work to preserve our political and economic systems, the forces of populism, nationalism, and tribalism will work steadily to destroy them. Jonah Goldberg of National Review talks about his latest book, Suicide of the West, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Goldberg argues that both capitalism and democracy are at risk in the current contentious political environment. He argues that we take for granted what he calls "the miracle"--the transformation of the standard of living in the democracies with market economies. Goldberg argues that unless we actively work to preserve our political and economic systems, the forces of populism, nationalism, and tribalism will work steadily to destroy them. Jonah Goldberg talks about his latest book, Suicide of the West, with host Russ Roberts. He argues that both capitalism and democracy are at risk in the current contentious political environment, and that we take for granted what he calls "the miracle"--the transformation of the standard of living in democracies with market economies. Goldberg argues that unless we actively work to preserve our political and economic systems, the forces of populism, nationalism, and tribalism will work steadily to destroy them. economics, Jonah Goldberg, capitalism, democracy, tribalism, nationalism, politics, market economies, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Goldbergsuicide.mp3 1:27:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Apr 2018 06:30:00 EST Historian and author Jerry Muller of Catholic University talks about his latest book, The Tyranny of Metrics, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Muller argues that public policy and management are overly focused on measurable outcomes as a measure of success. This leads to organizations and agencies over-focusing on metrics rather than their broader mission. The conversation includes applications to education, crime, and health care. Historian and author Jerry Muller of Catholic University talks about his latest book, The Tyranny of Metrics, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Muller argues that public policy and management are overly focused on measurable outcomes as a measure of success. This leads to organizations and agencies over-focusing on metrics rather than their broader mission. The conversation includes applications to education, crime, and health care. Jerry Muller talks about his latest book, The Tyranny of Metrics, with host Russ Roberts. Muller argues that public policy and management are overly focused on measurable outcomes as a measure of success. This leads to organizations and agencies over-focusing on metrics rather than their broader mission. The conversation includes applications to education, crime, and health care. economics, Jerry Muller, measurement, statistics, education, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Mullermetrics.mp3 1:04:45 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Apr 2018 06:30:00 EST Can a life-saving drug be too expensive? What explains the high price of cancer drugs? Dr. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the high price of cancer drugs--drugs that can cost an American with cancer $300,000 per year and require multiple years of treatment. Rajkumar explains how little a role market forces play in setting prices and what might be done to improve the situation. Can a life-saving drug be too expensive? What explains the high price of cancer drugs? Dr. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the high price of cancer drugs--drugs that can cost an American with cancer $300,000 per year and require multiple years of treatment. Rajkumar explains how little a role market forces play in setting prices and what might be done to improve the situation. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic talks with host Russ Roberts about the high price of cancer drugs, which can cost an American with cancer $300,000 a year and require multiple years of treatment. He explains how little a role market forces play in setting prices and what might be done to improve the situation. economics, Vincent Rajkumar, medicine, drug costs, health care, insurance, regulations, pharmaceuticals, patents, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Rajkumarcancer.mp3 1:12:38 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:30:00 EST Does rush-hour traffic drive you crazy? Is a congestion tax on car travel a good idea? Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of traffic and congestion taxes. It takes a while to get there (how appropriate!) but they eventually agree that a tax on congestion while reducing travel time is harmful to many drivers and may be best thought of as any tax placed on a particular good--a way to raise government revenue from the pockets of the consumers of that good. Does rush-hour traffic drive you crazy? Is a congestion tax on car travel a good idea? Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of traffic and congestion taxes. It takes a while to get there (how appropriate!) but they eventually agree that a tax on congestion while reducing travel time is harmful to many drivers and may be best thought of as any tax placed on a particular good--a way to raise government revenue from the pockets of the consumers of that good. Michael Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about the economics of traffic and congestion taxes. It takes a while to get there but they eventually agree that a tax on congestion while reducing travel time is harmful to many drivers and may be best thought of as any tax--a way to raise government revenue from the pockets of the consumers of that good. economics, Michael Munger, congestion pricing, cars, transportation, urban, cities, taxes, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Mungertraffic.mp3 1:14:08 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Mar 2018 06:30:00 EST Why are fewer men working over the last few decades? Is a universal basic income a good policy for coping with the loss of employment? Economist Edward Glaeser of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what Glaeser calls the war on work--the policy changes that have reduced employment among prime-aged men. Glaeser does not see the universal basic income as a viable solution to the decrease in work especially if technology ends up reducing employment opportunities more dramatically in the future. The conversation also includes a discussion of the role of cities and the reduction in geographic mobility in the United States. Why are fewer men working over the last few decades? Is a universal basic income a good policy for coping with the loss of employment? Economist Edward Glaeser of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what Glaeser calls the war on work--the policy changes that have reduced employment among prime-aged men. Glaeser does not see the universal basic income as a viable solution to the decrease in work especially if technology ends up reducing employment opportunities more dramatically in the future. The conversation also includes a discussion of the role of cities and the reduction in geographic mobility in the United States. Edward Glaeser talks with host Russ Roberts about what he calls the war on work--policy changes that have reduced employment among prime-aged men. Glaeser does not see universal basic income as a viable solution to the decrease in work especially if technology ends up reducing employment opportunities more dramatically in the future. The conversation also includes a discussion of the role of cities and the reduction in geographic mobility in the United States. economics, Edward Glaeser, universal basic income, UBI, labor force participation, jobs, cities, employment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Glaeserwaronwork.mp3 1:06:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Mar 2018 06:30:00 EST Economists often oppose the expansion of licensing in America in recent years because it makes it harder for people with low skills to get access to opportunity. Sociologist Beth Redbird of Northwestern University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a different perspective. Redbird finds that licensing expands opportunity for women and minorities and has little impact on wages. She argues that licensing helps historically disadvantaged groups discover ways into various careers they otherwise would have trouble accessing. The discussion closes with a discussion of Redbird's work on the economic situation of Native Americans. Economists often oppose the expansion of licensing in America in recent years because it makes it harder for people with low skills to get access to opportunity. Sociologist Beth Redbird of Northwestern University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a different perspective. Redbird finds that licensing expands opportunity for women and minorities and has little impact on wages. She argues that licensing helps historically disadvantaged groups discover ways into various careers they otherwise would have trouble accessing. The discussion closes with a discussion of Redbird's work on the economic situation of Native Americans. Beth Redbird talks with host Russ Roberts about licensing. She finds that licensing expands opportunity for women and minorities and has little impact on wages. She argues that licensing helps historically disadvantaged groups discover ways into various careers they otherwise would have trouble accessing. The discussion closes with a discussion of Redbird's work on the economic situation of Native Americans. economics, Beth Redbird, licenses, labor, government regulation, Native Americans, jobs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Redbirdlicensing.mp3 1:02:29 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Mar 2018 06:30:00 EST Economist, blogger, and author Arnold Kling talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of economics in the 21st century. Kling argues that economics would be more useful if it took account of intangibles like culture, incorporated the role of financial intermediation in the economy, and modeled some of the the subtleties of the labor market--how wages are set and the role of team production. Economist, blogger, and author Arnold Kling talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of economics in the 21st century. Kling argues that economics would be more useful if it took account of intangibles like culture, incorporated the role of financial intermediation in the economy, and modeled some of the the subtleties of the labor market--how wages are set and the role of team production. Arnold Kling talks with host Russ Roberts about the state of 21st century economics. He argues that economics would be more useful if it took account of intangibles like culture, incorporated the role of financial intermediation in the economy, and modeled some of the the subtleties of the labor market--how wages are set and the role of team production. economics, Arnold Kling, culture, financial intermediation, labor, models, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Kling21stcentury.mp3 1:04:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Mar 2018 06:30:00 EST Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Skin in the Game, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in the book. This is the third episode of EconTalk with Taleb related to the general topic of skin in the game and how it affects decision-making and policy in an uncertain world. This episode focuses on rationality, religion, and the challenge of thinking about probability and risk correctly in a dynamic world. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Skin in the Game, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in the book. This is the third episode of EconTalk with Taleb related to the general topic of skin in the game and how it affects decision-making and policy in an uncertain world. This episode focuses on rationality, religion, and the challenge of thinking about probability and risk correctly in a dynamic world. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Skin in the Game, talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in the book. This is the third episode of EconTalk with Taleb related to the general topic of skin in the game and how it affects decision-making and policy in an uncertain world. This episode focuses on rationality, religion, and the challenge of thinking about probability and risk correctly in a dynamic world. economics, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, uncertainty, religion, policy, decisions, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Talebrationality.mp3 1:14:27 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Feb 2018 06:30:00 EST Philosopher Elizabeth Anderson of the University of Michigan and author of Private Government talks about her book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Anderson argues that employers have excessive power over employees that we would never accept from government authority. Topics discussed include the role of competition in potentially mitigating employer control, whether some worker rights should be inviolate, potential measures for empowering employees, and the costs and benefits over time of a relatively unregulated labor market. Philosopher Elizabeth Anderson of the University of Michigan and author of Private Government talks about her book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Anderson argues that employers have excessive power over employees that we would never accept from government authority. Topics discussed include the role of competition in potentially mitigating employer control, whether some worker rights should be inviolate, potential measures for empowering employees, and the costs and benefits over time of a relatively unregulated labor market. Elizabeth Anderson talks about her book, Private Government, with host Russ Roberts. She argues that employers have excessive power over employees they would never accept from government authority. Topics include the role of competition in potentially mitigating employer control, whether some worker rights should be inviolate, potential measures for empowering employees, and the costs and benefits over time of a relatively unregulated labor market. economics, Elizabeth Anderson, privite government, employees, workers, labor, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/AndersonEprivategovernment.mp3 1:07:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Feb 2018 06:30:00 EST Jordan Peterson, author of 12 Rules for Life, talks about the book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Topics covered include parenting, conversation, the role of literature in everyday life, and the relationship between sacrificial rites and trade. Jordan Peterson, author of 12 Rules for Life, talks about the book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Topics covered include parenting, conversation, the role of literature in everyday life, and the relationship between sacrificial rites and trade. Jordan Peterson, author of 12 Rules for Life, talks about the book with host Russ Roberts. Topics covered include parenting, conversation, the role of literature in everyday life, and the relationship between sacrificial rites and trade. economics, Jordan Peterson, twelve rules, advice, children, religion, psychology, sacrifice, exchange, trade, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Petersonrules.mp3 1:18:22 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Feb 2018 06:30:00 EST Bryan Caplan of George Mason University and the author of The Case Against Education talks about the book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Caplan argues that very little learning takes place in formal education and that very little of the return to college comes from skills or knowledge that is acquired in the classroom. Schooling, he concludes, as it is currently conducted is mostly a waste of time and money. Caplan bring a great deal of evidence to support his dramatic claim and much of the conversation focuses on the challenge of measuring and observing what students actually learn. Bryan Caplan of George Mason University and the author of The Case Against Education talks about the book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Caplan argues that very little learning takes place in formal education and that very little of the return to college comes from skills or knowledge that is acquired in the classroom. Schooling, he concludes, as it is currently conducted is mostly a waste of time and money. Caplan bring a great deal of evidence to support his dramatic claim and much of the conversation focuses on the challenge of measuring and observing what students actually learn. Bryan Caplan talks about his book The Case Against Education with host Russ Roberts. He argues that very little learning takes place in formal education and very little of the return to college comes from skills or knowledge acquired in the classroom. Schooling, he concludes, as it is currently conducted is mostly a waste of time and money. Caplan bring a great deal of evidence to support his dramatic claim and much of the conversation focuses on the challenge of measuring and observing what students actually learn. economics, Bryan Caplan, schools, teaching, universities, educators, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Caplaneducation.mp3 1:11:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Feb 2018 06:30:00 EST Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their essay on the enemies of modernity. Pluckrose and Lindsay argue that modernity--by which they mean democracy, reason, and individual liberty--is under attack from pre-modern and post-modern ideological enemies. They discuss why modernity is under attack and encourage people on the political left and right to support modernity. Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their essay on the enemies of modernity. Pluckrose and Lindsay argue that modernity--by which they mean democracy, reason, and individual liberty--is under attack from pre-modern and post-modern ideological enemies. They discuss why modernity is under attack and encourage people on the political left and right to support modernity. Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay talk with host Russ Roberts about their essay on the enemies of modernity. They argue that modernity--democracy, reason, and individual liberty--is under attack from pre-modern and post-modern ideological enemies and encourage people on the political left and right to support modernity. economics, Helen Pluckrose, James Lindsay, modernism, politics, democracy, liberty, freedom, emotions, reason, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/PluckroseLindsaymodernity.mp3 1:09:27 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 29 Jan 2018 06:30:00 EST Marian Goodell, CEO of the Burning Man Project, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Burning Man, the 8-day art and music festival in the Nevada Desert. Goodell explains how Burning Man has evolved over the years, the principles and rules that govern the experience today, and plans for expanding the Burning Man experience around the world. Marian Goodell, CEO of the Burning Man Project, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Burning Man, the 8-day art and music festival in the Nevada Desert. Goodell explains how Burning Man has evolved over the years, the principles and rules that govern the experience today, and plans for expanding the Burning Man experience around the world. Marian Goodell talks with host Russ Roberts about Burning Man, the 8-day art and music festival in the Nevada Desert. Goodell explains how Burning Man has evolved over the years, the principles and rules that govern the experience today, and plans for expanding the Burning Man experience around the world. economics, Marian Goodell, festivals, Nevada desert, art, music, norms, culture, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Goodellburningman.mp3 1:12:35 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 22 Jan 2018 06:30:00 EST John Ioannidis of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on the reliability of published research findings. They discuss Ioannidis's recent study on bias in economics research, meta-analysis, the challenge of small sample analysis, and the reliability of statistical significance as a measure of success in empirical research. John Ioannidis of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on the reliability of published research findings. They discuss Ioannidis's recent study on bias in economics research, meta-analysis, the challenge of small sample analysis, and the reliability of statistical significance as a measure of success in empirical research. John Ioannidis talks with host Russ Roberts about his research on the reliability of published research findings. They discuss his recent study on bias in economics research, meta-analysis, the challenge of small sample analysis, and the reliability of statistical significance as a measure of success in empirical research. economics, John Ioannidis, replication, statistics, p-hacking, science, small samples, significance, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Ioannidisstatistics.mp3 1:05:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Jan 2018 06:30:00 EST Baseball stats guru and author Bill James talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of understanding complexity in baseball and elsewhere. James reflects on the lessons he has learned as a long-time student of data and the role it plays in understanding the underlying reality that exists between different variables in sports and outside of sports. The conversation closes with a discussion of our understanding of social processes and the connection to public policy and the ideologies we hold. Baseball stats guru and author Bill James talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of understanding complexity in baseball and elsewhere. James reflects on the lessons he has learned as a long-time student of data and the role it plays in understanding the underlying reality that exists between different variables in sports and outside of sports. The conversation closes with a discussion of our understanding of social processes and the connection to public policy and the ideologies we hold. Bill James talks with host Russ Roberts about the challenges of understanding complexity in baseball and elsewhere. He reflects on the lessons he has learned as a long-time student of data and the role it plays in understanding the underlying reality. The conversation closes with a discussion of our understanding of social processes and the connection to public policy and the ideologies we hold. economics, Bill James, sports, baseball statistics, measurement, data, complexity, rules, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Jamesbaseball.mp3 1:02:20 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 08 Jan 2018 06:30:00 EST Dick Carpenter of the Institute for Justice and author of Bottleneckers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--a look at how occupational licensing and other regulations protect existing job holders from competition. Dick Carpenter of the Institute for Justice and author of Bottleneckers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--a look at how occupational licensing and other regulations protect existing job holders from competition. Dick Carpenter talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, Bottleneckers--a look at how occupational licensing and other regulations protect existing job holders from competition. economics, Dick Carpenter, occupational licensing, regulations, jobs, entrepreneurship, competition, monopoly, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Carpenterbottleneckers.mp3 1:14:58 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 01 Jan 2018 06:30:00 EST Ecologist Kelly Weinersmith and cartoonist Zach Weinersmith--creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal--talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their new book, Soonish--a look at cutting-edge and not-quite cutting edge technologies. The Weinersmiths speculate about everything from asteroid mining to robotic house construction to the nasal cycle and how the human body and medicine might be transformed in the future. They discuss the likelihood of some really crazy stuff coming along and changing our lives as well as the possible downsides of innovation. Ecologist Kelly Weinersmith and cartoonist Zach Weinersmith--creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal--talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their new book, Soonish--a look at cutting-edge and not-quite cutting edge technologies. The Weinersmiths speculate about everything from asteroid mining to robotic house construction to the nasal cycle and how the human body and medicine might be transformed in the future. They discuss the likelihood of some really crazy stuff coming along and changing our lives as well as the possible downsides of innovation. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith talk with host Russ Roberts about their new book, Soonish--a look at cutting-edge and not-quite cutting edge technologies. The Weinersmiths speculate about everything from asteroid mining to robotic house construction to the nasal cycle and how the human body and medicine might be transformed in the future. They discuss the likelihood of some really crazy stuff coming along and changing our lives as well as the possible downsides of innovation. economics, Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith, technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, brain, cartoonist, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2018/Weinersmithsoonish.mp3 1:10:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Dec 2017 06:30:00 EST Matt Stoller of the Open Market Institute talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the growing influence of Google, Facebook, and Amazon on commercial and political life. Stoller argues that these large firms have too much power over our options as consumers and creators as well as having a large impact on our access to information. Matt Stoller of the Open Market Institute talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the growing influence of Google, Facebook, and Amazon on commercial and political life. Stoller argues that these large firms have too much power over our options as consumers and creators as well as having a large impact on our access to information. Matt Stoller talks with host Russ Roberts about the growing influence of Google, Facebook, and Amazon on commercial and political life. He argues that these large firms have too much power over our options as consumers and creators as well as having a large impact on our access to information. economics, Matt Stoller, large firms, monopolies, consumers, consumer choice, Google, Amazon, Facebook, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Stollermonopolies.mp3 1:10:11 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Dec 2017 06:30:00 EST Brink Lindsey of the Niskanen Center and Steven Teles of the Niskanen Center and Johns Hopkins University talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their book, The Captured Economy. Lindsey and Teles argue that inequality has been worsened by special interests who steer policy to benefit themselves. They also argue that the influence of the politically powerful has lowered the overall growth of the American economy. Brink Lindsey of the Niskanen Center and Steven Teles of the Niskanen Center and Johns Hopkins University talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about their book, The Captured Economy. Lindsey and Teles argue that inequality has been worsened by special interests who steer policy to benefit themselves. They also argue that the influence of the politically powerful has lowered the overall growth of the American economy. Brink Lindsey and Steven Teles talk with host Russ Roberts about their book, The Captured Economy. They argue that inequality has been worsened by special interests who steer policy to benefit themselves. They also argue that the influence of the politically powerful has lowered the overall growth of the American economy. economics, Brink Lindsey, Steven Teles, inequality, Piketty, crony capitalism, special interests, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/LindseyTelescaptured.mp3 1:09:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Dec 2017 06:30:00 EST John Cogan of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Cogan's book, The High Cost of Good Intentions, a history of U.S. entitlement policy. Cogan traces the evolution of government pensions beginning with Revolutionary War vets to the birth and evolution of the Social Security program. Surprises along the way include President Franklin Roosevelt as fiscal conservative and the hard-to-believe but true fact that there is still one person receiving monthly checks from the Civil War veterans pension program. The conversation concludes with Cogan's concerns over the growing costs of financing social security payments to baby boomers. John Cogan of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Cogan's book, The High Cost of Good Intentions, a history of U.S. entitlement policy. Cogan traces the evolution of government pensions beginning with Revolutionary War vets to the birth and evolution of the Social Security program. Surprises along the way include President Franklin Roosevelt as fiscal conservative and the hard-to-believe but true fact that there is still one person receiving monthly checks from the Civil War veterans pension program. The conversation concludes with Cogan's concerns over the growing costs of financing social security payments to baby boomers. John Cogan talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, The High Cost of Good Intentions, a history of US entitlement policy. He traces the evolution of government pensions from Revolutionary War vets to Social Security. Surprises include FDR as fiscal conservative and that there is still one person receiving monthly checks from the Civil War veterans pension program. The conversation concludes with Cogan's concerns over the growing costs of financing social security payments to baby boomers. economics, John Cogan, government policies, pensions, social security, US presidents, FDR, fiscal spending, civil war, baby boomers, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Coganentitlements.mp3 1:06:08 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 Dec 2017 06:30:00 EST Historian Rachel Laudan talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about food waste. Laudan argues that there are tradeoffs in preventing food waste--in reduced time for example, or a reduction in food security, and that these tradeoffs need to be measured carefully when considering policy or giving advice to individuals or organizations. She also discusses the role of food taboos and moralizing about food. Along the way, Laudan defends the virtue of individual choice and freedom in deciding what to eat. Historian Rachel Laudan talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about food waste. Laudan argues that there are tradeoffs in preventing food waste--in reduced time for example, or a reduction in food security, and that these tradeoffs need to be measured carefully when considering policy or giving advice to individuals or organizations. She also discusses the role of food taboos and moralizing about food. Along the way, Laudan defends the virtue of individual choice and freedom in deciding what to eat. Rachel Laudan talks with host Russ Roberts about food waste. She argues there are tradeoffs in preventing food waste--reduced time for example or a reduction in food security--and that these tradeoffs should be measured carefully when considering policy or giving advice to individuals or organizations. She also discusses the role of food taboos and moralizing about food. Along the way, Laudan defends the virtue of individual choice and freedom in deciding what to eat. economics, Rachel Laudan, groceries, morality, taboos, freedom, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Laudanwaste.mp3 1:01:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Nov 2017 06:30:00 EST Simeon Djankov, creator of the World Bank's Doing Business Report, and Matt Warner, Chief Operating Officer of Atlas Network talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role regulation plays in economic development and the challenges of measuring regulatory barriers to new business creation. Simeon Djankov, creator of the World Bank's Doing Business Report, and Matt Warner, Chief Operating Officer of Atlas Network talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role regulation plays in economic development and the challenges of measuring regulatory barriers to new business creation. Simeon Djankov, creator of the World Bank's Doing Business Report, and Matt Warner of Atlas Network talk with host Russ Roberts about the role of regulation in economic development and the challenges of measuring regulatory barriers to new business creation. economics, Simeon Djankov, development, regulation, measurement, government, international aid, businesses, finance, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/DjankovWarnerdevelopment.mp3 1:15:27 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Nov 2017 06:30:00 EST Financial Times columnist and author Tim Harford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Harford's latest book, Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy. Highlights include how elevators are an important form of mass transit, why washing machines didn't save quite as much time as you'd think, and the glorious illuminating aspects of light throughout history. Financial Times columnist and author Tim Harford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Harford's latest book, Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy. Highlights include how elevators are an important form of mass transit, why washing machines didn't save quite as much time as you'd think, and the glorious illuminating aspects of light throughout history. Tim Harford talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy. Highlights include how elevators are an important form of mass transit, why washing machines didn't save as much time as you'd think, and the illuminating aspects of light throughout history. economics, Tim Harford, innovations, technology, entrepreneurs, elevators, washing machines, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Harfordfiftyinventions.mp3 1:08:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Nov 2017 06:30:00 EST Why does tipping persist? Despite the efforts of some restaurants to stop tipping, it remains a healthy institution and has recently spread to Uber. Political scientist Anthony Gill of the University of Washington talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why tipping persists and what it achieves despite there being no formal way of enforcing this norm. Why does tipping persist? Despite the efforts of some restaurants to stop tipping, it remains a healthy institution and has recently spread to Uber. Political scientist Anthony Gill of the University of Washington talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why tipping persists and what it achieves despite there being no formal way of enforcing this norm. Despite the efforts of some restaurants to stop tipping, it remains a healthy institution and has recently spread to Uber. Anthony Gill talks with host Russ Roberts about why tipping persists and what it achieves despite there being no formal way of enforcing this norm. economics, Anthony Gill, restaurants, gratuities, tips, norms, customs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Gilltipping.mp3 1:05:43 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Nov 2017 06:30:00 EST How did the friendship between David Hume and Adam Smith influence their ideas? Why do their ideas still matter today? Political Scientist Dennis Rasmussen of Tufts University and author of The Infidel and the Professor talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--the intellectual and personal connections between two of the greatest thinkers of all time, David Hume and Adam Smith. How did the friendship between David Hume and Adam Smith influence their ideas? Why do their ideas still matter today? Political Scientist Dennis Rasmussen of Tufts University and author of The Infidel and the Professor talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--the intellectual and personal connections between two of the greatest thinkers of all time, David Hume and Adam Smith. How did the friendship between David Hume and Adam Smith influence their ideas? Why do their ideas still matter today? Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Infidel and the Professor, talks with host Russ Roberts about the intellectual and personal connections between two of the greatest thinkers of all time, David Hume and Adam Smith. economics, Dennis Rasmussen, Adam Smith, David Hume, intellectual history, biography, political science, infidels, professors, historical friendships, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/RasmussenHumeSmith.mp3 1:11:37 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Oct 2017 06:30:00 EST Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about permissionless innovation. Munger argues that the ability to innovate without permission is the most important concept of political economy. Munger defends this claim and explores the metaphor of emergent order as a dance, a metaphor coming from the German poet Schiller. Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about permissionless innovation. Munger argues that the ability to innovate without permission is the most important concept of political economy. Munger defends this claim and explores the metaphor of emergent order as a dance, a metaphor coming from the German poet Schiller. Michael Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about permissionless innovation. He argues that the ability to innovate without permission is the most important concept of political economy, and explores the metaphor of emergent order as a dance, a metaphor coming from the German poet Schiller. economics, Michael Munger, entrepreneurship, inventions, emergence, politics, philosophy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Mungerpermissionless.mp3 1:07:51 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Oct 2017 06:30:00 EST Jennifer Burns of Stanford University and the Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her biography of Ayn Rand, Goddess of the Market. They discuss Rand's philosophy, her influence, her relationship with the conservative movement, and the intersection of her personal life with her philosophical principles. Jennifer Burns of Stanford University and the Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her biography of Ayn Rand, Goddess of the Market. They discuss Rand's philosophy, her influence, her relationship with the conservative movement, and the intersection of her personal life with her philosophical principles. Jennifer Burns talks with host Russ Roberts about her biography of Ayn Rand, Goddess of the Market. They discuss Rand's philosophy, her influence, her relationship with the conservative movement, and the intersection of her personal life with her philosophical principles. economics, Jennifer Burns, capitalism, free markets, conservatives, philosophy, biography, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/BurnsRand.mp3 1:04:38 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Oct 2017 06:30:00 EST Author and journalist Megan McArdle of Bloomberg View talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how the internet has allowed a new kind of shaming via social media and how episodes of bad behavior live on because Google's memory is very, very good. McArdle discusses the implications this new reality has on how we behave at work and how people protect and maintain their reputations in a world where nothing is forgotten and seemingly little is forgiven. Author and journalist Megan McArdle of Bloomberg View talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how the internet has allowed a new kind of shaming via social media and how episodes of bad behavior live on because Google's memory is very, very good. McArdle discusses the implications this new reality has on how we behave at work and how people protect and maintain their reputations in a world where nothing is forgotten and seemingly little is forgiven. Megan McArdle talks with host Russ Roberts about how the internet has allowed a new kind of shaming via social media and how episodes of bad behavior live on in Google's memory. McArdle discusses the implications of this new reality on how we behave at work and how people protect and maintain their reputations in a world where nothing is forgotten and seemingly little is forgiven. economics, Megan McArdle, psychology, bullying, reputations, google, memory, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/McArdleshaming.mp3 1:14:32 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Oct 2017 06:30:00 EST Author Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly Media and long-time observer and commenter on the internet and technology, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book, WTF? What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us. O'Reilly surveys the evolution of the internet, the key companies that have prospered from it, and how the products of those companies have changed our lives. He then turns to the future and explains why he is an optimist and what can be done to make that optimism accurate. Author Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly Media and long-time observer and commenter on the internet and technology, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book, WTF? What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us. O'Reilly surveys the evolution of the internet, the key companies that have prospered from it, and how the products of those companies have changed our lives. He then turns to the future and explains why he is an optimist and what can be done to make that optimism accurate. Tim O'Reilly talks with host Russ Roberts about his new book, WTF? What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us. He surveys the evolution of the internet, the key companies that have prospered from it, and how their products have changed our lives. He then turns to the future and explains why he is an optimist and what can be done to make that optimism accurate. economics, Tim O'Reilly, technology, wtf, internet history, startups, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/OReillyfuture.mp3 1:02:47 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Oct 2017 06:30:00 EST Robert Wright, author of Why Buddhism Is True, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the psychotherapeutic insights of Buddhism and the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. Wright argues our evolutionary past has endowed us with a mind that can be ill-suited to the stress of the present. He argues that meditation and the non-religious aspects of Buddhism can reduce suffering and are consistent with recent psychological research. Robert Wright, author of Why Buddhism Is True, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the psychotherapeutic insights of Buddhism and the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. Wright argues our evolutionary past has endowed us with a mind that can be ill-suited to the stress of the present. He argues that meditation and the non-religious aspects of Buddhism can reduce suffering and are consistent with recent psychological research. Robert Wright, author of Why Buddhism Is True, talks with host Russ Roberts about the psychotherapeutic insights of Buddhism and the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. He argues our evolutionary past has endowed us with a mind that can be ill-suited to the stress of the present. He argues that meditation and the non-religious aspects of Buddhism can reduce suffering and are consistent with recent psychological research. economics, Robert Wright, religion, psychology, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Wrightmeditation.mp3 1:06:58 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:30:00 EST Author and professor Philip Auerswald of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the rise of populism in the United States and throughout the world. Auerswald argues that the rise of cities and the productivity of urban life has created a divergence in experience and rewards between urban and rural areas around the world. Auerswald ties these changes to changes in voting patterns and speculates about the sources of the increasing productivity of metropolitan areas. Author and professor Philip Auerswald of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the rise of populism in the United States and throughout the world. Auerswald argues that the rise of cities and the productivity of urban life has created a divergence in experience and rewards between urban and rural areas around the world. Auerswald ties these changes to changes in voting patterns and speculates about the sources of the increasing productivity of metropolitan areas. Philip Auerswald talks with host Russ Roberts about the rise of populism in the United States and worldwide. He argues that the rise of cities and the productivity of urban life has created a divergence in experience and rewards between urban and rural areas around the world. Auerswald ties these changes to changes in voting patterns and speculates about the sources of the increasing productivity of metropolitan areas. economics, Philip Auerswald, cities, urban, rural, voting, productivity, political science, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Auerswaldpopulism.mp3 1:19:40 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:30:00 EST Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on inequality and the distribution of income in the United States over the last 35 years. Zucman finds that there has been no change in income for the bottom half of the income distribution over this time period with large gains going to the top 1%. The conversation explores the robustness of this result to various assumptions and possible explanations for the findings. Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on inequality and the distribution of income in the United States over the last 35 years. Zucman finds that there has been no change in income for the bottom half of the income distribution over this time period with large gains going to the top 1%. The conversation explores the robustness of this result to various assumptions and possible explanations for the findings. Gabriel Zucman talks with host Russ Roberts about his research on inequality and the U.S. income distribution over the last 35 years. He finds that there has been no change for the bottom half, with large gains for the top 1%. The conversation explores the robustness of this result to various assumptions and possible explanations for the findings. economics, Gabriel Zucman, income inequality, top 1%, growth, poverty, wealth, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Zucmaninequality.mp3 1:12:35 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 Sep 2017 06:30:00 EST Law professor Gillian Hadfield of the University of Southern California and author of Rules for a Flat World talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book for regulating the digital future. Hadfield suggests the competitive provision of regulation with government oversight as a way to improve the flexibility and effectiveness of regulation in the dynamic digital world we are living in. Law professor Gillian Hadfield of the University of Southern California and author of Rules for a Flat World talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book for regulating the digital future. Hadfield suggests the competitive provision of regulation with government oversight as a way to improve the flexibility and effectiveness of regulation in the dynamic digital world we are living in. Law professor Gillian Hadfield, author of Rules for a Flat World, talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book for regulating the digital future. She suggests the competitive provision of regulation with government oversight as a way to improve the flexibility and effectiveness of regulation in the dynamic digital world we are living in. economics, Gillian Hadfield, laws, regulation, digital future, legal, accessibility, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Hadfieldrules.mp3 1:07:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 03 Sep 2017 06:30:00 EST Is private charity always a good thing? Do large foundations have too much power? Political Scientist Rob Reich of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the power and effectiveness of foundations--large collections of wealth typically created and funded by a wealthy donor. Is such a plutocratic institution consistent with democracy? Reich discusses the history of foundations in the United States and the costs and benefits of foundation expenditures in the present. Is private charity always a good thing? Do large foundations have too much power? Political Scientist Rob Reich of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the power and effectiveness of foundations--large collections of wealth typically created and funded by a wealthy donor. Is such a plutocratic institution consistent with democracy? Reich discusses the history of foundations in the United States and the costs and benefits of foundation expenditures in the present. Is private charity always a good thing? Rob Reich talks with host Russ Roberts about the power and effectiveness of foundations--large collections of wealth typically created and funded by a wealthy donor. Are such plutocratic institutions consistent with democracy? Reich discusses the history of foundations in the United States and the costs and benefits of foundation expenditures in the present. economics, Rob Reich, charity, political science, institutions, power, wealth, charitable donations, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Reichphilanthropy.mp3 1:03:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 Aug 2017 06:30:00 EST Benedict Evans of Andreessen Horowitz talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about two important trends for the future of personal travel--the increasing number of electric cars and a world of autonomous vehicles. Evans talks about how these two trends are likely to continue and the implications for the economy, urban design, and how we live. Benedict Evans of Andreessen Horowitz talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about two important trends for the future of personal travel--the increasing number of electric cars and a world of autonomous vehicles. Evans talks about how these two trends are likely to continue and the implications for the economy, urban design, and how we live. Benedict Evans talks with host Russ Roberts about two important trends for the future of personal travel--the increasing number of electric cars and a world of autonomous vehicles. He talks about how these two trends are likely to continue and the implications for the economy, urban design, and how we live. economics, Benedict Evans, automobiles, driverless cars, technology, cities, urban, transportation, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Evanscars.mp3 1:07:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 Aug 2017 06:30:00 EST How did bad come to mean good? Why is Shakespeare so hard to understand? Is there anything good about "like" and "you know?" Author and professor John McWhorter of Columbia University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the unplanned ways that English speakers create English, an example of emergent order. Topics discussed include how words get short (but not too short), the demand for vividness in language, and why Shakespeare is so hard to understand. How did bad come to mean good? Why is Shakespeare so hard to understand? Is there anything good about "like" and "you know?" Author and professor John McWhorter of Columbia University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the unplanned ways that English speakers create English, an example of emergent order. Topics discussed include how words get short (but not too short), the demand for vividness in language, and why Shakespeare is so hard to understand. John McWhorter talks with host Russ Roberts about the unplanned ways that English speakers create English, an example of emergent order. Topics include how words get short, the demand for vividness in language, and why Shakespeare is so hard to understand. economics, John McWhorter, linguistics, vocabulary, Shakespeare, emergent order, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/McWhorterlanguage.mp3 1:04:43 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Aug 2017 06:30:00 EST Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the manuscript version of his forthcoming book, Skin in the Game. Topics discussed include the role of skin in the game in labor markets, the power of minorities, the Lindy effect, Taleb's blind spots and regrets, and the politics of globalization. Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the manuscript version of his forthcoming book, Skin in the Game. Topics discussed include the role of skin in the game in labor markets, the power of minorities, the Lindy effect, Taleb's blind spots and regrets, and the politics of globalization. Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks with host Russ Roberts about the manuscript version of his forthcoming book, Skin in the Game. Topics discussed include the role of skin in the game in labor markets, the power of minorities, the Lindy effect, Taleb's blind spots and regrets, and the politics of globalization. economics, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, labor markets, public policy, globalization, minorities, Lindy effect, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Talebgame.mp3 1:24:40 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 Aug 2017 06:30:00 EST Tyler Cowen of George Mason University and the co-host of the blog Marginal Revolution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Stubborn Attachments, his book-length treatment of how to think about public policy. Cowen argues that economic growth--properly defined--is the moral key to maintaining civilization and promoting human well-being. Along the way, the conversation also deals with inequality, environmental issues, and education. Tyler Cowen of George Mason University and the co-host of the blog Marginal Revolution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Stubborn Attachments, his book-length treatment of how to think about public policy. Cowen argues that economic growth--properly defined--is the moral key to maintaining civilization and promoting human well-being. Along the way, the conversation also deals with inequality, environmental issues, and education. Tyler Cowen talks with host Russ Roberts about Stubborn Attachments, his treatment of how to think about public policy. He argues that economic growth--properly defined--is the moral key to maintaining civilization and promoting well-being. Topics include inequality, environmental issues, and education. economics, Tyler Cowen, economic growth, public policy, inequality, education, environment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Cowenstubborn.mp3 1:00:45 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 31 Jul 2017 06:30:00 EST Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Channel star and chef at Butter in midtown Manhattan, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what it's like to run a restaurant, the challenges of a career in cooking, her favorite dishes, her least favorite dishes, and what she cooked to beat Bobby Flay. Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Channel star and chef at Butter in midtown Manhattan, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what it's like to run a restaurant, the challenges of a career in cooking, her favorite dishes, her least favorite dishes, and what she cooked to beat Bobby Flay. Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Channel star and chef at Butter in Manhattan, talks with host Russ Roberts about what running a restaurant, the challenges of a career in cooking, her favorite and least favorite dishes, and what she cooked to beat Bobby Flay. economics, Alex Guarnaschelli, chefs, Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, cooking, restaurants, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Guarnaschellifood.mp3 1:03:55 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 24 Jul 2017 06:30:00 EST Sally Satel, psychiatrist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of increasing the supply of donated organs for transplantation and ways that public policy might increase the supply. Satel, who has received two kidney donations, suggests a federal tax credit as a way to increase the supply of organs while saving the federal government money. She also discusses the ethical issues surrounding various forms of compensation for organ donors. Sally Satel, psychiatrist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of increasing the supply of donated organs for transplantation and ways that public policy might increase the supply. Satel, who has received two kidney donations, suggests a federal tax credit as a way to increase the supply of organs while saving the federal government money. She also discusses the ethical issues surrounding various forms of compensation for organ donors. Sally Satel talks with host Russ Roberts about the challenges of increasing the supply of donated organs for transplantation and ways that public policy might increase the supply. Satel, who has received two kidney donations, suggests a federal tax credit as a way to increase the supply of organs while saving the federal government money. She also discusses the ethical issues surrounding various forms of compensation for organ donors. economics, Sally Satel, kidneys, organ transplants, tax credits, health, medicine, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Satelorgandonation.mp3 1:00:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 17 Jul 2017 06:30:00 EST Tamar Haspel, who writes "Unearthed," a column on food and agriculture at the Washington Post, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a wide variety of issues related to the cost of food and how it's produced. Topics discussed include why technology helps make some foods inexpensive, how animals are treated, the health of the honey bee, and whether eggs from your backyard taste any better than eggs at the grocery. Tamar Haspel, who writes "Unearthed," a column on food and agriculture at the Washington Post, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a wide variety of issues related to the cost of food and how it's produced. Topics discussed include why technology helps make some foods inexpensive, how animals are treated, the health of the honey bee, and whether eggs from your backyard taste any better than eggs at the grocery. Columnist Tamar Haspel talks with host Russ Roberts about issues related to the cost of food and how it's produced. Topics include why technology helps make some foods inexpensive, how animals are treated, honey bee health, and whether eggs from your backyard taste any better than eggs at the grocery. economics, Tamar Haspel, agriculture, environment, technology, sustainability, bees, animals, eggs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Haspelfood.mp3 1:01:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:30:00 EST Martha Nussbaum, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Alexander Hamilton. Nussbaum talks about the tension between acquiring power and living a life of virtue. The topics discussed include Hamilton's relationship with Aaron Burr, Burr's complicated historical legacy, and the role of the humanities in our lives. Martha Nussbaum, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Alexander Hamilton. Nussbaum talks about the tension between acquiring power and living a life of virtue. The topics discussed include Hamilton's relationship with Aaron Burr, Burr's complicated historical legacy, and the role of the humanities in our lives. Martha Nussbaum talks with Russ Roberts about Alexander Hamilton. Nussbaum talks about the tension between acquiring power and living a virtuous life. Topics include Hamilton's relationship with Aaron Burr, Burr's complicated historical legacy, and the role of the humanities in our lives. economics, Martha Nussbaum, history, broadway, musicals, hamilton, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/NussbaumHamilton.mp3 1:01:59 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 03 Jul 2017 06:30:00 EST Chris Blattman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about whether it's better to give poor Africans cash or chickens and the role of experiments in helping us figure out the answer. Along the way he discusses the importance of growth vs. smaller interventions and the state of development economics. Chris Blattman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about whether it's better to give poor Africans cash or chickens and the role of experiments in helping us figure out the answer. Along the way he discusses the importance of growth vs. smaller interventions and the state of development economics. Chris Blattman talks with host Russ Roberts about whether it's better to give poor Africans cash or chickens and the role of experiments in seeking the answer. He also discusses growth v. smaller interventions and the state of development economics. economics, Chris Blattman, charity, growth, poverty, Africa, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Blattmanchickens.mp3 1:03:40 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Jun 2017 06:30:00 EST Robin Feldman of the University of California Hastings College of Law and author of Drug Wars talks about her book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Feldman explores the various ways that pharmaceutical companies try to reduce competition from generic drugs. The conversation includes a discussion of the Hatch-Waxman Act and the sometimes crazy world of patent protection. Robin Feldman of the University of California Hastings College of Law and author of Drug Wars talks about her book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Feldman explores the various ways that pharmaceutical companies try to reduce competition from generic drugs. The conversation includes a discussion of the Hatch-Waxman Act and the sometimes crazy world of patent protection. Robin Feldman talks about her book, Drug Wars, with host Russ Roberts. She explores the various ways pharmaceutical companies try to reduce competition from generic drugs, the Hatch-Waxman Act, and the sometimes crazy world of patent protection. economics, Robin Feldman, pharmaceuticals, FDA, intellectual property, competition, antitrust, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Feldmandrugs.mp3 1:05:22 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Jun 2017 06:30:00 EST Author and historian Thomas Ricks talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Churchill and Orwell. Ricks makes the case that the odd couple of Winston Churchill and George Orwell played and play an important role in preserving individual liberty. Ricks reviews the contributions of these two giants whose lives overlapped and whose legacy remains vibrant. Author and historian Thomas Ricks talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Churchill and Orwell. Ricks makes the case that the odd couple of Winston Churchill and George Orwell played and play an important role in preserving individual liberty. Ricks reviews the contributions of these two giants whose lives overlapped and whose legacy remains vibrant. Author and historian Thomas Ricks talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, Churchill and Orwell. Ricks makes the case that the odd couple of Winston Churchill and George Orwell played and play an important role in preserving individual liberty. He reviews the contributions of these two giants whose lives overlapped and whose legacy remains vibrant. economics, Thomas Ricks, Winston Churchill, George Orwell, freedom, military history, democracy, political science, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/RicksChurchillOrwell.mp3 1:05:47 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Jun 2017 06:30:00 EST Why is it that people in large cities like Paris or New York City people sleep peacefully, unworried about whether there will be enough bread or other necessities available for purchase the next morning? No one is in charge--no bread czar. No flour czar. And yet it seems to work remarkably well. Don Boudreaux of George Mason University and Michael Munger of Duke University join EconTalk host Russ Roberts to discuss emergent order and markets. The conversation includes a reading of Roberts's poem, "It's a Wonderful Loaf." Why is it that people in large cities like Paris or New York City people sleep peacefully, unworried about whether there will be enough bread or other necessities available for purchase the next morning? No one is in charge--no bread czar. No flour czar. And yet it seems to work remarkably well. Don Boudreaux of George Mason University and Michael Munger of Duke University join EconTalk host Russ Roberts to discuss emergent order and markets. The conversation includes a reading of Roberts's poem, "It's a Wonderful Loaf." Why do people in large cities sleep unworried about the availability of bread and necessities? Don Boudreaux and Mike Munger join host Russ Roberts to discuss emergent order and markets. The conversation includes a reading of "It's a Wonderful Loaf," Roberts's poem. economics, Don Boudreaux, Michael Munger, Friedrich Hayek, spontaneous order, emergence, coordination, competitive markets, top down, bottom up, cities, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/BoudreauxMungerRoberts.mp3 1:13:39 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Jun 2017 06:30:00 EST Historian Christy Ford Chapin of University of Maryland Baltimore County and Johns Hopkins and author of Ensuring America's Health talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book--a history of how America's health care system came to be dominated by insurance companies or government agencies paying doctors per procedure. Chapin explains how this system emerged from efforts by the American Medical Association to stop various reform efforts over the decades. Chapin argues that different models might have emerged that would lead to a more effective health care system. Historian Christy Ford Chapin of University of Maryland Baltimore County and Johns Hopkins and author of Ensuring America's Health talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book--a history of how America's health care system came to be dominated by insurance companies or government agencies paying doctors per procedure. Chapin explains how this system emerged from efforts by the American Medical Association to stop various reform efforts over the decades. Chapin argues that different models might have emerged that would lead to a more effective health care system. Christy Ford Chapin talks with host Russ Roberts about her book, Ensuring America's Health, a history of how America's health care system came to be dominated by insurance companies or government agencies paying doctors per procedure. She explains how this system emerged from efforts by the American Medical Association to stop reform efforts. Chapin argues that different models might have emerged that would lead to a more effective health care system. economics, Christy Ford Chapin, history, doctors, american medical association, health insurance, procedures, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Chapinhealth.mp3 1:05:53 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 29 May 2017 06:30:00 EST What is the state of liberty in America? Is liberty increasing or decreasing? