Shows
Podcast Notes Playlist: Latest EpisodesRead Like a Champion (with Doug Lemov)Econtalk: Read the notes at at podcastnotes.org. Don't forget to subscribe for free to our newsletter, the top 10 ideas of the week, every Monday
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Many students graduate high school today without having read a book cover to cover. Many students struggle to learn to read at all. How did this happen? Listen as educator and author Doug Lemov talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the failed fads in reading education, the mistaken emphasis on vocabulary as a skill, and the importance of background knowledge for thinking and reading comprehension. Lemov and Roberts also discuss their love of d...
2025-08-0100 min
EconTalkHow to Walk the World (with Chris Arnade)Skip the Mona Lisa when you visit Paris. Don't tour the Coliseum in Rome. Walk, don’t hurry. Chris Arnade speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about a different way to travel. Listen as Arnade shares what he learned from Istanbul's small community mosques and how Avignon's Congolese-neighborhood cathedrals provided moving moments of spirituality. He also explains why Japan and Vietnam's emphasis on community lends itself to more happiness than America's "me-focused" approach, and what gear he carries--and leaves behind--for his extremely long walks through the world. Finally, he offers suggestions for choosing places to eat on the road that can elevate meals in...
2025-07-141h 14
The Audio BrowserMinimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter) Podcast: EconTalk (LS 69 · TOP 0.05% what is this?)Episode: Minimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter)Pub date: 2025-02-10Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationWhy do we buy stuff we don't need? Maybe for the same reason that some people can't stand stuff at all. Listen as author Michael Easter speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how