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about the future? This week EconTalk features David Boaz, P.J. O'Rourke, and George Will discussing these questions and more with EconTalk host Russ Roberts in front of a live audience at the Cato Institute. What is the state of liberty in America? Is liberty increasing or decreasing? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about the future? This week EconTalk features David Boaz, P.J. O'Rourke, and George Will discussing these questions and more with EconTalk host Russ Roberts in front of a live audience at the Cato Institute. What is the state of liberty in America? Is liberty increasing or decreasing? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about the future? David Boaz, P.J. O'Rourke, and George Will discuss these questions and more with host Russ Roberts in front of a live audience at the Cato Institute. economics, David Boaz, PJ O'Rourke, George Will, freedom, Cato, philosophy, political science, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/BoazORourkeWillliberty.mp3 1:04:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 22 May 2017 06:30:00 EST How should we think about growth and poverty? How important is the goal of reducing the proportion of the world's population living on less than a dollar a day? Does poverty persist because people lack skills or because they live in economic systems where skills are not rewarded? What is the role of experimental methods in understanding what reduces poverty? Author and economist Lant Pritchett of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more in a wide-ranging discussion of how best to help the world's poorest people. How should we think about growth and poverty? How important is the goal of reducing the proportion of the world's population living on less than a dollar a day? Does poverty persist because people lack skills or because they live in economic systems where skills are not rewarded? What is the role of experimental methods in understanding what reduces poverty? Author and economist Lant Pritchett of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more in a wide-ranging discussion of how best to help the world's poorest people. Lant Pritchett talks with host Russ Roberts about how to help the world's poorest people. How important is the goal of reducing the proportion of the world's population living on less than a dollar a day? Does poverty persist because people lack skills or because they live in economic systems where skills are not rewarded? economics, Lant Pritchett, international, development, poor, experimental, developing countries, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Pritchettpoverty.mp3 1:03:14 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 15 May 2017 06:30:00 EST Author and legal scholar Cass Sunstein of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, #Republic. Sunstein argues that the internet has encouraged people to frequent informational echo chambers where their views are reinforced and rarely challenged. In addition, there is a loss of public space where people might have to encounter dissonant ideas or causes they might wish to champion. Sunstein considers this a threat to democracy and discusses a variety of ways the situation might improve. Author and legal scholar Cass Sunstein of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, #Republic. Sunstein argues that the internet has encouraged people to frequent informational echo chambers where their views are reinforced and rarely challenged. In addition, there is a loss of public space where people might have to encounter dissonant ideas or causes they might wish to champion. Sunstein considers this a threat to democracy and discusses a variety of ways the situation might improve. Cass Sunstein talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, #Republic. He argues that the internet has encouraged people to frequent informational echo chambers where their views are reinforced and rarely challenged. Also, reduced public space where people might have to encounter dissonant ideas or causes they might wish to champion. Sunstein considers this a threat to democracy and discusses a variety of ways the situation might improve. economics, Cass Sunstein, dissent, philosophy, democracy, political science, social media, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Sunsteinrepublic.mp3 1:07:14 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 08 May 2017 06:30:00 EST Author and economist Tyler Cowen of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, The Complacent Class. Cowen argues that the United States has become complacent and the result is a loss of dynamism in the economy and in American life, generally. Cowen provides a rich mix of data, speculation, and creativity in support of his claims. Author and economist Tyler Cowen of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, The Complacent Class. Cowen argues that the United States has become complacent and the result is a loss of dynamism in the economy and in American life, generally. Cowen provides a rich mix of data, speculation, and creativity in support of his claims. Tyler Cowen talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, The Complacent Class. He argues that the U.S. has become complacent and the result is a loss of dynamism in the economy and in American life. Cowen provides a rich mix of data, speculation, and creativity in support of his claims. economics, Tyler Cowen, complacency, culture, cities, government, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Cowencomplacent.mp3 1:06:02 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 01 May 2017 06:30:00 EST Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the organization she started. Code for America works with private sector tech people to bring technology to the provision of government services. Pahlka discusses some of the success Code for America has had with improving government and the challenges of citizenship and technology in the 21st century. Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the organization she started. Code for America works with private sector tech people to bring technology to the provision of government services. Pahlka discusses some of the success Code for America has had with improving government and the challenges of citizenship and technology in the 21st century. Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, talks with host Russ Roberts. Code for America works with private sector tech people to bring technology to the provision of government services. Pahlka discusses some of the success Code for America has had with improving government and the challenges of citizenship and technology in the 21st century. economics, Jennifer Pahlka, computer programming, coding, government, technology, citizenship, public service, charity, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Pahlkacode.mp3 59:37 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:30:00 EST Elizabeth Pape, founder of the women's clothing company Elizabeth Suzann, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about starting and running her company--a manufacturer and seller of high-end women's clothing in Nashville, Tennessee. The conversation chronicles the ups and downs of her entrepreneurial story, the recent evolution of the women's clothing market, and the challenge of competition from lower quality, lower-priced products. Elizabeth Pape, founder of the women's clothing company Elizabeth Suzann, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about starting and running her company--a manufacturer and seller of high-end women's clothing in Nashville, Tennessee. The conversation chronicles the ups and downs of her entrepreneurial story, the recent evolution of the women's clothing market, and the challenge of competition from lower quality, lower-priced products. Elizabeth Pape, founder of clothing company Elizabeth Suzann, talks with host Russ Roberts about her company--a manufacturer and seller of high-end women's clothing. She chronicles her entrepreneurial story, the women's clothing market, and the challenge of competition from lower quality, lower-priced products. economics, Elizabeth Pape, manufacturing, apparel, entrepreneurs, competition, sweatshops, fashion, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Papeclothing.mp3 1:15:53 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 17 Apr 2017 06:30:00 EST Journalist and author Rana Foroohar of the Financial Times talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book, Makers and Takers. Foroohar argues that finance has become an increasingly powerful part of the U.S. economy and has handicapped the growth and effectiveness of manufacturing and the rest of the economy. Journalist and author Rana Foroohar of the Financial Times talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book, Makers and Takers. Foroohar argues that finance has become an increasingly powerful part of the U.S. economy and has handicapped the growth and effectiveness of manufacturing and the rest of the economy. Rana Foroohar talks with host Russ Roberts about her book, Makers and Takers. Foroohar argues that finance has become an increasingly powerful part of the U.S. economy and has handicapped the growth and effectiveness of manufacturing and the rest of the economy. economics, Rana Foroohar, manufacturing, industry, finance, debt, borrowing, great recession, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Forooharfinancial.mp3 1:03:45 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 10 Apr 2017 06:30:00 EST Podcaster and writer Erica Sandberg talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about homelessness in San Francisco. Sandberg talks about what the city can do about homelessness and her experience with Downtown Streets Team, which gives homeless people in the Bay Area the chance to work in exchange for gift cards that let them buy food and other basics. Podcaster and writer Erica Sandberg talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about homelessness in San Francisco. Sandberg talks about what the city can do about homelessness and her experience with Downtown Streets Team, which gives homeless people in the Bay Area the chance to work in exchange for gift cards that let them buy food and other basics. Erica Sandberg talks with host Russ Roberts about homelessness in San Francisco. She talks about what the city can do about homelessness and her experience with Downtown Streets Team, which gives homeless people the chance to work in exchange for gift cards that let them buy food and other basics. economics, Erica Sandberg, poverty, charity, San Francisco, urban, cities, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Sandberghomelessness.mp3 57:40 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:30:00 EST Are Americans overtaxed? How does the average American feel about the tax system and tax reform? Vanessa Williamson of the Brookings Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book, Read My Lips. Williamson shares the results of her survey of American attitudes toward taxation and government spending. People misperceive much about who pays what and the structure of the tax system, particularly the payroll tax. But some of what appears to be errors--about foreign aid and government waste for example, come from the average person's definition of these terms being different from the narrow meaning. Are Americans overtaxed? How does the average American feel about the tax system and tax reform? Vanessa Williamson of the Brookings Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book, Read My Lips. Williamson shares the results of her survey of American attitudes toward taxation and government spending. People misperceive much about who pays what and the structure of the tax system, particularly the payroll tax. But some of what appears to be errors--about foreign aid and government waste for example, come from the average person's definition of these terms being different from the narrow meaning. Are Americans overtaxed? Vanessa Williamson talks with host Russ Roberts about her book, Read My Lips. Williamson shares the results of her survey of American attitudes toward taxation and government spending. People misperceive much about who pays what and the structure of the tax system, particularly the payroll tax. But some of what appears to be errors--about foreign aid and government waste for example, come from the average person's definition of these terms being different from the narrow meaning. economics, Vanessa Williamson, taxation, payroll, government spending, politics, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Williamsontaxes.mp3 1:08:39 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Mar 2017 06:30:00 EST Why does the Manhattan skyline look like it does with incredible skyscrapers south of City Hall then almost no tall buildings until midtown? Jason Barr of Rutgers University-Newark and author of Building the Skyline talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the evolution of Manhattan as a place to live and work, and the mix of individual choices and government policy that created the skyline of Manhattan. Why does the Manhattan skyline look like it does with incredible skyscrapers south of City Hall then almost no tall buildings until midtown? Jason Barr of Rutgers University-Newark and author of Building the Skyline talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the evolution of Manhattan as a place to live and work, and the mix of individual choices and government policy that created the skyline of Manhattan. Why does the Manhattan skyline look like it does with skyscrapers south of City Hall then almost no tall buildings until midtown? Jason Barr talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the evolution of Manhattan as a place to live and work, and the mix of individual choices and government policy that created the skyline of Manhattan. economics, Jason Barr, Manhattan, New York City, geology, zoning laws, urban planning, cities, real estate, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Barrskyscrapers.mp3 1:17:37 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Mar 2017 06:30:00 EST Statistician, blogger, and author Andrew Gelman of Columbia University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges facing psychologists and economists when using small samples. On the surface, finding statistically significant results in a small sample would seem to be extremely impressive and would make one even more confident that a larger sample would find even stronger evidence. Yet, larger samples often fail to lead to replication. Gelman discusses how this phenomenon is rooted in the incentives built into human nature and the publication process. The conversation closes with a general discussion of the nature of empirical work in the social sciences. Statistician, blogger, and author Andrew Gelman of Columbia University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges facing psychologists and economists when using small samples. On the surface, finding statistically significant results in a small sample would seem to be extremely impressive and would make one even more confident that a larger sample would find even stronger evidence. Yet, larger samples often fail to lead to replication. Gelman discusses how this phenomenon is rooted in the incentives built into human nature and the publication process. The conversation closes with a general discussion of the nature of empirical work in the social sciences. Andrew Gelman talks with host Russ Roberts about the challenges facing psychologists and economists when using small samples. Statistically significant results in a small sample would seem to be impressive and would make one even more confident that a larger sample would find even stronger evidence. Yet, larger samples often fail to lead to replication. Gelman discusses how this phenomenon is rooted in the incentives built into human nature and the publication process. The conversation closes with a general discussion of the nature of empirical work in the social sciences. economics, Andrew Gelman, statistics, sample sizes, statistical significance, psychology, social sciences, replicating experiments, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Gelmansamples.mp3 1:07:42 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Mar 2017 06:30:00 EST Is capitalism part of the poverty problem facing the world or part of the solution? Are human beings doing a good job preserving the earth for future generations? To improve the world, should we improve capitalism or ourselves? Robert Whaples of Wake Forest University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about "Laudato Si'," Pope Francis's encyclical on capitalism, poverty, and environmental issues. Is capitalism part of the poverty problem facing the world or part of the solution? Are human beings doing a good job preserving the earth for future generations? To improve the world, should we improve capitalism or ourselves? Robert Whaples of Wake Forest University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about "Laudato Si'," Pope Francis's encyclical on capitalism, poverty, and environmental issues. Is capitalism part of the world's poverty problem or part of the solution? Are humans doing a good job preserving the earth? Robert Whaples talks with host Russ Roberts about "Laudato Si'," Pope Francis's encyclical on capitalism, poverty, and environmental issues. economics, Robert Whaples, vatican, papal encyclicals, environmentalism, capitalism, ethics, morals, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Whaplespope.mp3 58:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Mar 2017 06:30:00 EST What is the future of the European economy? What are the challenges facing Europe? What are the implications of Brexit for the United Kingdom and the rest of the Europe? Nicholas Crafts of the University of Warwick, Luis Garicano of the London School of Economics, and Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. What is the future of the European economy? What are the challenges facing Europe? What are the implications of Brexit for the United Kingdom and the rest of the Europe? Nicholas Crafts of the University of Warwick, Luis Garicano of the London School of Economics, and Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. What is the future of the European economy? What challenges face Europe? What are the implications of Brexit? Nicholas Crafts, Luis Garicano, and Luigi Zingales talk with host Russ Roberts about these questions and more in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. economics, Nicholas Crafts, Brexit, european union, international trade, finance, politics, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/CraftsGaricanoZingaleseurope.mp3 1:02:43 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Feb 2017 06:30:00 EST Psychologist Paul Bloom of Yale University talks about his book Against Empathy with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Bloom argues that empathy--the ability to feel the emotions of others--is a bad guide to charitable giving and public policy. Bloom argues that reason combined with compassion is a better and more effective guide to making the world a better place. Psychologist Paul Bloom of Yale University talks about his book Against Empathy with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Bloom argues that empathy--the ability to feel the emotions of others--is a bad guide to charitable giving and public policy. Bloom argues that reason combined with compassion is a better and more effective guide to making the world a better place. Psychologist Paul Bloom talks about his book Against Empathy with host Russ Roberts. Bloom argues that empathy--the ability to feel the emotions of others--is a bad guide to charitable giving and public policy. He argues that reason combined with compassion is a better and more effective guide to making the world a better place. economics, Paul Bloom, psychology, compassion, charity, envy, public policies, feelings, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Bloomagainstempathy.mp3 1:08:25 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Feb 2017 06:30:00 EST When fighting the war on drugs, governments typically devote enormous resources trying to reduce the supply. But is this effective? Journalist and author Tom Wainwright of the Economist and author of Narconomics talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ways that the drug cartels respond to government attempts to reduce the availability of drugs. Like any business trying to maintain profitability, cartels look for ways to cut costs and maintain or grow revenue. Wainwright uses extensive on-the-ground interviews and reporting to understand the behavior of the cartels and argues that reducing demand would be a much more effective strategy for reducing drug use. When fighting the war on drugs, governments typically devote enormous resources trying to reduce the supply. But is this effective? Journalist and author Tom Wainwright of the Economist and author of Narconomics talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ways that the drug cartels respond to government attempts to reduce the availability of drugs. Like any business trying to maintain profitability, cartels look for ways to cut costs and maintain or grow revenue. Wainwright uses extensive on-the-ground interviews and reporting to understand the behavior of the cartels and argues that reducing demand would be a much more effective strategy for reducing drug use. To fight the war on drugs, governments devote enormous resources trying to reduce the supply. Is this effective? Tom Wainwright talks with host Russ Roberts about how drug cartels respond. Cartels look for ways to cut costs and maintain or grow revenue. He uses extensive on-the-ground interviews and reporting to understand the behavior of the cartels and argues that reducing demand would be a much more effective strategy for reducing drug use. economics, Tom Wainwright, narcotics, war on drugs, supply, demand, cartels, monopolies, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Wainwrightnarconomics.mp3 1:11:22 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Feb 2017 06:30:00 EST Writer, reporter, and film producer Jim Epstein talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about mining Bitcoins in Venezuela as a way to import food. Venezuela is a tragicomic example of how policy can lead to strange and presumably unexpected outcomes. Epstein also discusses how Bitcoin is being used elsewhere in Latin America and the potential for the blockchain technology to lower the costs of owning and transferring property. Writer, reporter, and film producer Jim Epstein talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about mining Bitcoins in Venezuela as a way to import food. Venezuela is a tragicomic example of how policy can lead to strange and presumably unexpected outcomes. Epstein also discusses how Bitcoin is being used elsewhere in Latin America and the potential for the blockchain technology to lower the costs of owning and transferring property. Jim Epstein talks with host Russ Roberts about mining Bitcoins in Venezuela to import food--a tragicomic example of policy leading to unexpected outcomes. He also discusses how Bitcoin's blockchain technology may be used to lower the costs of owning and transferring property. economics, Jim Epstein, bitcoins, Venezuela, property rights, hyperinflation, blockchain, cryptocurrency, finance, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/EpsteinJbitcoin.mp3 59:51 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Feb 2017 06:30:00 EST Sugar appears to have no nutritional value. But is it more than just empty calories? Is it actually bad for us? Author and journalist Gary Taubes talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Case Against Sugar. Taubes argues that there is substantial circumstantial evidence suggesting that sugar is the underlying cause of a host of modern health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Taubes concedes the evidence is not iron-clad or definitive and reflects along the way on the intellectual and personal challenges of holding a strong view in the face of significant skepticism. Sugar appears to have no nutritional value. But is it more than just empty calories? Is it actually bad for us? Author and journalist Gary Taubes talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Case Against Sugar. Taubes argues that there is substantial circumstantial evidence suggesting that sugar is the underlying cause of a host of modern health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Taubes concedes the evidence is not iron-clad or definitive and reflects along the way on the intellectual and personal challenges of holding a strong view in the face of significant skepticism. Gary Taubes talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Case Against Sugar. He argues that there is substantial circumstantial evidence that sugar is the underlying cause of many health problems--diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Taubes concedes the evidence is not iron-clad or definitive and reflects along the way on the intellectual and personal challenges of holding a strong view in the face of significant skepticism. economics, Gary Taubes, nutrition, weight loss, health care, diabetes, heart disease, diet, carbohydrates, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Taubessugar.mp3 1:16:57 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Jan 2017 06:30:00 EST George Borjas of Harvard University and author of We Wanted Workers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about immigration and the challenges of measuring the impact of increased immigration on American workers and consumers. The discussion also looks at the cultural impact of immigration and what immigration in the past can tell us about immigration today. George Borjas of Harvard University and author of We Wanted Workers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about immigration and the challenges of measuring the impact of increased immigration on American workers and consumers. The discussion also looks at the cultural impact of immigration and what immigration in the past can tell us about immigration today. George Borjas talks with host Russ Roberts about immigration and the challenges of measuring the impact of increased immigration on American workers and consumers. The discussion also looks at the cultural impact of immigration and what immigration in the past can tell us about immigration today. economics, George Borjas, labor force, immigrants, imports, Mexico, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Borjasimmigration.mp3 1:05:20 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Jan 2017 06:30:00 EST How did heroin spread beyond big cities in America? What's the connection between heroin and America's opioid problem? Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the explosion in heroin use and how one small Mexican town changed how heroin was produced and sold in America. That in turn became entangled with the growth in the use of pain-killers as recreational drugs. Drawing on the investigative reporting that culminated in his book, Quinones lays out the recent history and economics of the growth in heroin and pain-killer usage and the lost lives along the way. How did heroin spread beyond big cities in America? What's the connection between heroin and America's opioid problem? Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the explosion in heroin use and how one small Mexican town changed how heroin was produced and sold in America. That in turn became entangled with the growth in the use of pain-killers as recreational drugs. Drawing on the investigative reporting that culminated in his book, Quinones lays out the recent history and economics of the growth in heroin and pain-killer usage and the lost lives along the way. How did heroin spread beyond big cities? What's the connection between heroin and America's opioid problem? Sam Quinones talks with host Russ Roberts about the explosion in heroin use, and how one small Mexican town changed how heroin was produced and sold in America and became entangled with the growth in using pain-killers as recreational drugs. Drawing on the investigative reporting that culminated in his book, Quinones lays out the recent history and economics of the growth in heroin and pain-killer usage and the lost lives along the way. economics, Sam Quinones, opioids, opiate addiction, drugs, painkillers, recreational drug use, Mexico, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Quinonesopioids.mp3 1:09:57 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Jan 2017 06:30:00 EST Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the virtues and negatives of a basic guaranteed income--giving every American adult an annual amount of money to guarantee a subsistence level of well-being. How would such a plan work? How would it interact with current anti-poverty programs? How would it affect recipients and taxpayers? Munger attacks these issues and more in a lively conversation with Roberts. Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the virtues and negatives of a basic guaranteed income--giving every American adult an annual amount of money to guarantee a subsistence level of well-being. How would such a plan work? How would it interact with current anti-poverty programs? How would it affect recipients and taxpayers? Munger attacks these issues and more in a lively conversation with Roberts. Michael Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about the virtues and negatives of a basic guaranteed income--giving every American adult an annual amount of money to guarantee a subsistence level of well-being. How would such a plan work? How would it interact with current anti-poverty programs? How would it affect recipients and taxpayers? Munger attacks these issues and more in a lively conversation. economics, Michael Munger, poverty, taxation, income inequality, subsistence, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Mungerguarantee.mp3 1:04:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Jan 2017 06:30:00 EST Economist Robert Hall of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the current state of the U.S. economy and what we know and don't know about the recovery from the Great Recession. Much of the conversation focuses on the choices facing the Federal Reserve and the policy instruments the Fed has available. The conversation includes a discussion of Hall's experience as chair of the National Bureau of Economic Research Committee on Business Cycle Dating. Economist Robert Hall of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the current state of the U.S. economy and what we know and don't know about the recovery from the Great Recession. Much of the conversation focuses on the choices facing the Federal Reserve and the policy instruments the Fed has available. The conversation includes a discussion of Hall's experience as chair of the National Bureau of Economic Research Committee on Business Cycle Dating. Robert Hall talks with host Russ Roberts about the current state of the U.S. economy--what we know and don't know about the recovery from the Great Recession. The conversation focuses on the choices facing the Federal Reserve and the policy instruments the Fed has available. The conversation includes a discussion of Hall's experience as chair of the National Bureau of Economic Research Committee on Business Cycle Dating. economics, Robert Hall, business cycles, federal reserve, employment, unemployment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Hallmoney.mp3 1:08:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Jan 2017 06:30:00 EST Economist and author Mark Warshawsky of George Mason Univerity's Mercatus Center talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on the role health care benefits play in measuring inequality. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Warshawsky shows that because health care benefits are a larger share of compensation for lower-paid than higher-paid workers, measures of inequality and even measures of economic progress can be misleading or distorted. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to how the labor market treats workers and the role of benefits in setting overall compensation. Economist and author Mark Warshawsky of George Mason Univerity's Mercatus Center talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on the role health care benefits play in measuring inequality. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Warshawsky shows that because health care benefits are a larger share of compensation for lower-paid than higher-paid workers, measures of inequality and even measures of economic progress can be misleading or distorted. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to how the labor market treats workers and the role of benefits in setting overall compensation. Mark Warshawsky talks with host Russ Roberts about the role health care benefits play in measuring inequality. He shows that because health care benefits are a larger share of compensation for lower-paid than higher-paid workers, measures of inequality and even measures of economic progress can be misleading or distorted. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to how the labor market treats workers and the role of benefits in setting overall compensation. economics, Mark Warshawsky, health insurance, inequality, labor, measurement, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2017/Warshawskyhealthcare.mp3 1:07:03 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Dec 2016 06:30:00 EST If you were a poor person in a poor country, would you prefer steady work in a factory or to be your own boss, buying and selling in the local market? Economist Chris Blattman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about experimental evidence on how poor people choose in the labor market and the consequences for their income, health, and satisfaction. If you were a poor person in a poor country, would you prefer steady work in a factory or to be your own boss, buying and selling in the local market? Economist Chris Blattman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about experimental evidence on how poor people choose in the labor market and the consequences for their income, health, and satisfaction. If you were a poor person in a poor country, would you prefer steady work in a factory or to be your own boss, buying and selling in the local market? Chris Blattman talks with host Russ Roberts about experimental evidence on how poor people choose in the labor market and the consequences for their income, health, and satisfaction. economics, Chris Blattman, poverty, experimental evidence, development, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Blattmansweatshops.mp3 1:17:41 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Dec 2016 06:30:00 EST Terry Anderson of PERC talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about economic life for Native Americans. Anderson discusses economic life before the arrival of Europeans and how current policy affects Native Americans living on reservations today. Terry Anderson of PERC talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about economic life for Native Americans. Anderson discusses economic life before the arrival of Europeans and how current policy affects Native Americans living on reservations today. Terry Anderson of PERC talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about economic life for Native Americans. Anderson discusses economic life before the arrival of Europeans and how current policy affects Native Americans living on reservations today. economics, Terry Anderson, indians, reservations, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/AndersonTnative.mp3 1:07:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Dec 2016 06:30:00 EST There is a fascinating and depressing positive correlation between the reputation of an American president and the number of people dying in wars while that president is in office. Political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita of NYU and co-author of The Spoils of War talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how presidents go to war. Bueno de Mesquita argues that the decision of how and when to go to war is made in self-interested ways rather than in consideration of what is best for the nation. The discussion includes a revisionist perspective on the presidencies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others as Bueno de Mesquita tries to make the case that the reputations of these men are over-inflated. There is a fascinating and depressing positive correlation between the reputation of an American president and the number of people dying in wars while that president is in office. Political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita of NYU and co-author of The Spoils of War talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how presidents go to war. Bueno de Mesquita argues that the decision of how and when to go to war is made in self-interested ways rather than in consideration of what is best for the nation. The discussion includes a revisionist perspective on the presidencies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others as Bueno de Mesquita tries to make the case that the reputations of these men are over-inflated. There is a positive correlation between the reputation of an American president and the number of people dying in wars while that president is in office. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita talks with host Russ Roberts about how presidents go to war. He argues that the decision is made in self-interested ways rather than in consideration of what is best for the nation. The discussion includes a revisionist perspective of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others as Bueno de Mesquita tries to make the case that the reputations of these men are over-inflated. economics, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, political science, presidency, warfare, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/BuenodeMesquitawar.mp3 1:15:10 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:30:00 EST Were the first professional economists racists? Thomas Leonard of Princeton University and author of Illiberal Reformers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--a portrait of the progressive movement and its early advocates at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The economists of that time were eager to champion the power of the state and its ability to regulate capitalism successfully. Leonard exposes the racist origins of these ideas and the role eugenics played in the early days of professional economics. Woodrow Wilson takes a beating as well. Were the first professional economists racists? Thomas Leonard of Princeton University and author of Illiberal Reformers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book--a portrait of the progressive movement and its early advocates at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The economists of that time were eager to champion the power of the state and its ability to regulate capitalism successfully. Leonard exposes the racist origins of these ideas and the role eugenics played in the early days of professional economics. Woodrow Wilson takes a beating as well. Were the first professional economists racists? Thomas Leonard talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, Illiberal Reformers, a portrait of the progressive movement at the turn of the 20th century. Economists at the time were eager to champion the state's ability to regulate capitalism successfully. Leonard exposes the racist origins and the role eugenics played in professional economics' early days. Woodrow Wilson takes a beating as well. economics, Thomas Leonard, racism, progressivism, eugenics, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Leonardrace.mp3 1:08:16 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 Nov 2016 06:30:00 EST Doug Lemov of Uncommon School and co-author of Reading Reconsidered talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reading. Lemov makes the case for the educational importance of critical reading of challenging books and texts. Along the way, he gives listeners some ideas of how to read themselves and gives parents some ideas for how to educate their children. Doug Lemov of Uncommon School and co-author of Reading Reconsidered talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reading. Lemov makes the case for the educational importance of critical reading of challenging books and texts. Along the way, he gives listeners some ideas of how to read themselves and gives parents some ideas for how to educate their children. Doug Lemov talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reading. He makes the case for the educational importance of critical reading of challenging books and texts. Along the way, he gives listeners some ideas of how to read themselves and gives parents some ideas for how to educate their children. economics, Doug Lemov, teaching, education, school, literature, nonfiction, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Lemovreading.mp3 1:02:48 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 Nov 2016 06:30:00 EST Erik Hurst of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of the labor market in the United States. Hurst notes dramatic changes in employment rates for men and speculates about the causes. Two factors discussed in detail are declines in the manufacturing sector and the rise of high-end video games as a form of leisure. Erik Hurst of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of the labor market in the United States. Hurst notes dramatic changes in employment rates for men and speculates about the causes. Two factors discussed in detail are declines in the manufacturing sector and the rise of high-end video games as a form of leisure. Erik Hurst talks with host Russ Roberts about the state of the U.S. labor market. He notes dramatic changes in employment rates for men and speculates about the causes. Declines in the manufacturing sector and the rise of high-end video games as a form of leisure are two factors discussed in detail. economics, Erik Hurst, employment, jobs, leisure, manufacturing, video games, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Hurstlabor.mp3 1:11:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:30:00 EST Tim Harford, journalist and author, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Messy. Harford argues that we have a weakness for order and neat solutions causing us to miss opportunities to find happiness or success with messier, more disorderly processes and solutions. Hartford looks at a wide range of examples from business and personal life making the case that tidiness is overrated and that messy should get more love. Tim Harford, journalist and author, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Messy. Harford argues that we have a weakness for order and neat solutions causing us to miss opportunities to find happiness or success with messier, more disorderly processes and solutions. Hartford looks at a wide range of examples from business and personal life making the case that tidiness is overrated and that messy should get more love. Tim Harford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Messy. He argues we have a weakness for order and neat solutions causing us to miss opportunities to find happiness or success with messier, more disorderly processes and solutions. Hartford looks at a wide range of examples from business and personal life making the case that tidiness is overrated and that messy should get more love. economics, Tim Harford, success, failure, messiness, happiness, solutions, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Harfordmessy.mp3 1:12:32 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 Nov 2016 06:30:00 EST David Gelernter, professor of computer science at Yale University and author of The Tides of Mind, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about consciousness and how our minds evolve through the course of the day and as we grow up. Other topics discussed include creativity, artificial intelligence, and the singularity. David Gelernter, professor of computer science at Yale University and author of The Tides of Mind, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about consciousness and how our minds evolve through the course of the day and as we grow up. Other topics discussed include creativity, artificial intelligence, and the singularity. David Gelernter talks with host Russ Roberts about consciousness and how our minds evolve through the course of the day and as we grow up. Other topics discussed include creativity, artificial intelligence, and the singularity. economics, David Gelernter, brain, technology, robots, singularity, artificial intelligence, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Gelernterconsciousness.mp3 1:08:31 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 31 Oct 2016 06:30:00 EST Judith Donath, author of The Social Machine, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book--an examination of signaling, online identity, and online community. Donath argues that design elements in technology play a key role in our interactions with one another. The conversation closes with a discussion of data collection by corporations and the government. Judith Donath, author of The Social Machine, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book--an examination of signaling, online identity, and online community. Donath argues that design elements in technology play a key role in our interactions with one another. The conversation closes with a discussion of data collection by corporations and the government. Judith Donath talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book--an examination of signaling, online identity, and online community. She argues that design elements in technology play a key role in our interactions. The conversation closes with a discussion of data collection by corporations and the government. economics, Judith Donath, signalling, online community, design, technology, data, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Donathsignaling.mp3 1:08:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 24 Oct 2016 06:30:00 EST Casey Mulligan of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about life in Cuba. Mulligan, who recently returned from a trip to Cuba, discusses the economy, the standard of living and some of the peculiarities of communist control. Casey Mulligan of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about life in Cuba. Mulligan, who recently returned from a trip to Cuba, discusses the economy, the standard of living and some of the peculiarities of communist control. Casey Mulligan talks with host Russ Roberts about life in Cuba. Mulligan, who recently returned from a trip to Cuba, discusses the economy, the standard of living and some of the peculiarities of communist control. economics, Casey Mulligan, communism, Cuban standard of living, poverty, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/MulliganCuba.mp3 1:01:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 17 Oct 2016 06:30:00 EST Chris Arnade, former Wall Street trader turned photographer and social chronicler, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what he learned from the front lines of the financial industry in the 1990s and 2000s when everything slowly and then very quickly began to fall apart. He also discusses his transition into observer and photographer of drug addicts, the poor, and the forgotten parts of America. Chris Arnade, former Wall Street trader turned photographer and social chronicler, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what he learned from the front lines of the financial industry in the 1990s and 2000s when everything slowly and then very quickly began to fall apart. He also discusses his transition into observer and photographer of drug addicts, the poor, and the forgotten parts of America. Chris Arnade talks with host Russ Roberts about what he learned from the front lines of the financial industry in the 1990s and 2000s when everything began to fall apart. He also discusses his transition into observer and photographer of drug addicts, the poor, and the forgotten parts of America. economics, Chris Arnade, financial crisis, housing, photography, poverty, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Arnadepoverty.mp3 1:09:07 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 10 Oct 2016 06:30:00 EST Nobel Laureate in Economics Angus Deaton of Princeton University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of trade and aid. Deaton wonders if economists should re-think the widely-held view that redistribution from rich nations to poor nations makes the world a better place. The conversation focuses on the challenges facing poor Americans including the rising mortality rate for white Americans ages 45-54. Nobel Laureate in Economics Angus Deaton of Princeton University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of trade and aid. Deaton wonders if economists should re-think the widely-held view that redistribution from rich nations to poor nations makes the world a better place. The conversation focuses on the challenges facing poor Americans including the rising mortality rate for white Americans ages 45-54. Nobelist Angus Deaton talks with host Russ Roberts about the economics of trade and aid. He wonders if economists should re-think the widely-held view that redistribution from rich nations to poor nations makes the world a better place. The conversation focuses on the challenges facing poor Americans including the rising mortality rate for white Americans ages 45-54. economics, Angus Deaton, international, foreign aid, cosmopolitarianism, military, lifespan, poverty, development, Nobel Prize, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Deatoninequality.mp3 1:05:04 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 03 Oct 2016 06:30:00 EST Cathy O'Neil, data scientist and author of Weapons of Math Destruction talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book. O'Neil argues that the commercial application of big data often harms individuals in unknown ways. She argues that the poor are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Examples discussed include prison sentencing, college rankings, evaluations of teachers, and targeted advertising. O'Neil argues for more transparency and ethical standards when using data. Cathy O'Neil, data scientist and author of Weapons of Math Destruction talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book. O'Neil argues that the commercial application of big data often harms individuals in unknown ways. She argues that the poor are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Examples discussed include prison sentencing, college rankings, evaluations of teachers, and targeted advertising. O'Neil argues for more transparency and ethical standards when using data. Cathy O'Neil talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her book, Weapons of Math Destruction. She argues that commercial applications of big data often harm individuals in unknown ways, and that the poor are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Examples include prison sentencing, college rankings, evaluations of teachers, and targeted advertising. O'Neil argues for more transparency and ethical standards when using data. economics, Cathy O'Neil, mathematics, big data, social inequality, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/ONeilmath.mp3 1:11:09 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Sep 2016 06:30:00 EST How are those in favor of bigger government and those who want smaller government like a couple stuck in a bad marriage? Economist John Cochrane of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how to take a different approach to the standard policy arguments. Cochrane wants to get away from the stale big government/small government arguments which he likens to a couple who have gotten stuck in a rut making the same ineffective arguments over and over. Cochrane argues for a fresh approach to economic policy including applications to growth, taxes and financial regulation. How are those in favor of bigger government and those who want smaller government like a couple stuck in a bad marriage? Economist John Cochrane of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how to take a different approach to the standard policy arguments. Cochrane wants to get away from the stale big government/small government arguments which he likens to a couple who have gotten stuck in a rut making the same ineffective arguments over and over. Cochrane argues for a fresh approach to economic policy including applications to growth, taxes and financial regulation. How are those in favor of bigger government and those who want smaller government like a couple stuck in a bad marriage? Economist John Cochrane talks with host Russ Roberts about how to take a different approach. Cochrane wants to get away from stale big government/small government arguments. He argues for a fresh approach to economic policy including applications to growth, taxes and financial regulation. economics, John Cochrane, government size, taxation, financial policy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Cochranegrowth.mp3 1:02:26 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Sep 2016 06:30:00 EST What does an x-ray of Hitler's skull have in common with a jar of Ronald Reagan's jelly beans? They are both part of the Hoover Institution archives. Eric Wakin, Director of the Library and Archives of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what it's like to be an archivist and the importance of archival materials for research, culture, and memory. What does an x-ray of Hitler's skull have in common with a jar of Ronald Reagan's jelly beans? They are both part of the Hoover Institution archives. Eric Wakin, Director of the Library and Archives of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about what it's like to be an archivist and the importance of archival materials for research, culture, and memory. What does an x-ray of Hitler's skull have in common with a jar of Ronald Reagan's jelly beans? They are both part of the Hoover Institution archives. Eric Wakin talks with host Russ Roberts about what it's like to be an archivist and the importance of archival materials for research, culture, and memory. economics, Eric Wakin, collections, museums, artifacts, memories, archives, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Wakinarchiving.mp3 1:03:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Sep 2016 06:30:00 EST Can machine learning improve the use of data and evidence for understanding economics and public policy? Susan Athey of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how machine learning can be used in conjunction with traditional econometric techniques to measure the impact of say, the minimum wage or the effectiveness of a new drug. The last part of the conversation looks at the experimental techniques being used by firms like Google and Amazon. Can machine learning improve the use of data and evidence for understanding economics and public policy? Susan Athey of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how machine learning can be used in conjunction with traditional econometric techniques to measure the impact of say, the minimum wage or the effectiveness of a new drug. The last part of the conversation looks at the experimental techniques being used by firms like Google and Amazon. Susan Athey talks with host Russ Roberts about how machine learning can be used along with traditional econometrics to measure the impact of the minimum wage or new drug effectiveness. The last part of the conversation looks at the experimental techniques being used by firms like Google and Amazon. economics, Susan Athey, technology, artificial intelligence, econometrics, policy, data, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Atheymachinelearning.mp3 1:01:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Sep 2016 06:30:00 EST Are there many Americans today who wish the President of the United States had more power relative to the other branches of Congress? Terry Moe is one of them. In this week's EconTalk episode, Moe--a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution--talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book (co-authored with William Howell), Relic. Moe wants to give the President the power to propose legislation that Congress would have to approve or reject free of amendments. Moe argues this would improve legislation and reduce the cronyism and special interest influence on Congress. Are there many Americans today who wish the President of the United States had more power relative to the other branches of Congress? Terry Moe is one of them. In this week's EconTalk episode, Moe--a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution--talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book (co-authored with William Howell), Relic. Moe wants to give the President the power to propose legislation that Congress would have to approve or reject free of amendments. Moe argues this would improve legislation and reduce the cronyism and special interest influence on Congress. Terry Moe talks with host Russ Roberts about his new book (co-authored with William Howell), Relic. Moe wants to give the U.S. President the power to propose legislation that Congress would have to approve or reject free of amendments. Moe argues this would improve legislation and reduce the cronyism and special interest influence on Congress. economics, Terry Moe, president, congress, politics, legislation, amendments, political science, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Moeconstitution.mp3 1:02:02 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 29 Aug 2016 06:30:00 EST Leo Katz, professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Why the Law Is So Perverse. Katz argues that certain seemingly inexplicable features of the law are the result of conflicts between multiple objectives that the law or the courts must trade off against each other. Katz also argues that structure of the law and how it is enforced are analogous to certain inevitable ambiguities of collective choice and voting theory. Leo Katz, professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Why the Law Is So Perverse. Katz argues that certain seemingly inexplicable features of the law are the result of conflicts between multiple objectives that the law or the courts must trade off against each other. Katz also argues that structure of the law and how it is enforced are analogous to certain inevitable ambiguities of collective choice and voting theory. Leo Katz talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, Why the Law Is So Perverse. He argues that certain seemingly inexplicable features of the law are the result of conflicts between multiple objectives that the law or the courts must trade off against each other. Katz also argues that structure of the law and how it is enforced are analogous to certain inevitable ambiguities of collective choice and voting theory. economics, Leo Katz, courts, institutions, collective choice, public choice, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Katzlaw.mp3 1:14:13 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 22 Aug 2016 06:30:00 EST Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how attitudes in the American South toward slavery evolved over time and what we can learn from that evolution about the role culture plays in our lives. Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how attitudes in the American South toward slavery evolved over time and what we can learn from that evolution about the role culture plays in our lives. Michael Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about how attitudes in the American South toward slavery evolved over time and what we can learn from that evolution about the role culture plays in our lives. economics, Michael Munger, culture, the South, history, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Mungerslavery.mp3 1:14:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 15 Aug 2016 06:30:00 EST Chuck Klosterman, author of But What If We're Wrong, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the possibility that things we hold to be undeniably true may turn out to be totally false in the future. This wide-ranging conversation covers music and literary reputations, fundamentals of science, and issues of self-deception and illusion. Chuck Klosterman, author of But What If We're Wrong, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the possibility that things we hold to be undeniably true may turn out to be totally false in the future. This wide-ranging conversation covers music and literary reputations, fundamentals of science, and issues of self-deception and illusion. Chuck Klosterman talks with host Russ Roberts about the possibility that things we hold to be undeniably true may turn out to be totally false in the future. The conversation covers music and literary reputations, fundamentals of science, and issues of self-deception and illusion. economics, Chuck Klosterman, truth, science, reputations, proof, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Klostermanwhatif.mp3 1:02:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 08 Aug 2016 06:30:00 EST Adam D'Angelo, CEO of the question and answer website, Quora, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history, evolution, and challenges of Quora. Along the way they discuss the aggregation of knowledge and the power of experiments for improving the day-to-day performance of the site. Adam D'Angelo, CEO of the question and answer website, Quora, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history, evolution, and challenges of Quora. Along the way they discuss the aggregation of knowledge and the power of experiments for improving the day-to-day performance of the site. Adam D'Angelo, CEO of the question and answer website, Quora, talks with host Russ Roberts about the history, evolution, and challenges of Quora. Along the way they discuss the aggregation of knowledge and the power of experiments for improving the site. economics, Adam D'Angelo, startups, websites, crowd sourcing, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/DAngeloquora.mp3 1:06:14 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 01 Aug 2016 06:30:00 EST Fifty years ago, many of the best players in the National Football League took jobs in the off-season to augment the salaries they earned playing football. Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal and author of Players talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how much football and so many aspects of sports--from tennis to golf to apparel to broadcasting to Olympics--has become incredibly more lucrative. Futterman shares the insights from his book and how all that money has changed sports, the athletes who compete, and the fans who watch. Fifty years ago, many of the best players in the National Football League took jobs in the off-season to augment the salaries they earned playing football. Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal and author of Players talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how much football and so many aspects of sports--from tennis to golf to apparel to broadcasting to Olympics--has become incredibly more lucrative. Futterman shares the insights from his book and how all that money has changed sports, the athletes who compete, and the fans who watch. Fifty years ago, many of the best players in the NFL took jobs in the off-season to augment their football salaries. Matthew Futterman talks with host Russ Roberts about how sports have become more lucrative. He shares the insights from his book and how all that money has changed sports, the athletes who compete, and the fans who watch. economics, Matthew Futterman, NFL, sports, salaries, athletes, football, basketball, tennis, Olympics, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Futtermansports.mp3 1:04:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Jul 2016 06:30:00 EST How important is grit relative to talent? Can grit be taught? Angela Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance talks with with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the nature of success in work, play and life. How much does grit matter? Is grit malleable or something we're born with? Duckworth discusses her research on these questions and how to think about what it means for a child and an adult to thrive. How important is grit relative to talent? Can grit be taught? Angela Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance talks with with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the nature of success in work, play and life. How much does grit matter? Is grit malleable or something we're born with? Duckworth discusses her research on these questions and how to think about what it means for a child and an adult to thrive. How important is grit relative to talent? Can grit be taught? Angela Duckworth talks with with host Russ Roberts about the nature of success in work, play and life. How much does grit matter? Is it malleable or something we're born with? Duckworth discusses her research on these questions and how to think about what it means for a child and an adult to thrive. economics, Angela Duckworth, talent, self-help, nature versus nurture, perseverence, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Duckworthgrit.mp3 1:09:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Jul 2016 06:30:00 EST How does our attitude toward ourselves affect our success or failure in the world of business or in friendship? Ryan Holiday, author of Ego Is the Enemy, talks with Econtalk host Russ Roberts about the role of ego in business, our personal lives, and world history. How does our attitude toward ourselves affect our success or failure in the world of business or in friendship? Ryan Holiday, author of Ego Is the Enemy, talks with Econtalk host Russ Roberts about the role of ego in business, our personal lives, and world history. How does our attitude toward ourselves affect our success or failure in the world of business or in friendship? Ryan Holiday talks with host Russ Roberts about the role of ego in business, our personal lives, and world history. economics, Ryan Holiday, WWII, dictators, Winston Churchill, history, delusion, selfishness, Sherman, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Holidayego.mp3 1:05:43 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 Jul 2016 06:30:00 EST Technology and innovation usually mean higher quality and lower prices. Is health care different? Jonathan Skinner of Dartmouth College talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how technology and innovation affect the cost and efficacy of health care. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the rise in mortality among middle-age white males--a surprising reversal of trend--that has been linked to use of opioid painkillers. Technology and innovation usually mean higher quality and lower prices. Is health care different? Jonathan Skinner of Dartmouth College talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how technology and innovation affect the cost and efficacy of health care. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the rise in mortality among middle-age white males--a surprising reversal of trend--that has been linked to use of opioid painkillers. Jonathan Skinner talks with host Russ Roberts about how technology and innovation affect the cost and efficacy of health care. The conversation concludes with the rise in mortality among middle-age white males--a surprising reversal of trend--that has been linked to use of opioid painkillers. economics, Jonathan Skinner, opiates, drugs, pharmaceuticals, prescriptions, health insurance, doctors, innovations, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Skinnerhealth.mp3 1:03:08 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 Jul 2016 06:30:00 EST Yuval Levin, author and editor of National Affairs, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his latest book, The Fractured Republic. Levin argues that both major political parties suffer from a misplaced nostalgia--a yearning for a time when things were better even though the policies that created those good times are no longer as relevant to today. Levin argues for a strengthening of the intermediate institutions--institutions between the individual and the government such as religious communities and other non-profits as a way toward a better life for Americans. Yuval Levin, author and editor of National Affairs, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his latest book, The Fractured Republic. Levin argues that both major political parties suffer from a misplaced nostalgia--a yearning for a time when things were better even though the policies that created those good times are no longer as relevant to today. Levin argues for a strengthening of the intermediate institutions--institutions between the individual and the government such as religious communities and other non-profits as a way toward a better life for Americans. Yuval Levin talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his latest book, The Fractured Republic. He argues that both major political parties suffer from a misplaced nostalgia--a yearning for a time when things were better even though the policies that created those good times are no longer as relevant to today. Levin argues for a strengthening of the intermediate institutions--institutions between the individual and the government such as religious communities and other non-profits as a way toward a better life for Americans. economics, Yuval Levin, political parties, nostalgia, institutions, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Levinrepublic.mp3 1:01:29 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Jun 2016 06:30:00 EST How should we feel about cruise lines that offer special amenities for top-paying travelers, or first-class sections of airplanes? Do such consumption inequalities harm the social fabric or is there more to the story? Richard Epstein of New York University and the Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these issues arguing that these kinds of unequal treatment provide benefits beyond those who receive the top-of-the-line option. The conversation then moves on to a general discussion of inequality, taxation, and redistribution. How should we feel about cruise lines that offer special amenities for top-paying travelers, or first-class sections of airplanes? Do such consumption inequalities harm the social fabric or is there more to the story? Richard Epstein of New York University and the Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these issues arguing that these kinds of unequal treatment provide benefits beyond those who receive the top-of-the-line option. The conversation then moves on to a general discussion of inequality, taxation, and redistribution. How should we feel about cruise lines that offer special amenities for top-paying travelers or first-class sections of airplanes? Richard Epstein talks with host Russ Roberts about these issues arguing that these kinds of unequal treatment provide benefits beyond those who receive the top-of-the-line option. The conversation then moves on to a general discussion of inequality, taxation, and redistribution. economics, Richard Epstein, taxes, redistribution, income, first class, ships, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Epsteincruises.mp3 1:03:41 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:30:00 EST Futurist, author, and visionary Kevin Kelly talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Inevitable, Kelly's look at what the future might be like and the role of the human experience in a world increasingly filled with information, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the connecting of the planet's population. Futurist, author, and visionary Kevin Kelly talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Inevitable, Kelly's look at what the future might be like and the role of the human experience in a world increasingly filled with information, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the connecting of the planet's population. Futurist, author, and visionary Kevin Kelly talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Inevitable, Kelly's look at what the future might be like and the role of the human experience in a world increasingly filled with information, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the connecting of the planet's population. economics, Kevin Kelly, artificial intelligence, computers, virtual reality, information technology, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Kellyinevitable.mp3 1:02:26 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Jun 2016 06:30:00 EST You might think your tweets on Twitter belong to you. But in 2010, the Library of Congress acquired the entire archive of Twitter. Why would such a majestic library acquire such seemingly ephemeral material? Historian Abby Smith Rumsey, author of When We Are No More, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about this decision of the Library of Congress and the general challenge of how to cope with a world when so much of what we write and read is digital. Subjects discussed include what we can learn from the past, the power of collective memory, what is worth saving, and how we might archive our electronic lives so that we and those who come after us can find what we might be looking for. You might think your tweets on Twitter belong to you. But in 2010, the Library of Congress acquired the entire archive of Twitter. Why would such a majestic library acquire such seemingly ephemeral material? Historian Abby Smith Rumsey, author of When We Are No More, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about this decision of the Library of Congress and the general challenge of how to cope with a world when so much of what we write and read is digital. Subjects discussed include what we can learn from the past, the power of collective memory, what is worth saving, and how we might archive our electronic lives so that we and those who come after us can find what we might be looking for. Abby Smith Rumsey talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Library of Congress decision to acquire the 2010 Twitter archive and the challenge of coping with a digital world. Topics discussed include what we can learn from the past, the power of collective memory, what is worth saving, and how we might archive our electronic lives so that we and those who come after us can find what we might be looking for. economics, Abby Smith Rumsey, history, computers, digitization, collective memory, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Rumseynomore.mp3 1:03:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Jun 2016 06:30:00 EST Jason Zweig of the Wall Street Journal and author of The Devil's Financial Dictionary talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about finance, financial journalism and Zweig's new book. Zweig discusses rationality and the investor's challenge of self-restraint, the repetitive nature of financial journalism, and the financial crisis of 2008. Jason Zweig of the Wall Street Journal and author of The Devil's Financial Dictionary talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about finance, financial journalism and Zweig's new book. Zweig discusses rationality and the investor's challenge of self-restraint, the repetitive nature of financial journalism, and the financial crisis of 2008. Jason Zweig talks with host Russ Roberts about finance, financial journalism and Zweig's new book, The Devil's Financial Dictionary. He discusses rationality and the investor's challenge of self-restraint, the repetitive nature of financial journalism, and the financial crisis of 2008. economics, Jason Zweig, journalism, financial reporting, rational choice, debt, Great Recession, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Zweigfinance.mp3 1:04:41 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 May 2016 06:30:00 EST Was the Financial Crisis of 2008 caused by a crisis in the housing market? Or did the Federal Reserve turn a garden-variety recession into the Great Recession? David Beckworth of Western Kentucky University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Fed's response to the recession that began in December of 2007 and worsened in 2008. Beckworth argues that the Fed failed to respond adequately to the drop in nominal GDP by keeping interest rates too high for too long. Beckworth describes what he thinks the Fed should have done and the lessons we should learn going forward to reduce the severity of future downturns. Was the Financial Crisis of 2008 caused by a crisis in the housing market? Or did the Federal Reserve turn a garden-variety recession into the Great Recession? David Beckworth of Western Kentucky University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Fed's response to the recession that began in December of 2007 and worsened in 2008. Beckworth argues that the Fed failed to respond adequately to the drop in nominal GDP by keeping interest rates too high for too long. Beckworth describes what he thinks the Fed should have done and the lessons we should learn going forward to reduce the severity of future downturns. Was the Financial Crisis of 2008 caused by a crisis in the housing market? Did the Federal Reserve turn a garden-variety recession into the Great Recession? David Beckworth talks with host Russ Roberts about the Fed's response to the recession that began in December of 2007 and worsened in 2008. Beckworth argues that the Fed failed to respond adequately to the drop in nominal GDP by keeping interest rates too high for too long. Beckworth describes what he thinks the Fed should have done and the lessons we should learn going forward to reduce the severity of future downturns. economics, David Beckworth, housing market, financial crisis, interest rates, money supply, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Beckworthmoney.mp3 1:03:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 May 2016 06:30:00 EST Are workers being left behind when the economy grows? Is technology making the human workforce obsolete? James Bessen, author of Learning by Doing, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role of learning on the job in the past and in the present. Bessen argues that during times of technological innovation, it often takes years before workers see higher wages from productivity increases. Bessen stresses the importance of the standardization of education on the job as workers adapt to new technology. Are workers being left behind when the economy grows? Is technology making the human workforce obsolete? James Bessen, author of Learning by Doing, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role of learning on the job in the past and in the present. Bessen argues that during times of technological innovation, it often takes years before workers see higher wages from productivity increases. Bessen stresses the importance of the standardization of education on the job as workers adapt to new technology. James Bessen talks with host Russ Roberts about the role of learning on the job. He argues that during times of technological innovation, it often takes years before workers see higher wages from productivity increases. Bessen stresses the importance of the standardization of education on the job as workers adapt to new technology. economics, James Bessen, technology, innovation, growth, labor force, education, workers, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Bessenlearning.mp3 1:04:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 May 2016 06:30:00 EST Should the United States allow its citizens to buy oil from countries run by bad men? Is this a case where morality trumps the usual case for free trade? Leif Wenar, professor of philosophy at King's College, London and author of Blood Oil, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the morality of buying resources from countries that use the resulting revenue to oppress their citizens. Based on the ideas in his book, Wenar argues that in many cases, importing oil is equivalent to buying stolen goods where the low prices cannot justify the purchase. The conversation discusses the possible outcomes from banning foreign oil from tyrannical regimes along with the resource curse and the case for fair trade. Should the United States allow its citizens to buy oil from countries run by bad men? Is this a case where morality trumps the usual case for free trade? Leif Wenar, professor of philosophy at King's College, London and author of Blood Oil, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the morality of buying resources from countries that use the resulting revenue to oppress their citizens. Based on the ideas in his book, Wenar argues that in many cases, importing oil is equivalent to buying stolen goods where the low prices cannot justify the purchase. The conversation discusses the possible outcomes from banning foreign oil from tyrannical regimes along with the resource curse and the case for fair trade. Does morality trump the usual case for free trade? Leif Wenar talks with host Russ Roberts about the morality of buying resources from countries that use the resulting revenue to oppress their citizens. Based on the ideas in his book, Blood Oil, Wenar argues that in many cases, importing oil is equivalent to buying stolen goods where the low prices cannot justify the purchase. The conversation discusses the possible outcomes from banning foreign oil from tyrannical regimes along with the resource curse and the case for fair trade. economics, Leif Wenar, morality, oppression, resource curse, fair trade, free trade, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Wenarbloodoil.mp3 1:04:45 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 May 2016 06:30:00 EST What is machine learning? How is it transforming our lives and workplaces? What might the future hold? Pedro Domingos of the University of Washington and author of The Master Algorithm talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the present and future of machine learning. Domingos stresses the iterative and ever-improving nature of machine learning. He is fundamentally an optimist about the potential of machine learning with ever-larger amounts of data to transform the human experience. What is machine learning? How is it transforming our lives and workplaces? What might the future hold? Pedro Domingos of the University of Washington and author of The Master Algorithm talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the present and future of machine learning. Domingos stresses the iterative and ever-improving nature of machine learning. He is fundamentally an optimist about the potential of machine learning with ever-larger amounts of data to transform the human experience. Pedro Domingos talks with host Russ Roberts about the present and future of machine learning. Domingos stresses the iterative and ever-improving nature of machine learning. He is fundamentally an optimist about the potential of machine learning with ever-larger amounts of data to transform the human experience. economics, Pedro Domingos, technology, robots, robotics, bayesian updating, computers, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Domingosalgorithm.mp3 1:05:50 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 May 2016 06:30:00 EST Arnold Kling, economist and author, speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Specialization and Trade: A Reintroduction to Economics. Kling argues that macroeconomics ignores the challenges of buyers and sellers working together in the real world of specialization and trade. Instead, most macroeconomic theories struggle to incorporate the differences across workers and products. Kling points the listener toward a different perspective on macroeconomics and the business cycle that focuses on those differences. Kling also lays out related insights on political economy as well as his take on G.A. Cohen's parable of the camping trip. Arnold Kling, economist and author, speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Specialization and Trade: A Reintroduction to Economics. Kling argues that macroeconomics ignores the challenges of buyers and sellers working together in the real world of specialization and trade. Instead, most macroeconomic theories struggle to incorporate the differences across workers and products. Kling points the listener toward a different perspective on macroeconomics and the business cycle that focuses on those differences. Kling also lays out related insights on political economy as well as his take on G.A. Cohen's parable of the camping trip. Arnold Kling talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Specialization and Trade. He argues that macroeconomics ignores the challenges of buyers and sellers working together in the real world of specialization and trade. Instead, most macroeconomic theories struggle to incorporate the differences across workers and products. Kling points the listener toward a different perspective on macroeconomics and the business cycle that focuses on those differences. Kling also lays out related insights on political economy as well as his take on G.A. Cohen's parable of the camping trip. economics, Arnold Kling, macroeconomics, business cycles, international, jobs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Klingspecialization.mp3 1:06:57 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Apr 2016 06:30:00 EST Alberto Alesina of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on fiscal policy and austerity. Alesina's research shows that spending cuts to reduce budget deficits are less harmful than tax increases. Alesina discusses the intuition behind this empirical finding and discusses other issues such as Greece's financial situation. Alberto Alesina of Harvard University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research on fiscal policy and austerity. Alesina's research shows that spending cuts to reduce budget deficits are less harmful than tax increases. Alesina discusses the intuition behind this empirical finding and discusses other issues such as Greece's financial situation. Alberto Alesina talks with host Russ Roberts about his research on fiscal policy and austerity. His research shows that spending cuts to reduce budget deficits are less harmful than tax increases. He discusses the intuition behind this empirical finding and other issues such as Greece's financial situation. economics, Alberto Alesina, government spending, budget deficits, tax policy, Greece, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Alesinafiscalpolicy.mp3 1:03:28 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Apr 2016 06:30:00 EST Gary Belsky, co-author of On the Origins of Sports and former editor-in-chief of ESPN the Magazine, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the origins of sports--how various sports evolved and emerged into their current incarnations. Along the way he discusses the popularity of American football, the written (and unwritten) rules of sports, and the focus on replay and fairness in modern sports. Gary Belsky, co-author of On the Origins of Sports and former editor-in-chief of ESPN the Magazine, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the origins of sports--how various sports evolved and emerged into their current incarnations. Along the way he discusses the popularity of American football, the written (and unwritten) rules of sports, and the focus on replay and fairness in modern sports. Gary Belsky talks with host Russ Roberts about the origins of sports--how various sports evolved and emerged into their current incarnations. Along the way he discusses the popularity of American football, the written and unwritten rules of sports, and the focus on replay and fairness in modern sports. economics, Gary Belsky, football, baseball, hockey, instant replays, fairness, rules, emergent markets, social customs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Belskysports.mp3 1:08:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 Apr 2016 06:30:00 EST Is your success in life your own doing? Robert Frank of Cornell University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Success and Luck. Frank argues that we underestimate the role that luck plays in our success and makes the case for a progressive consumption tax as a way to improve even the welfare of the wealthy. Is your success in life your own doing? Robert Frank of Cornell University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Success and Luck. Frank argues that we underestimate the role that luck plays in our success and makes the case for a progressive consumption tax as a way to improve even the welfare of the wealthy. Is your success in life your own doing? Robert Frank talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Success and Luck. Frank argues that we underestimate the role that luck plays in our success and makes the case for a progressive consumption tax as a way to improve even the welfare of the wealthy. economics, Robert Frank, progressive consumption tax, taxation, meritocracy, chance, good fortune, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Franksuccess.mp3 1:11:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 Apr 2016 06:30:00 EST Will our brains ever be uploaded into a computer? Will we live forever? Richard Jones, physicist at the University of Sheffield and author of Against Transhumanism, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about transhumanism--the effort to radically transform human existence via technology. Jones argues that the grandest visions of the potential of technology--uploading of brains and the ability to rearrange matter via nanotechnology are much more limited and unlikely than proponents of these technologies suggest. The conversation closes with the role of government in innovation and developing technology. Will our brains ever be uploaded into a computer? Will we live forever? Richard Jones, physicist at the University of Sheffield and author of Against Transhumanism, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about transhumanism--the effort to radically transform human existence via technology. Jones argues that the grandest visions of the potential of technology--uploading of brains and the ability to rearrange matter via nanotechnology are much more limited and unlikely than proponents of these technologies suggest. The conversation closes with the role of government in innovation and developing technology. Will our brains ever be uploaded into a computer? Will we live forever? Richard Jones talks with host Russ Roberts about transhumanism--the effort to radically transform human existence via technology. He argues that the uploading of brains and the ability to rearrange matter via nanotechnology--the grandest visions of the potential of technology--are much more limited and unlikely than proponents of these technologies suggest. The conversation closes with the role of government in innovation and developing technology. economics, Richard Jones, artificial intelligence, innovation, technology, human brains, robots, technological singularity, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/JonesRtranshumanism.mp3 1:11:42 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:30:00 EST How bad is pink slime? Are free-range chickens happier? Can robots cook? Jayson Lusk of Oklahoma State University and the author of Unnaturally Delicious talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more from his new book. Lusk explores the wide-ranging application of technology to farming, cooking, protein production, and more. How bad is pink slime? Are free-range chickens happier? Can robots cook? Jayson Lusk of Oklahoma State University and the author of Unnaturally Delicious talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about these questions and more from his new book. Lusk explores the wide-ranging application of technology to farming, cooking, protein production, and more. How bad is pink slime? Are free-range chickens happier? Can robots cook? Jayson Lusk talks with host Russ Roberts about his new book, Unnaturally Delicious. Lusk explores the wide-ranging application of technology to farming, cooking, protein production, and more. economics, Jayson Lusk, agriculture, genetically modified, farming, vegetables, meat, nutrition, GMOs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Luskdelicious.mp3 1:07:33 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 Mar 2016 06:30:00 EST Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like a wedding planner, especially if you have time to take care of the planning yourself? Marina Krakovsky, author of The Middleman Economy talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about middlemen in the modern economy. Despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, Krakovsky argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed. Krakovsky looks at the different roles middlemen play today and how their value added can justify their existence. Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like a wedding planner, especially if you have time to take care of the planning yourself? Marina Krakovsky, author of The Middleman Economy talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about middlemen in the modern economy. Despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, Krakovsky argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed. Krakovsky looks at the different roles middlemen play today and how their value added can justify their existence. Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like a wedding planner, if you have time to take care of the planning yourself? Marina Krakovsky talks with host Russ Roberts about middlemen in the modern economy. Despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, Krakovsky argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed. She looks at the different roles middlemen play today and how their value added can justify their existence. economics, Marina Krakovsky, middlemen, employment, service sector, brokers, wedding planners, matchmakers, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Krakovskymiddlemen.mp3 1:03:08 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Mar 2016 06:30:00 EST David Autor of MIT talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the fundamentals of trade and his research on the impact on workers and communities from trade with China. Autor's research finds large and persistent effects on manufacturing jobs and communities where those jobs once were. Autor and Roberts discuss whether these results capture the full impact of increased trade with China and what the policy response might be that could help workers hurt by trade. David Autor of MIT talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the fundamentals of trade and his research on the impact on workers and communities from trade with China. Autor's research finds large and persistent effects on manufacturing jobs and communities where those jobs once were. Autor and Roberts discuss whether these results capture the full impact of increased trade with China and what the policy response might be that could help workers hurt by trade. David Autor talks with host Russ Roberts about the fundamentals of trade and the impact on workers and communities from trade with China. Autor's research finds large and persistent effects on manufacturing jobs and communities where those jobs once were. Autor and Roberts discuss whether these results capture the full impact of increased trade with China and what the policy response might be that could help workers hurt by trade. economics, David Autor, manufacturing, comparative advantage, jobs, employment, outsourcing, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Autortrade.mp3 1:12:59 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 Mar 2016 06:30:00 EST Will Davies of Goldsmith's, University of London and author of The Limits of Neoliberalism talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book. Davies argues that the free-market vision of economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek has de-romanticized politics and ensconced competition at the heart of our economy and culture. Davies argues for the value of a completely different perspective and pushes for a reduction in the influence and status of economists as policymakers and influencers. Along the way he gives his perspective on the role of economists in the financial crisis and in antitrust policy. Will Davies of Goldsmith's, University of London and author of The Limits of Neoliberalism talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book. Davies argues that the free-market vision of economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek has de-romanticized politics and ensconced competition at the heart of our economy and culture. Davies argues for the value of a completely different perspective and pushes for a reduction in the influence and status of economists as policymakers and influencers. Along the way he gives his perspective on the role of economists in the financial crisis and in antitrust policy. Will Davies talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book, The Limits of Neoliberalism. Davies argues that the free-market vision of economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek has de-romanticized politics and ensconced competition at the heart of our economy and culture. He argues for a completely different perspective, pushing for a reduction in the influence and status of economists as policymakers and influencers. Along the way he gives his perspective on the role of economists in the financial crisis and in antitrust policy. economics, Will Davies, neo-liberalism, policy, paternalism, 2008 financial crisis, anti-trust, behavioral economics, happiness, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Daviesneoliberalism.mp3 1:06:31 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 29 Feb 2016 06:30:00 EST Alison Wolf author of The XX Factor, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the changing roles of women in the family and the workplace. Wolf argues that highly educated women are increasingly similar to highly educated men in their lifestyles and choices while becoming very different from less educated women. Wolf traces the origins of these changes and the interaction between economic and cultural factors affecting men, women, the family, and the workplace. Alison Wolf author of The XX Factor, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the changing roles of women in the family and the workplace. Wolf argues that highly educated women are increasingly similar to highly educated men in their lifestyles and choices while becoming very different from less educated women. Wolf traces the origins of these changes and the interaction between economic and cultural factors affecting men, women, the family, and the workplace. Alison Wolf talks with host Russ Roberts about the changing roles of women in the family and the workplace. Wolf argues that highly educated women are increasingly similar to highly educated men in their lifestyles and choices while becoming very different from less educated women. Wolf traces the origins of these changes and the interaction between economic and cultural factors affecting men, women, the family, and the workplace. economics, Alison Wolf, education, wages, labor force, discrimination, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Wolfinequality.mp3 1:11:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 22 Feb 2016 06:30:00 EST Matt Ridley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Evolution of Everything. Ridley applies the lens of emergent order to a wide variety of phenomena including culture, morality, religion, commerce, innovation, and consciousness. Matt Ridley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Evolution of Everything. Ridley applies the lens of emergent order to a wide variety of phenomena including culture, morality, religion, commerce, innovation, and consciousness. Matt Ridley talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Evolution of Everything. Ridley applies the lens of emergent order to a wide variety of phenomena including culture, morality, religion, commerce, innovation, and consciousness. economics, Matt Ridley, emergent order, culture, innovation, consciousness, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Ridleyevolution.mp3 1:09:51 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 15 Feb 2016 06:30:00 EST Why do so many medical practices that begin with such promise and confidence turn out to be either ineffective at best or harmful at worst? Adam Cifu of the University of Chicago's School of Medicine and co-author (with Vinayak Prasad) of Ending Medical Reversal explores this question with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Cifu shows that medical reversal--the discovery that prescribed medical practices are ineffective or harmful--is distressingly common. He contrasts the different types of evidence that support or discourage various medical practices and discusses the cultural challenges doctors face in turning away from techniques they have used for many years. Why do so many medical practices that begin with such promise and confidence turn out to be either ineffective at best or harmful at worst? Adam Cifu of the University of Chicago's School of Medicine and co-author (with Vinayak Prasad) of Ending Medical Reversal explores this question with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Cifu shows that medical reversal--the discovery that prescribed medical practices are ineffective or harmful--is distressingly common. He contrasts the different types of evidence that support or discourage various medical practices and discusses the cultural challenges doctors face in turning away from techniques they have used for many years. Why do so many medical practices that begin with promise and confidence turn out to be ineffective or even harmful? Adam Cifu explores this question with host Russ Roberts. Cifu shows that medical reversal--the discovery that prescribed medical practices are ineffective or harmful--is distressingly common. He contrasts the different types of evidence that support or discourage various medical practices and discusses the cultural challenges doctors face in turning away from techniques they have used for many years. economics, Adam Cifu, health, medicine, doctors, prescriptions, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Cifumedical.mp3 1:04:49 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 08 Feb 2016 06:30:00 EST Adam Ozimek of Moody's Analytics and blogger at Forbes talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why economists change their minds or don't. Ozimek argues that economists make erratic but steady progress using econometrics and other forms of evidence to understand the impact of public policies such as the minimum wage or government stimulus. Roberts pushes back and discusses the role of ideology, the complexity of where our views come from and the potential for confirmation bias. Adam Ozimek of Moody's Analytics and blogger at Forbes talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why economists change their minds or don't. Ozimek argues that economists make erratic but steady progress using econometrics and other forms of evidence to understand the impact of public policies such as the minimum wage or government stimulus. Roberts pushes back and discusses the role of ideology, the complexity of where our views come from and the potential for confirmation bias. Adam Ozimek talks with host Russ Roberts about why economists change their minds or don't. Ozimek argues that economists make erratic but steady progress using econometrics and other forms of evidence to understand the impact of public policies such as the minimum wage or government stimulus. Roberts pushes back and discusses the role of ideology, the complexity of where our views come from and the potential for confirmation bias. economics, Adam Ozimek, empirical evidence, science, confirmation bias, public policy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Ozimekeconometrics.mp3 1:02:27 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 01 Feb 2016 06:30:00 EST Timothy Taylor, blogger at the Conversable Economist and editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role of government and business in taking care of workers and creating economic growth. Taylor discusses the paradox that the political process seems to expect firms to take care of workers and government to create growth. The conversation then turns to a wide array of related issues including how Wal-Mart treats its workers. The conversation closes with a discussion of Taylor's role as founding editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives. Timothy Taylor, blogger at the Conversable Economist and editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the role of government and business in taking care of workers and creating economic growth. Taylor discusses the paradox that the political process seems to expect firms to take care of workers and government to create growth. The conversation then turns to a wide array of related issues including how Wal-Mart treats its workers. The conversation closes with a discussion of Taylor's role as founding editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives. Timothy Taylor talks with host Russ Roberts about the role of government and business in taking care of workers and creating economic growth. Taylor discusses the paradox that the political process seems to expect firms to take care of workers and government to create growth. The conversation then turns to a wide array of related issues including how WalMart treats its workers. The conversation closes with a discussion of Taylor's role as founding editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives. economics, Timothy Taylor, growth, journalism, political science, politics, corporations, businesses, walmart, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/TaylorTgovernment.mp3 1:01:57 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 Jan 2016 06:30:00 EST Nobel Laureate James Heckman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of econometrics and the challenges of measurement in assessing economic theories and public policy. Heckman gives us his take on natural experiments, selection bias, randomized control trials and the reliability of sophisticated statistical analysis. The conversation closes with Heckman reminiscing about his intellectual influences throughout his career. Nobel Laureate James Heckman of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of econometrics and the challenges of measurement in assessing economic theories and public policy. Heckman gives us his take on natural experiments, selection bias, randomized control trials and the reliability of sophisticated statistical analysis. The conversation closes with Heckman reminiscing about his intellectual influences throughout his career. Nobel Laureate James Heckman talks with host Russ Roberts about the state of econometrics and the challenges of measurement in assessing economic theories and public policy. Heckman gives his take on natural experiments, selection bias, randomized control trials and the reliability of sophisticated statistical analysis. The conversation closes with Heckman reminiscing about his intellectual influences throughout his career. economics, James Heckman, statistics, nobelist, selection bias, experiments, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Heckmaneconometrics.mp3 1:04:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 Jan 2016 06:30:00 EST How many pairs of sneakers do you own? Josh Luber of Campless and StockX talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the world of sneakerheads--people passionate for collecting and trading sneakers. Each week people line up to buy classic sneaker models Nike re-releases. Luber has collected millions of transactions from Ebay on these sneakers and others and has analyzed the return to investing in various sneaker models. The conversation includes a discussion of how Nike has helped to create this market and Luber's work creating a stock market for sneakers and other goods. How many pairs of sneakers do you own? Josh Luber of Campless and StockX talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the world of sneakerheads--people passionate for collecting and trading sneakers. Each week people line up to buy classic sneaker models Nike re-releases. Luber has collected millions of transactions from Ebay on these sneakers and others and has analyzed the return to investing in various sneaker models. The conversation includes a discussion of how Nike has helped to create this market and Luber's work creating a stock market for sneakers and other goods. How many pairs of sneakers do you own? Josh Luber talks with host Russ Roberts about the world of sneakerheads--people passionate for collecting and trading sneakers. Each week people line up to buy classic sneaker models Nike re-releases. Luber has collected millions of transactions from Ebay on sneakers and has analyzed the return to investing in various sneaker models. The conversation includes a discussion of how Nike has helped to create this market and Luber's work creating a stock market for sneakers and other goods. economics, Josh Luber, sneaker markets, Nike, resales, athletic shoes, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Lubersneakers.mp3 1:02:54 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 Jan 2016 06:30:00 EST When does the pursuit of safety lead us into danger? Greg Ip, of the Wall Street Journal and author of Foolproof talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book--the way we publicly and privately try to cope with risk and danger and how those choices can create unintended consequences. While much of the conversation focuses on the financial crisis of 2008, there are also discussions of football injuries, damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, car accidents, and Herbert Hoover. Along the way, Herman Melville's insights into the mesmerizing nature of water make an appearance. When does the pursuit of safety lead us into danger? Greg Ip, of the Wall Street Journal and author of Foolproof talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book--the way we publicly and privately try to cope with risk and danger and how those choices can create unintended consequences. While much of the conversation focuses on the financial crisis of 2008, there are also discussions of football injuries, damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, car accidents, and Herbert Hoover. Along the way, Herman Melville's insights into the mesmerizing nature of water make an appearance. When does the pursuit of safety lead us into danger? Greg Ip talks with host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book--the way we publicly and privately try to cope with risk and danger and how those choices can create unintended consequences. While much of the conversation focuses on the financial crisis of 2008, there are also discussions of football injuries, damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, car accidents, and Herbert Hoover. Along the way, Herman Melville's insights into the mesmerizing nature of water make an appearance. economics, Greg Ip, financial crisis, football injuries, risk, danger, unexpected consequences, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Ipfoolproof.mp3 1:06:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 Jan 2016 06:30:00 EST How can you learn to think like an economist? One way is to think about what might be called dinner table economics--puzzles or patterns that arise in everyday life that would be good to understand. Robert Frank of Cornell University and author of The Economic Naturalist talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a number of these puzzles including why grooms typically rent tuxedos but the bride usually buys her gown, why bicycles can be more expensive to rent than cars, the effects of the price of corn on the price of pork, and why scammers who invoke Nigeria keep using the same old story. How can you learn to think like an economist? One way is to think about what might be called dinner table economics--puzzles or patterns that arise in everyday life that would be good to understand. Robert Frank of Cornell University and author of The Economic Naturalist talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a number of these puzzles including why grooms typically rent tuxedos but the bride usually buys her gown, why bicycles can be more expensive to rent than cars, the effects of the price of corn on the price of pork, and why scammers who invoke Nigeria keep using the same old story. How can you learn to think like an economist? Robert Frank talks with host Russ Roberts about a number of dinner table puzzles including why grooms typically rent tuxedos but the bride usually buys her gown, why bicycles can be more expensive to rent than cars, the effects of the price of corn on the price of pork, and why scammers who invoke Nigeria keep using the same old story. economics, Robert Frank, microeconomics applications, tuxedos, wedding dresses, bicycle rentals, Nigerian scammers, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2016/Frankdinnertable.mp3 58:13 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 Dec 2015 06:30:00 EST Noah Smith of Stony Brook University and writer at Bloomberg View talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about whether economics is a science in some sense of that word. How reliable are experiments in economics? What about the statistical analysis that underlies much of the empirical work in modern economics? Additional topics include the reliability of the empirical analysis of the minimum wage, the state of macroeconomics, and the role of prejudice or prior beliefs in the interpretation of data and evidence. Noah Smith of Stony Brook University and writer at Bloomberg View talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about whether economics is a science in some sense of that word. How reliable are experiments in economics? What about the statistical analysis that underlies much of the empirical work in modern economics? Additional topics include the reliability of the empirical analysis of the minimum wage, the state of macroeconomics, and the role of prejudice or prior beliefs in the interpretation of data and evidence. Noah Smith talks with host Russ Roberts about whether economics is a science in some sense of that word. How reliable are experiments in economics? What about the statistical analysis that underlies much of the empirical work in modern economics? Additional topics include the reliability of the empirical analysis of the minimum wage, the state of macroeconomics, and the role of prejudice or prior beliefs in the interpretation of data and evidence. economics, Noah Smith, empirical studies, statistics, minimum wage, macroeconomics, prior beliefs, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/SmithNscience.mp3 1:08:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:30:00 EST Can you predict the future? Or at least gauge the probability of political or economic events in the near future? Philip Tetlock of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Superforecasting talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on assessing probabilities with teams of thoughtful amateurs. Tetlock finds that teams of amateurs trained in gathering information and thinking about it systematically outperformed experts in assigning probabilities of various events in a competition organized by IARPA, research agency under the Director of National Intelligence. In this conversation, Tetlock discusses the meaning, reliability, and usefulness of trying to assign probabilities to one-time events. Can you predict the future? Or at least gauge the probability of political or economic events in the near future? Philip Tetlock of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Superforecasting talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on assessing probabilities with teams of thoughtful amateurs. Tetlock finds that teams of amateurs trained in gathering information and thinking about it systematically outperformed experts in assigning probabilities of various events in a competition organized by IARPA, research agency under the Director of National Intelligence. In this conversation, Tetlock discusses the meaning, reliability, and usefulness of trying to assign probabilities to one-time events. Can you predict the future? Or at least gauge the probability of political or economic events in the near future? Philip Tetlock talks with host Russ Roberts about his work on assessing probabilities with teams of thoughtful amateurs. Tetlock finds that teams of amateurs trained in gathering information and thinking about it systematically outperformed experts in assigning probabilities of various events in a competition organized by IARPA, research agency under the Director of National Intelligence. In this conversation, Tetlock discusses the meaning, reliability, and usefulness of trying to assign probabilities to one-time events. economics, Philip Tetlock, forecasts, prediction markets, probabilities, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, amateurs, experts, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Tetlocksuperforecasting.mp3 59:44 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Dec 2015 06:30:00 EST Did Ben Bernanke and the Fed save the U.S. economy from disaster in 2008 or did the Fed make things worse? Why did the Fed reward banks that kept reserves rather than releasing funds into the economy? George Selgin of the Cato Institute tries to answer these questions and more in this conversation with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Selgin argues that the Fed made critical mistakes both before and after the collapse of Lehman Brothers by lending to insolvent banks as well as by paying interest on reserves held at the Fed by member banks. Did Ben Bernanke and the Fed save the U.S. economy from disaster in 2008 or did the Fed make things worse? Why did the Fed reward banks that kept reserves rather than releasing funds into the economy? George Selgin of the Cato Institute tries to answer these questions and more in this conversation with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Selgin argues that the Fed made critical mistakes both before and after the collapse of Lehman Brothers by lending to insolvent banks as well as by paying interest on reserves held at the Fed by member banks. Did Ben Bernanke and the Fed save the US economy from disaster in 2008 or make things worse? Why did the Fed reward banks that kept reserves rather than releasing funds into the economy? George Selgin tries to answer these questions and more in this conversation with host Russ Roberts. Selgin argues that the Fed made critical mistakes both before and after the collapse of Lehman Brothers by lending to insolvent banks as well as by paying interest on reserves held at the Fed by member banks. economics, George Selgin, financial crisis of 2008, federal reserve, interest on reserves, bank runs, Ben Bernanke, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Selginrecession.mp3 1:09:01 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:30:00 EST If you have 250 million tons of food to give away every year to local food banks how should you do it? Canice Prendergast of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how he and a team of economists created an artificial currency and a daily auction for the national food bank Feeding America so that local food banks could bid on the types of food that were the most valuable to them. Prendergast explains the results of the new system and the cultural and practical challenges of bringing prices, even artificial ones, to a world accustomed to giving things away. If you have 250 million tons of food to give away every year to local food banks how should you do it? Canice Prendergast of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how he and a team of economists created an artificial currency and a daily auction for the national food bank Feeding America so that local food banks could bid on the types of food that were the most valuable to them. Prendergast explains the results of the new system and the cultural and practical challenges of bringing prices, even artificial ones, to a world accustomed to giving things away. If you have 250 million tons of food to give away every year to local food banks how should you do it? Canice Prendergast talks with host Russ Roberts about how he and a team of economists created an artificial currency and a daily auction for the national food bank Feeding America so that local food banks could bid on the types of food that were the most valuable to them. Prendergast explains the results of the new system and the cultural and practical challenges of bringing prices, even artificial ones, to a world accustomed to giving things away. economics, Canice Prendergast, food banks, artificial money, auctions, charity, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Prendergastfood.mp3 1:02:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Nov 2015 06:30:00 EST Are we on the verge of driverless cars and other forms of autonomous robots and artificial intelligence? David Mindell of MIT and the author of Our Robots, Ourselves talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the robotic revolution. Mindell argues that much of the optimism for autonomous robots ignores decades of experience with semi-autonomous robots in deep-sea operation, space, air, and the military. In all of these areas, the role of human supervision remains at a high level with little full autonomy. Mindell traces some of the history of the human interaction with robots and artificial intelligence and speculates on what the future might hold. Are we on the verge of driverless cars and other forms of autonomous robots and artificial intelligence? David Mindell of MIT and the author of Our Robots, Ourselves talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the robotic revolution. Mindell argues that much of the optimism for autonomous robots ignores decades of experience with semi-autonomous robots in deep-sea operation, space, air, and the military. In all of these areas, the role of human supervision remains at a high level with little full autonomy. Mindell traces some of the history of the human interaction with robots and artificial intelligence and speculates on what the future might hold. Are we on the verge of driverless cars and other forms of autonomous robots and artificial intelligence? David Mindell of MIT and the author of Our Robots, Ourselves talks with host Russ Roberts about the robotic revolution. He argues that much of the optimism for autonomous robots ignores decades of experience with semi-autonomous robots in deep-sea operation, space, air, and the military. In all of these areas, the role of human supervision remains at a high level with little full autonomy. Mindell traces some of the history of the human interaction with robots and artificial intelligence and speculates on what the future might hold. economics, David Mindell, robotics, artificial intelligence, human supervision, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Mindellrobots.mp3 59:59 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Nov 2015 06:30:00 EST Michael Munger of Duke University makes his 29th appearance on the 500th episode of EconTalk alongside EconTalk host Russ Roberts. He talks about his personal intellectual journey, his interest in public choice, and Unicorn economics. Other topics include the origins of EconTalk, Roberts's intellectual roots, and the EconTalk theme music. The conversation closes with a brief reprise of a few highlights from past Munger appearances on EconTalk. Michael Munger of Duke University makes his 29th appearance on the 500th episode of EconTalk alongside EconTalk host Russ Roberts. He talks about his personal intellectual journey, his interest in public choice, and Unicorn economics. Other topics include the origins of EconTalk, Roberts's intellectual roots, and the EconTalk theme music. The conversation closes with a brief reprise of a few highlights from past Munger appearances on EconTalk. Michael Munger makes his 29th appearance on the 500th episode of EconTalk alongside host Russ Roberts. He talks about his personal intellectual journey, his interest in public choice, and Unicorn economics. Other topics include the origins of EconTalk, Roberts's intellectual roots, and the EconTalk theme music. The conversation closes with a brief reprise of a few highlights from past Munger appearances on EconTalk. economics, Michael Munger, intellectual history, about, theme music, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Mungerfivehundred.mp3 1:13:34 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Nov 2015 06:30:00 EST Brian Nosek of the University of Virginia and the Center for Open Science talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Reproducibility Project--an effort to reproduce the findings of 100 articles in three top psychology journals. Nosek talks about the findings and the implications for academic publishing and the reliability of published results. Brian Nosek of the University of Virginia and the Center for Open Science talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Reproducibility Project--an effort to reproduce the findings of 100 articles in three top psychology journals. Nosek talks about the findings and the implications for academic publishing and the reliability of published results. Brian Nosek talks with host Russ Roberts about the Reproducibility Project--an effort to reproduce the findings of 100 articles in three top psychology journals. Nosek talks about the findings and the implications for academic publishing and the reliability of published results. economics, Brian Nosek, reproduction, psychology, experiments, reproduce, science, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Nosekreproducibility.mp3 1:07:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:30:00 EST Should women get routine mammograms? Should men get regular PSA exams? Robert Aronowitz of the University of Pennsylvania and the author of Risky Medicine talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the increasing focus on risk reduction rather than health itself as a goal. Aronowitz discusses the social and political forces that push us toward more preventive testing even when those tests have not been shown to be effective. Aronowitz's perspective is a provocative look at the opportunity cost of risk-reduction. Should women get routine mammograms? Should men get regular PSA exams? Robert Aronowitz of the University of Pennsylvania and the author of Risky Medicine talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the increasing focus on risk reduction rather than health itself as a goal. Aronowitz discusses the social and political forces that push us toward more preventive testing even when those tests have not been shown to be effective. Aronowitz's perspective is a provocative look at the opportunity cost of risk-reduction. Should women get routine mammograms? Should men get regular PSA exams? Robert Aronowitz talks with host Russ Roberts about the increasing focus on risk reduction rather than health itself as a goal. He discusses the social and political forces that push us toward more preventive testing even when those tests have not been shown to be effective. Aronowitz's perspective is a provocative look at the opportunity cost of risk-reduction. economics, Robert Aronowitz, health care, mammograms, PSA exams, preventive medicine, medical testing, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Aronowitzmedicine.mp3 1:10:32 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Nov 2015 06:30:00 EST Michael Matheson Miller of the Acton Institute and the Director of the documentary Poverty, Inc., talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his award-winning documentary on the barriers facing the poor around the world. Topics discussed include the incentives facing poverty-fighting NGOs and their staff, the importance of secure and well-defined property rights, and the costs and benefits of agricultural aid. Michael Matheson Miller of the Acton Institute and the Director of the documentary Poverty, Inc., talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his award-winning documentary on the barriers facing the poor around the world. Topics discussed include the incentives facing poverty-fighting NGOs and their staff, the importance of secure and well-defined property rights, and the costs and benefits of agricultural aid. Michael Matheson Miller talks with host Russ Roberts about his award-winning documentary, Poverty, Inc., on the barriers facing the world's poor. Topics include incentives facing poverty-fighting NGOs, the importance of secure, well-defined property rights, and the costs and benefits of agricultural aid. economics, Michael Matheson Miller, international, financial aid, NGOs, agriculture, development, developing countries, property rights, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/MathesonMillerpoverty.mp3 1:09:14 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Oct 2015 06:30:00 EST Cesar Hidalgo of MIT and the author of Why Information Grows talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the growth of knowledge and know-how in the modern economy. Hidalgo emphasizes the importance of networks among innovators and creators and the role of trust in sustaining those networks. Cesar Hidalgo of MIT and the author of Why Information Grows talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the growth of knowledge and know-how in the modern economy. Hidalgo emphasizes the importance of networks among innovators and creators and the role of trust in sustaining those networks. Cesar Hidalgo talks with host Russ Roberts about the growth of knowledge and know-how in the modern economy. Hidalgo emphasizes the importance of networks among innovators and creators and the role of trust in sustaining those networks. economics, Cesar Hidalgo, technology, innovation, computers, knowhow, networks, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Hidalgoinformation.mp3 1:02:44 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Oct 2015 06:30:00 EST Yuval Harari of Hebrew University and author of Sapiens talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of humanity. Topics discussed include the move from hunting and gathering to agriculture, the role of fiction in sustaining imagination, the nature of money, the impact of empires and the synergies between empires and science. Yuval Harari of Hebrew University and author of Sapiens talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of humanity. Topics discussed include the move from hunting and gathering to agriculture, the role of fiction in sustaining imagination, the nature of money, the impact of empires and the synergies between empires and science. Yuval Harari, author of Sapiens, talks with host Russ Roberts about the history of humanity. Topics include the move from hunting and gathering to agriculture, the role of fiction in sustaining imagination, the nature of money, the impact of empires and the synergies between empires and science. economics, Yuval Harari, fiction, history, evolution, agriculture, empires, money, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Hararisapiens.mp3 1:12:08 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Oct 2015 06:30:00 EST Pete Boettke of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the political and economic lessons he has learned as program director of research in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In this wide-ranging conversation, Boettke discusses the role of civil society, the barriers to recovery that have hampered New Orleans and what worked well as people and institutions responded to tragedy and devastation. Pete Boettke of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the political and economic lessons he has learned as program director of research in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In this wide-ranging conversation, Boettke discusses the role of civil society, the barriers to recovery that have hampered New Orleans and what worked well as people and institutions responded to tragedy and devastation. Pete Boettke talks with host Russ Roberts about the political and economic lessons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In this wide-ranging conversation, Boettke discusses the role of civil society, the barriers to recovery that have hampered New Orleans and what worked well as people and institutions responded to tragedy and devastation. economics, Pete Boettke, hurricanes, disasters, New Orleans, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Boettkekatrinaten.mp3 1:18:44 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Oct 2015 06:30:00 EST Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly Media talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his career in technology and media and the challenges facing low-wage workers as technology advances. Topics include the early days of the Internet, the efficacy of regulation to protect workers, and the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop. Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly Media talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his career in technology and media and the challenges facing low-wage workers as technology advances. Topics include the early days of the Internet, the efficacy of regulation to protect workers, and the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop. Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly Media talks with host Russ Roberts about his career in technology and media and the challenges facing low-wage workers as technology advances. Topics include the early days of the Internet, the efficacy of regulation to protect workers, and the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop. economics, Tim O'Reilly , employment, jobs, internet, regulation, Elizabeth Bishop, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/OReillytechnology.mp3 1:03:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 28 Sep 2015 06:30:00 EST When Lewis and Clark crossed through Montana, they encountered an extraordinary cornucopia of wildlife. Most of that ecosystem and the animals that once thrived there are gone. But a non-profit wants to bring it all back. Pete Geddes, Managing Director of the American Prairie Reserve talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about creating the Serengeti of the Americas--a 3.3 million acre prairie that would allow bison, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs and their friends to inhabit a Wildlife Reserve in Montana, the size of Connecticut. Geddes discusses the goals of the American Prairie Reserve and how they're using a for-profit company, Wild Sky Beef, to gather support and help from local ranchers for the project. When Lewis and Clark crossed through Montana, they encountered an extraordinary cornucopia of wildlife. Most of that ecosystem and the animals that once thrived there are gone. But a non-profit wants to bring it all back. Pete Geddes, Managing Director of the American Prairie Reserve talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about creating the Serengeti of the Americas--a 3.3 million acre prairie that would allow bison, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs and their friends to inhabit a Wildlife Reserve in Montana, the size of Connecticut. Geddes discusses the goals of the American Prairie Reserve and how they're using a for-profit company, Wild Sky Beef, to gather support and help from local ranchers for the project. Pete Geddes talks with host Russ Roberts about creating an American Prairie Reserve--a Serengeti of the Americas--a 3.3 million acre prairie allowing bison, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs and more to inhabit a Wildlife Reserve in Montana. Geddes discusses the goals of the American Prairie Reserve and how they're using a for-profit company, Wild Sky Beef, to gather support and help from local ranchers for the project. economics, Pete Geddes , natural resources, prairies, Montana, wildlife, preservation, environment, ecosystems, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Geddesprairie.mp3 1:07:02 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 21 Sep 2015 06:30:00 EST There is only one country in the world where a person can sell a kidney to another citizen who buys it. That country is Iran. Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Iranian kidney market--how it works, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether its lessons apply to the United States or elsewhere. There is only one country in the world where a person can sell a kidney to another citizen who buys it. That country is Iran. Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Iranian kidney market--how it works, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether its lessons apply to the United States or elsewhere. Tina Rosenberg talks with host Russ Roberts about the Iranian kidney market--how it works, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether its lessons apply to U.S. or other situations. Iran is only country in the world where a person can sell a kidney to another citizen who buys it. economics, Tina Rosenberg, organ donations, kidney transplants, health care, economics http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Rosenbergkidneys.mp3 1:01:23 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 14 Sep 2015 06:30:00 EST Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at a Broadway show? This week's EconTalk lifts the curtain on the magical world of Broadway: Mitch Weiss, co-author of The Business of Broadway, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book and what it's like to manage the production of a blockbuster musical in New York City. Topics discussed include the eight-performance-per-week grind, the how and why of creating a Broadway set, the challenges of wardrobes (domestic and international) and the pluses and minuses of unions which are a central part of the Broadway workplace. Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at a Broadway show? This week's EconTalk lifts the curtain on the magical world of Broadway: Mitch Weiss, co-author of The Business of Broadway, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book and what it's like to manage the production of a blockbuster musical in New York City. Topics discussed include the eight-performance-per-week grind, the how and why of creating a Broadway set, the challenges of wardrobes (domestic and international) and the pluses and minuses of unions which are a central part of the Broadway workplace. Mitch Weiss, co-author of The Business of Broadway, talks with host Russ Roberts about his book and what it's like to manage the production of a blockbuster musical in New York City. Topics discussed include the eight-performance-per-week grind, the how and why of creating a Broadway set, the challenges of wardrobes (domestic and international) and the pluses and minuses of unions which are a central part of the Broadway workplace. economics, Mitch Weiss, musicals, unions, theater, wardrobes, management, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Weissbroadway.mp3 1:12:42 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 07 Sep 2015 06:30:00 EST How much care do you take when you make a donation to a charity? What careers make the biggest difference when it comes to helping others? William MacAskill of Oxford University and the author of Doing Good Better talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the book and the idea of effective altruism. MacAskill urges donors to spend their money more effectively and argues that the impact on human well-being can be immense. MacAskill wants donors to rely on scientific assessments of effectiveness. Roberts pushes back on the reliability of such assessments. Other topics include sweatshops, choosing a career to have the biggest impact on others, and the interaction between private philanthropy and political action. How much care do you take when you make a donation to a charity? What careers make the biggest difference when it comes to helping others? William MacAskill of Oxford University and the author of Doing Good Better talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the book and the idea of effective altruism. MacAskill urges donors to spend their money more effectively and argues that the impact on human well-being can be immense. MacAskill wants donors to rely on scientific assessments of effectiveness. Roberts pushes back on the reliability of such assessments. Other topics include sweatshops, choosing a career to have the biggest impact on others, and the interaction between private philanthropy and political action. William MacAskill, author of Doing Good Better, talks with host Russ Roberts about the idea of effective altruism. MacAskill urges donors to spend their money more effectively and argues that the impact on human well-being can be immense. MacAskill wants donors to rely on scientific assessments of effectiveness. Roberts pushes back on the reliability of such assessments. Other topics include sweatshops, choosing a career to have the biggest impact on others, and the interaction between private philanthropy and political action. economics, William MacAskill, charity, sweatshops, philanthropy, donations, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/MacAskillaltruism.mp3 1:09:13 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 31 Aug 2015 06:30:00 EST Are human beings naturally cooperative or selfish? Can people thrive without government law? Paul Robinson of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Pirates, Prisoners and Lepers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts the ideas in his book. Robinson argues that without government sanctions or legislation, there is an evolutionary drive to cooperate even in life-and-death situations. In such situations private punishment and norms play a crucial role in sustaining cooperative solutions. The last part of the conversation deals with the criminal justice system and how attitudes toward the system affect society-wide cooperation and crime. Are human beings naturally cooperative or selfish? Can people thrive without government law? Paul Robinson of the University of Pennsylvania and author of Pirates, Prisoners and Lepers talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts the ideas in his book. Robinson argues that without government sanctions or legislation, there is an evolutionary drive to cooperate even in life-and-death situations. In such situations private punishment and norms play a crucial role in sustaining cooperative solutions. The last part of the conversation deals with the criminal justice system and how attitudes toward the system affect society-wide cooperation and crime. Paul Robinson talks with host Russ Roberts the ideas in his book, Pirates, Prisoners and Lepers. He argues that without government sanctions or legislation there is an evolutionary drive to cooperate even in life-and-death situations. In such situations private punishment and norms play a crucial role in sustaining cooperative solutions. The last part of the conversation deals with the criminal justice system and how attitudes toward the system affect society-wide cooperation and crime. economics, Paul Robinson, laws, legislation, evolution, ethics, punishment, criminal justice system, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Robinsoncooperation.mp3 1:10:06 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 24 Aug 2015 06:30:00 EST Thousands of bears in New Jersey. Humpback whales near New York City. Acres devoted to farming stable or declining even as food production soars. Jesse Ausubel of the Rockefeller University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the return of nature. Ausubel shows how technology has reduced many of the dimensions of the human footprint even as population rises and why this trend is likely to continue into the future. The conversation concludes with Ausubel's cautious optimism about the impact of climate change. Thousands of bears in New Jersey. Humpback whales near New York City. Acres devoted to farming stable or declining even as food production soars. Jesse Ausubel of the Rockefeller University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the return of nature. Ausubel shows how technology has reduced many of the dimensions of the human footprint even as population rises and why this trend is likely to continue into the future. The conversation concludes with Ausubel's cautious optimism about the impact of climate change. Jesse Ausubel talks with host Russ Roberts about the return of nature. Ausubel shows how technology has reduced many of the dimensions of the human footprint even as population rises and why this trend is likely to continue into the future. The conversation concludes with Ausubel's cautious optimism about the impact of climate change. economics, Jesse Ausubel, reforestation, rewilding, farming, history, pollution, environment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Ausubelagriculture.mp3 1:02:52 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 17 Aug 2015 06:30:00 EST Rachel Laudan, visiting scholar at the University of Texas and author of Cuisine and Empire, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of food. Topics covered include the importance of grain, the spread of various styles of cooking, why French cooking has elite status, and the reach of McDonald's. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the appeal of local food and other recent food passions. Rachel Laudan, visiting scholar at the University of Texas and author of Cuisine and Empire, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of food. Topics covered include the importance of grain, the spread of various styles of cooking, why French cooking has elite status, and the reach of McDonald's. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the appeal of local food and other recent food passions. Rachel Laudan talks with host Russ Roberts about the history of food. Topics include the importance of grain, the spread of various styles of cooking, why French cooking has elite status, and the reach of McDonald's. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the appeal of local food and other recent food passions. economics, Rachel Laudan, cooking, grains, agriculture, history, evolution, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Laudanfood.mp3 1:06:55 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 10 Aug 2015 06:30:00 EST Summer Brennan, author of The Oyster War, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book and the fight between the Drakes Bay Oyster Company and the federal government over farming oysters in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Along the way they discuss the economics of oyster farming, the nature of wilderness, and the challenge of land use in national parks and seashores. Summer Brennan, author of The Oyster War, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book and the fight between the Drakes Bay Oyster Company and the federal government over farming oysters in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Along the way they discuss the economics of oyster farming, the nature of wilderness, and the challenge of land use in national parks and seashores. Summer Brennan talks with host Russ Roberts about her book, The Oyster War, and the fight between the Drakes Bay Oyster Company and the federal government over farming oysters in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Along the way they discuss the economics of oyster farming, the nature of wilderness, and the challenge of land use in national parks and seashores. economics, Summer Brennan, fishing, national parks, seashore, environment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Brennanwilderness.mp3 1:04:33 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 03 Aug 2015 06:30:00 EST Seafood is highly perishable and supply is often uncertain. Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of running 34 seafood restaurants up and down the east coast. Berkowitz draws on his 22 year tenure as CEO and discusses how his business works day-to-day and the question of sustainability. Seafood is highly perishable and supply is often uncertain. Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of running 34 seafood restaurants up and down the east coast. Berkowitz draws on his 22 year tenure as CEO and discusses how his business works day-to-day and the question of sustainability. Seafood is highly perishable and supply is often uncertain. Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods talks with host Russ Roberts about the challenges of running 34 seafood restaurants up and down the east coast. He discusses how his business works day-to-day and the question of sustainability. economics, Roger Berkowitz, fishing, sustainability, restaurants, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Berkowitzfish.mp3 1:03:59 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Jul 2015 06:30:00 EST How important are basic skills for economic success and growth? Eric Hanushek of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the importance of basic education in math and literacy and their relationship to economic growth. Hanushek argues that excellence in educating people in basic skills leads to economic growth, especially in poorer countries where years of education may be a poor proxy for learning. He argues that the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals should emphasize outputs rather than inputs--performance on skill-based exams rather than years of education. How important are basic skills for economic success and growth? Eric Hanushek of Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the importance of basic education in math and literacy and their relationship to economic growth. Hanushek argues that excellence in educating people in basic skills leads to economic growth, especially in poorer countries where years of education may be a poor proxy for learning. He argues that the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals should emphasize outputs rather than inputs--performance on skill-based exams rather than years of education. Eric Hanushek talks with host Russ Roberts about the importance of basic education in math and literacy and their relationship to economic growth. He argues that excellence in educating people in basic skills leads to economic growth, especially in poorer countries where years of education may be a poor proxy for learning. He argues that the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals should emphasize outputs rather than inputs--performance on skill-based exams rather than years of education. economics, Eric Hanushek, teachers, literacy, math, pisa test, developing countries, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Hanushekmillennium.mp3 1:11:06 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Jul 2015 06:30:00 EST Wences Casares, bitcoin evangelist and founder and CEO of Xapo, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how bitcoin works, the genius of bitcoin's creator, and how Xapo is structured to create security for bitcoin banking. Wences Casares, bitcoin evangelist and founder and CEO of Xapo, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how bitcoin works, the genius of bitcoin's creator, and how Xapo is structured to create security for bitcoin banking. Wences Casares, bitcoin evangelist and founder and CEO of Xapo, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how bitcoin works, the genius of bitcoin's creator, and how Xapo is structured to create security for bitcoin banking. economics, Wences Casares, banking, money, store of value, Satoshi Nakamoto, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Casaresbitcoin.mp3 1:00:51 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Jul 2015 06:30:00 EST Lee Ohanian, Arnold Kling, and John Cochrane talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the future of freedom, democracy, and prosperity. Recorded in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution as part of a conference on Magna Carta, the three guests give their perspective on the future of the American economy and the interaction between politics and economics. Each guest makes a brief presentation at the start followed by a moderated conversation. Lee Ohanian, Arnold Kling, and John Cochrane talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the future of freedom, democracy, and prosperity. Recorded in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution as part of a conference on Magna Carta, the three guests give their perspective on the future of the American economy and the interaction between politics and economics. Each guest makes a brief presentation at the start followed by a moderated conversation. Lee Ohanian, Arnold Kling, and John Cochrane talk with host Russ Roberts about the future of freedom, democracy, and prosperity. Recorded in front of a live audience at Stanford University's Hoover Institution as part of a conference on Magna Carta, the guests give their perspective on the future of the U.S. economy and the interaction between politics and economics. Each guest makes a brief presentation at the start followed by a moderated conversation. economics, Lee Ohanian, Arnold Kling, John Cochrane, politics, economy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/OhanianKlingCochranefreedom.mp3 56:57 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Jul 2015 06:30:00 EST Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on matching markets. Examples include marriage, matching kidney donors to kidney recipients, and students to schools in cities that allow choice in their public school systems. Roth also discusses repugnance--the unease some people have with allowing buying and selling of some goods and what it's like to watch a kidney transplant knowing your research has helped make the surgery possible. Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth of Stanford University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his work on matching markets. Examples include marriage, matching kidney donors to kidney recipients, and students to schools in cities that allow choice in their public school systems. Roth also discusses repugnance--the unease some people have with allowing buying and selling of some goods and what it's like to watch a kidney transplant knowing your research has helped make the surgery possible. Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth talks with host Russ Roberts about his work on matching markets. Examples include marriage, matching kidney donors to kidney recipients, and students to schools in cities that allow public school choice. Roth also discusses repugnance--the unease some people have with allowing buying and selling of some goods and what it's like to watch a kidney transplant knowing your research has helped make the surgery possible. economics, Alvin Roth, kidney transplants, school choice, repugnance, Nobel Prize, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Rothmatching.mp3 1:03:10 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 29 Jun 2015 06:30:00 EST Science writer and author Matt Ridley discusses climate change with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Based on his reading of the scientific evidence, Ridley describes himself as a "lukewarmer." While Ridley agrees that humans have made the climate warmer, he argues that the impact is small or positive over some temperature ranges and regions. He rejects the catastrophic scenarios that some say are sufficiently likely to justify dramatic policy responses, and he reflects on the challenges of staking out an unpopular position on a contentious policy issue. Science writer and author Matt Ridley discusses climate change with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Based on his reading of the scientific evidence, Ridley describes himself as a "lukewarmer." While Ridley agrees that humans have made the climate warmer, he argues that the impact is small or positive over some temperature ranges and regions. He rejects the catastrophic scenarios that some say are sufficiently likely to justify dramatic policy responses, and he reflects on the challenges of staking out an unpopular position on a contentious policy issue. Matt Ridley discusses climate change with host Russ Roberts. Based on his reading of the scientific evidence, Ridley describes himself as a "lukewarmer." He agrees that humans have made the climate warmer but argues that the impact is small or positive over some temperature ranges and regions. He rejects the catastrophic scenarios some say justify dramatic policy responses and reflects on the challenges of staking out an unpopular position on a contentious policy issue. economics, Matt Ridley, global warming, environment, science, policy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Ridleyclimate.mp3 1:07:37 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 22 Jun 2015 06:30:00 EST Morten Jerven of Simon Frasier University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book, Africa: Why Economists Get It Wrong. Jerven, who will be joining Noragric at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences this fall, argues that economists have misread the economic history of Africa, ignoring successful episodes of economic growth while trying to explain a perpetual malaise that does not exist. Jerven is critical of many of the attempts to explain growth using econometric techniques and suggests that a richer approach is necessary that is aware of the particular circumstances facing poor countries. Morten Jerven of Simon Frasier University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book, Africa: Why Economists Get It Wrong. Jerven, who will be joining Noragric at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences this fall, argues that economists have misread the economic history of Africa, ignoring successful episodes of economic growth while trying to explain a perpetual malaise that does not exist. Jerven is critical of many of the attempts to explain growth using econometric techniques and suggests that a richer approach is necessary that is aware of the particular circumstances facing poor countries. Morten Jerven talks with host Russ Roberts about his new book, Africa: Why Economists Get It Wrong. He argues that economists have misread the economic history of Africa, ignoring successful episodes of economic growth while trying to explain a malaise that does not exist. He is critical of many of the attempts to explain growth using econometric techniques and suggests that a richer approach is necessary that is aware of the particular circumstances facing poor countries. economics, Morten Jerven, international development, poor countries, economic history, statistics, econometrics, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Jervengrowth.mp3 1:12:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 15 Jun 2015 06:30:00 EST What's it like to hang out with Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell for two months? Adam Davidson, who writes for the New York Times Sunday Magazine, was the technical advisor to the upcoming movie, The Big Short. Besides rubbing shoulders with celebrities, he noticed what he calls the Hollywood model where highly talented workers come together temporarily in project-based employment. Davidson discusses the costs and benefits of this approach and its potential emergence as a more common phenomenon throughout the economy. What's it like to hang out with Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell for two months? Adam Davidson, who writes for the New York Times Sunday Magazine, was the technical advisor to the upcoming movie, The Big Short. Besides rubbing shoulders with celebrities, he noticed what he calls the Hollywood model where highly talented workers come together temporarily in project-based employment. Davidson discusses the costs and benefits of this approach and its potential emergence as a more common phenomenon throughout the economy. What's it like to hang out with Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, and Ryan Gosling for two months? Journalist Adam Davidson was the technical advisor to the upcoming movie, The Big Short. He noticed what he calls the Hollywood model: highly talented workers come together temporarily in project-based employment. Davidson discusses the costs and benefits of this approach and its potential emergence as a more common phenomenon throughout the economy. economics, Adam Davidson, employment, projects, movies, films, celebrities, labor markets, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Davidsonhollywood.mp3 1:14:16 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 08 Jun 2015 06:30:00 EST Nathaniel Popper of the New York Times and the author of Digital Gold talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Bitcoin. Can Bitcoin make it? What went wrong with Mt. Gox? Why did Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road, just get sentenced to life in prison? Why are venture capital firms pouring millions of dollars into companies promising easier ways to use Bitcoin? Popper discusses these questions along with the technical side of Bitcoin to help listeners understand why so many investors are excited about the potential of Bitcoin. Nathaniel Popper of the New York Times and the author of Digital Gold talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Bitcoin. Can Bitcoin make it? What went wrong with Mt. Gox? Why did Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road, just get sentenced to life in prison? Why are venture capital firms pouring millions of dollars into companies promising easier ways to use Bitcoin? Popper discusses these questions along with the technical side of Bitcoin to help listeners understand why so many investors are excited about the potential of Bitcoin. Author Nathaniel Popper talks with host Russ Roberts about Bitcoin. Can Bitcoin make it? What went wrong with Mt. Gox? Why did Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, just get sentenced to life in prison? Why are venture capital firms pouring millions of dollars into companies promising easier ways to use Bitcoin? Popper discusses these questions along with the technical side of Bitcoin to help listeners understand why so many investors are excited about the potential of Bitcoin. economics, Nathaniel Popper, technology, money, transactions, silk road, mt gox, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Popperbitcoin.mp3 1:07:32 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 01 Jun 2015 06:30:00 EST Is climate change the ultimate Black Swan? Martin Weitzman of Harvard University and co-author of Climate Shock talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the risks of climate change. Weitzman argues that climate change is a fat-tailed phenomenon--there is a non-trivial risk of a catastrophe. Though Weitzman concedes that our knowledge of the climate is quite incomplete, he suggests that it is prudent to take serious measures, including possibly geo-engineering, to reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Is climate change the ultimate Black Swan? Martin Weitzman of Harvard University and co-author of Climate Shock talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the risks of climate change. Weitzman argues that climate change is a fat-tailed phenomenon--there is a non-trivial risk of a catastrophe. Though Weitzman concedes that our knowledge of the climate is quite incomplete, he suggests that it is prudent to take serious measures, including possibly geo-engineering, to reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Martin Weitzman talks with host Russ Roberts about the risks of climate change. Weitzman argues that climate change is fat-tailed--there is a non-trivial risk of a catastrophe. He concedes that our knowledge of the climate is quite incomplete but suggests that it is prudent to take serious measures, including possibly geo-engineering, to reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. economics, Martin Weitzman, carbon dioxide emissions, environment, fat tails, energy, geo-engineering, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Weitzmanclimate.mp3 1:08:29 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 25 May 2015 06:30:00 EST Bent Flyvbjerg of Oxford University speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the political economy of megaprojects--massive investments of a billion dollars or more in infrastructure or technology. Flyvbjerg argues that such projects consistently end up costing more with smaller benefits than projected and almost always end up with costs that exceed the benefits. Flyvbjerg explores the reasons for the poor predictions and poor performance of giant investment projects and what might be done to improve their effectiveness. Bent Flyvbjerg of Oxford University speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the political economy of megaprojects--massive investments of a billion dollars or more in infrastructure or technology. Flyvbjerg argues that such projects consistently end up costing more with smaller benefits than projected and almost always end up with costs that exceed the benefits. Flyvbjerg explores the reasons for the poor predictions and poor performance of giant investment projects and what might be done to improve their effectiveness. Bent Flyvbjerg speaks with host Russ Roberts about megaprojects--massive investments of a billion dollars or more in infrastructure or technology. Flyvbjerg argues that such projects consistently end up costing more with smaller benefits than projected and almost always end up with costs that exceed the benefits. economics, Bent Flyvbjerg, infrastructure, technology investments, costs, benefits, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Flyvbjergmegaprojects.mp3 1:04:17 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 18 May 2015 06:30:00 EST Did an 800-year old piece of parchment really change the world? Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Magna Carta, the founding document of English law and liberty. The Magna Carta was repudiated just ten weeks after King John issued it. Yet, its impact is still with us today. In this conversation, Vincent explains what led to the Magna Carta and how its influence remains with us today in England and elsewhere. Did an 800-year old piece of parchment really change the world? Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Magna Carta, the founding document of English law and liberty. The Magna Carta was repudiated just ten weeks after King John issued it. Yet, its impact is still with us today. In this conversation, Vincent explains what led to the Magna Carta and how its influence remains with us today in England and elsewhere. Did an 800-year old piece of parchment change the world? Nicholas Vincent talks with host Russ Roberts about the Magna Carta, the founding document of English law and liberty. Vincent explains what led to the Magna Carta and how its influence remains with us today. economics, Nicholas Vincent, history of England, King John, law, liberty, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Vincentmagnacarta.mp3 1:10:15 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 11 May 2015 06:30:00 EST We're in the middle of a healthcare revolution but it's about more than marvelous life-saving and life-enhancing apps on our smartphone. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and author of The Patient Will See You Now argues that the digital revolution will give us more control of our health information and data. More powerful patients will transform the doctor-patient interaction. Topol talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book giving us a glimpse of the changes coming to medicine from the digital revolution. We're in the middle of a healthcare revolution but it's about more than marvelous life-saving and life-enhancing apps on our smartphone. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and author of The Patient Will See You Now argues that the digital revolution will give us more control of our health information and data. More powerful patients will transform the doctor-patient interaction. Topol talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book giving us a glimpse of the changes coming to medicine from the digital revolution. We're in the middle of a healthcare revolution but it's about more than life-saving, life-enhancing smartphone apps. Eric Topol talks with host Russ Roberts arguing that the digital revolution will give us more control of our health information and data. economics, Eric Topol, health care, technology, medecine, hospitals, doctors, physicians, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Topolpatients.mp3 1:07:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 04 May 2015 06:30:00 EST Michael O'Hare of the University of California, Berkeley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the management of art museums. O'Hare suggests a number of changes that would allow museums to be more effective and to justify their non-profit status--lower admission prices, selling part of their substantial unseen inventory to other museums, and broadening the activities of the museum to include educational exhibits on the creation of art and the commercial side of art. He encourages trustees of museums to see their job more as tough-minded advisors and less as financiers of museum budgets. Michael O'Hare of the University of California, Berkeley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the management of art museums. O'Hare suggests a number of changes that would allow museums to be more effective and to justify their non-profit status--lower admission prices, selling part of their substantial unseen inventory to other museums, and broadening the activities of the museum to include educational exhibits on the creation of art and the commercial side of art. He encourages trustees of museums to see their job more as tough-minded advisors and less as financiers of museum budgets. Michael O'Hare talks with host Russ Roberts about the management of art museums. O'Hare suggests a number of changes that would allow museums to be more effective and to justify their non-profit status--lower admission prices, selling part of their substantial unseen inventory to other museums, and broadening the activities of the museum to include educational exhibits on the creation of art and the commercial side of art. He encourages trustees of museums to see their job more as tough-minded advisors and less as financiers of museum budgets. economics, Michael O'Hare, non-profits, museums, admission prices, educational exhibits, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/OHareart.mp3 1:03:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 27 Apr 2015 06:30:00 EST Leonard Wong of the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about honesty in the military. Based on a recent co-authored paper, Wong argues that the paperwork and training burden on U.S. military officers requires dishonesty--it is simply impossible to comply with all the requirements. This creates a tension for an institution that prides itself on honesty, trust, and integrity. The conversation closes with suggestions for how the military might reform the compliance and requirement process. Leonard Wong of the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about honesty in the military. Based on a recent co-authored paper, Wong argues that the paperwork and training burden on U.S. military officers requires dishonesty--it is simply impossible to comply with all the requirements. This creates a tension for an institution that prides itself on honesty, trust, and integrity. The conversation closes with suggestions for how the military might reform the compliance and requirement process. Leonard Wong talks with host Russ Roberts about honesty in the military. Based on a recent co-authored paper, Wong argues that the paperwork and training burden on U.S. military officers requires dishonesty--it is simply impossible to comply with all the requirements. This creates a tension for an institution that prides itself on honesty, trust, and integrity. The conversation closes with suggestions for how the military might reform the compliance and requirement process. economics, Leonard Wong, army, dishonesty, paperwork, regulations, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Wongmilitary.mp3 1:02:23 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 20 Apr 2015 06:30:00 EST Scott Sumner, of Bentley University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about interest rates. Sumner suggests that professional economists sometimes confuse cause and effect with respect to prices and quantities. Low interest rates need not encourage investment for example, if interest rates are low because of a decrease in demand. Sumner also talk about possible explanations for the historically low real rates of interest in today's economy along with other aspects of monetary policy, interest rates, and investment. Scott Sumner, of Bentley University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about interest rates. Sumner suggests that professional economists sometimes confuse cause and effect with respect to prices and quantities. Low interest rates need not encourage investment for example, if interest rates are low because of a decrease in demand. Sumner also talk about possible explanations for the historically low real rates of interest in today's economy along with other aspects of monetary policy, interest rates, and investment. Scott Sumner talks with host Russ Roberts about interest rates. Sumner suggests that professional economists sometimes confuse cause and effect with respect to prices and quantities. Low interest rates need not encourage investment for example, if interest rates are low because of a decrease in demand. Sumner also talk about possible explanations for the historically low real rates of interest in today's economy along with other aspects of monetary policy, interest rates, and investment. economics, Scott Sumner, monetary policy, money, investment, aggregate demand, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Sumnerinterestrates.mp3 1:05:10 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 13 Apr 2015 06:30:00 EST Phil Rosenzweig, professor of strategy and international business at IMD in Switzerland and author of the book Left Brain, Right Stuff: How Leaders Make Winning Decisions talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book. The focus of the conversation is on the lessons from behavioral economics--when do those lessons inform and when do they mislead when applied to real-world business decisions. Topics discussed include overconfidence, transparency, the winner's curse, evaluating leaders, and the role of experimental findings in thinking about decision-making. Phil Rosenzweig, professor of strategy and international business at IMD in Switzerland and author of the book Left Brain, Right Stuff: How Leaders Make Winning Decisions talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book. The focus of the conversation is on the lessons from behavioral economics--when do those lessons inform and when do they mislead when applied to real-world business decisions. Topics discussed include overconfidence, transparency, the winner's curse, evaluating leaders, and the role of experimental findings in thinking about decision-making. Phil Rosenzweig talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Left Brain, Right Stuff. When do the lessons from behavioral economics inform and when do they mislead when applied to real-world business decisions? Topics discussed include overconfidence, transparency, the winner's curse, evaluating leaders, and the role of experimental findings in thinking about decision-making. economics, Phil Rosenzweig, left brain, business decision-making, winners curse, overconfidence, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Rosenzweigleadership.mp3 1:02:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 06 Apr 2015 06:30:00 EST Vernon Smith and James Otteson talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Adam Smith in front of a live audience at Ball State University. Topics discussed include Smith's view of human nature, the relevance of Smith for philosophy and economics today, and the connection between Smith's two books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. Vernon Smith and James Otteson talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Adam Smith in front of a live audience at Ball State University. Topics discussed include Smith's view of human nature, the relevance of Smith for philosophy and economics today, and the connection between Smith's two books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. Vernon Smith and James Otteson talk with host Russ Roberts about Adam Smith in front of a live audience at Ball State University. Topics discussed include Smith's view of human nature, the relevance of Smith for philosophy and economics today, and the connection between Smith's two books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. economics, Nobel Prize, wealth of nations, theory of moral sentiments, live video, ball state university, philosophy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/SmithVOttesonSmith.mp3 1:04:38 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 30 Mar 2015 06:30:00 EST David Skarbek of King's College London and author of The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern The American Penal System talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the written and unwritten rules in America's prisons for the most violent and dangerous criminals. Skarbek explains how and why prison gangs emerged in the last half of the 20th century, their influence both inside and outside of prisons, and how their governance structure is maintained. David Skarbek of King's College London and author of The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern The American Penal System talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the written and unwritten rules in America's prisons for the most violent and dangerous criminals. Skarbek explains how and why prison gangs emerged in the last half of the 20th century, their influence both inside and outside of prisons, and how their governance structure is maintained. David Skarbek talks with host Russ Roberts about the written and unwritten rules in America's prisons for the most violent and dangerous criminals. Skarbek explains how and why prison gangs emerged in the last half of the 20th century, their influence both inside and outside of prisons, and how their governance structure is maintained. economics, David Skarbek, poverty, gangs, jails, criminals, violence, imprisonment, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Skarbekprisons.mp3 1:16:24 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Mar 2015 06:30:00 EST Campbell Harvey of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research evaluating various investment and trading strategies and the challenge of measuring their effectiveness. Topics discussed include skill vs. luck, self-deception, the measures of statistical significance, skewness in investment returns, and the potential of big data. Campbell Harvey of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his research evaluating various investment and trading strategies and the challenge of measuring their effectiveness. Topics discussed include skill vs. luck, self-deception, the measures of statistical significance, skewness in investment returns, and the potential of big data. Campbell Harvey talks with host Russ Roberts about his research evaluating investment and trading strategies and the challenge of measuring their effectiveness. Topics include skill vs. luck, self-deception, the measures of statistical significance, skewness in investment returns, and the potential of big data. economics, Campbell Harvey, finance, market portfolios, risk, returns, skewness, returns, big data, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Harveyrandomness.mp3 1:05:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Mar 2015 06:30:00 EST Paul Romer of New York University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reforming cities to allow growth and human flourishing. Topics discussed include charter cities, the role of population density in city life, driverless cars, and various ways to help the poorest people in the world. Paul Romer of New York University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reforming cities to allow growth and human flourishing. Topics discussed include charter cities, the role of population density in city life, driverless cars, and various ways to help the poorest people in the world. Paul Romer talks with host Russ Roberts about reforming cities to allow growth and human flourishing. Topics discussed include charter cities, the role of population density in city life, driverless cars, and various ways to help the poorest people in the world. economics, Paul Romer, charter cities, municipalities, government, population, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Romerurban.mp3 1:03:01 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Mar 2015 06:30:00 EST Lawrence H. White of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the possibility of a monetary constitution. Based on a new book, Renewing the Search for a Monetary Constitution, White explores different constitutional constraints that might be put on the government's role in money and monetary policy. Topics discussed include cryptocurrencies, the gold standard, the Taylor Rule, the performance of the Fed, free banking, and private currency. Lawrence H. White of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the possibility of a monetary constitution. Based on a new book, Renewing the Search for a Monetary Constitution, White explores different constitutional constraints that might be put on the government's role in money and monetary policy. Topics discussed include cryptocurrencies, the gold standard, the Taylor Rule, the performance of the Fed, free banking, and private currency. Lawrence H. White talks with host Russ Roberts about the possibility of a monetary constitution. Based on a new book, Renewing the Search for a Monetary Constitution, White explores different constitutional constraints that might be put on the government's role in money and monetary policy. Topics include cryptocurrencies, the gold standard, the Taylor Rule, the performance of the Fed, free banking, and private currency. economics, Lawrence H. White, money supply, cryptocurrency, free banking, taylor rule, federal reserve, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Whiteconstitutions.mp3 1:18:19 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Mar 2015 06:30:00 EST David Zetland of Leiden University College in the Netherlands and author of Living with Water Scarcity talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of water management. Issues covered include the sustainability of water supplies, the affordability of water for the poor, the incentives water companies face, and the management of water systems in the poorest countries. Also discussed are the diamond and water paradox, campaigns to reduce water usage, and the role of prices in managing a water system. David Zetland of Leiden University College in the Netherlands and author of Living with Water Scarcity talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of water management. Issues covered include the sustainability of water supplies, the affordability of water for the poor, the incentives water companies face, and the management of water systems in the poorest countries. Also discussed are the diamond and water paradox, campaigns to reduce water usage, and the role of prices in managing a water system. David Zetland talks with host Russ Roberts about the challenges of water management. Topics include sustainability of water supplies, affordability of water for the poor, incentives water companies face, and management of water systems in the poorest countries. Also discussed are the diamond and water paradox, campaigns to reduce water usage, and the role of prices in managing a water system. economics, David Zetland, natural resources, scarcity, poorest countries, diamond water paradox, water management, drought, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Zetlandwater.mp3 1:00:02 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 23 Feb 2015 06:30:00 EST Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book (co-authored with Kevin Munger), Choosing in Groups. Munger lays out the challenges of group decision-making and the challenges of agreeing on constitutions or voting rules for group decision-making. The conversation highlights some of the challenges of majority rule and uses the Lewis and Clark expedition as an example. Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book (co-authored with Kevin Munger), Choosing in Groups. Munger lays out the challenges of group decision-making and the challenges of agreeing on constitutions or voting rules for group decision-making. The conversation highlights some of the challenges of majority rule and uses the Lewis and Clark expedition as an example. Michael Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about his latest book (with co-author Kevin Munger), Choosing in Groups. Munger lays out the challenges of group decision-making and of agreeing on constitutions or voting rules for group decision-making. The conversation highlights some of the challenges of majority rule and uses the Lewis and Clark expedition as an example. economics, Michael Munger, political science, public choice, constitutions, lewis clark, majority rule, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Mungergroups.mp3 1:15:12 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 16 Feb 2015 06:30:00 EST Benn Steil of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Battle of Bretton Woods: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White, and the Making of a New World Order talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Bretton Woods, the conference that resulted in the IMF, the World Bank, and the post-war international monetary system. Topics discussed include America and Britain's conflicting interests during and after World War II, the relative instability of the post-war system, and the personalities and egos of the individuals at Bretton Woods, including John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White. Benn Steil of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Battle of Bretton Woods: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White, and the Making of a New World Order talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Bretton Woods, the conference that resulted in the IMF, the World Bank, and the post-war international monetary system. Topics discussed include America and Britain's conflicting interests during and after World War II, the relative instability of the post-war system, and the personalities and egos of the individuals at Bretton Woods, including John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White. Benn Steil of the Council on Foreign Relations talks with host Russ Roberts about his book, The Battle of Bretton Woods, and the conference that resulted in the IMF, the World Bank, and the post-war international monetary system. Topics include conflicting interests during and after World War II between Britain and America, the relative instability of the post-war system, and the personalities and egos of the individuals at Bretton Woods, including John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White. economics, Benn Steil, international finance, monetary history, IMF, World Bank, global payments, WWII, federal reserve system, gold standard, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Steilbrettonwoods.mp3 1:05:09 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 09 Feb 2015 06:30:00 EST Daniel Sumner of the University of California talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about agricultural subsidies in the United States, the winners and losers from those subsidies, and how the structure of subsidies has changed from the New Deal to the present. Sumner also explains how American policies have affected foreign farmers. Daniel Sumner of the University of California talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about agricultural subsidies in the United States, the winners and losers from those subsidies, and how the structure of subsidies has changed from the New Deal to the present. Sumner also explains how American policies have affected foreign farmers. Daniel Sumner talks with host Russ Roberts about U.S. agricultural subsidies, the winners and losers from those subsidies, and how the structure of subsidies has changed from the New Deal to the present. Sumner also explains how American policies have affected foreign farmers. economics, Daniel Sumner, farming, farmers, U.S. history, price supports, subsidies, international trade, crops, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/SumnerDagriculture.mp3 1:09:05 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 02 Feb 2015 06:30:00 EST Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts on whether the financial sector is good for society and about the gap between how banks and bankers are perceived by the public vs. finance professors. Zingales discusses the costs and benefits of financial innovation, compares the finance sector to the health sector, and suggests how business education should talk about finance to create better behavior. Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts on whether the financial sector is good for society and about the gap between how banks and bankers are perceived by the public vs. finance professors. Zingales discusses the costs and benefits of financial innovation, compares the finance sector to the health sector, and suggests how business education should talk about finance to create better behavior. Luigi Zingales talks with host Russ Roberts on whether the financial sector is good for society and about difference between how banks and bankers are perceived by the public vs. finance professors. He discusses the costs and benefits of financial innovation, compares the finance sector to the health sector, and suggests how business education should talk about finance to create better behavior. economics, Luigi Zingales, bankers, banking sector, finance, business schools, financial innovation, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Zingalesfinancial.mp3 1:01:42 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 26 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST Alex Tabarrok of George Mason University talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent paper Tabarrok co-authored with Shruti Rajagopalan on Gurgaon, a city in India that until recently had little or no municipal government. The two discuss the successes and failures of this private city, the tendency to romanticize the outcomes of market and government action, and the potential for private cities to meet growing demand for urban living in India and China. Alex Tabarrok of George Mason University talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent paper Tabarrok co-authored with Shruti Rajagopalan on Gurgaon, a city in India that until recently had little or no municipal government. The two discuss the successes and failures of this private city, the tendency to romanticize the outcomes of market and government action, and the potential for private cities to meet growing demand for urban living in India and China. Alex Tabarrok talks to host Russ Roberts about a recent paper he co-authored with Shruti Rajagopalan on Gurgaon, a city in India that until recently had little or no municipal government. They discuss the successes and failures of this private city, the tendency to romanticize the outcomes of market and government action, and the potential for private cities to meet growing demand for urban living in India and China. economics, Alex Tabarrok, city, urban life, rural, India, municipalities, governments, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Tabarrokcities.mp3 1:08:18 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile, Black Swan, and Fooled by Randomness, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent co-authored paper on the risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of the Precautionary Principle. Taleb contrasts harm with ruin and explains how the differences imply different rules of behavior when dealing with the risk of each. Taleb argues that when considering the riskiness of GMOs, the right understanding of statistics is more valuable than expertise in biology or genetics. The central issue that pervades the conversation is how to cope with a small non-negligible risk of catastrophe. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile, Black Swan, and Fooled by Randomness, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent co-authored paper on the risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of the Precautionary Principle. Taleb contrasts harm with ruin and explains how the differences imply different rules of behavior when dealing with the risk of each. Taleb argues that when considering the riskiness of GMOs, the right understanding of statistics is more valuable than expertise in biology or genetics. The central issue that pervades the conversation is how to cope with a small non-negligible risk of catastrophe. Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent co-authored paper on the risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of the Precautionary Principle. Taleb contrasts harm with ruin and explains how the differences imply different rules of behavior when dealing with the risk of each. He argues that when considering the riskiness of GMOs, the right understanding of statistics is more valuable than expertise in biology or genetics. The central issue that pervades the conversation is how to cope with a small non-negligible risk of catastrophe. economics, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, gmos, genetically modification, agriculture, black swans, risks, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Talebgmos.mp3 1:07:37 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST Greg Page, former CEO of Cargill, the largest privately-held company in America, talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the global food supply and the challenges of running a company with employees and activity all over the world. Page talks about the role of prices in global food markets in signaling information and prompting changes in response to those signals. Other topics include government's role in agriculture, the locavore movement and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Greg Page, former CEO of Cargill, the largest privately-held company in America, talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the global food supply and the challenges of running a company with employees and activity all over the world. Page talks about the role of prices in global food markets in signaling information and prompting changes in response to those signals. Other topics include government's role in agriculture, the locavore movement and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Greg Page, former Cargill CEO, talks to host Russ Roberts about the global food supply and the challenges of running a company with employees and activity all over the world. He talks about the role of prices in global food markets in signaling information and prompting changes in response. Other topics include government's role in agriculture, the locavore movement and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). economics, Greg Page, gmos, genetically modified, locavores, global markets, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Pageagriculture.mp3 1:02:07 clean EconTalk: Russ Roberts Mon, 05 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST Joshua Greene, of Harvard University and author of Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about morality and the challenges we face when our morality conflicts with that of others. Topics discussed include the difference between what Greene calls automatic thinking and manual thinking, the moral dilemma known as "the trolley problem," and the difficulties of identifying and solving problems in a society that has a plurality of values. Greene defends utilitarianism as a way of adjudicating moral differences. Joshua Greene, of Harvard University and author of Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about morality and the challenges we face when our morality conflicts with that of others. Topics discussed include the difference between what Greene calls automatic thinking and manual thinking, the moral dilemma known as "the trolley problem," and the difficulties of identifying and solving problems in a society that has a plurality of values. Greene defends utilitarianism as a way of adjudicating moral differences. Joshua Greene talks with host Russ Roberts about morality and the challenges we face when our morality conflicts with that of others. Topics discussed include the difference between what Greene calls automatic and manual thinking, the moral dilemma known as "the trolley problem," and the difficulties of identifying and solving problems in a society that has a plurality of values. Greene defends utilitarianism as a way of adjudicating moral differences. economics, Joshua Greene, morality, public choice, psychology, philosophy, econlib http://files.libertyfund.org/econtalk/y2015/Greenemoral.mp3 1:10:06 clean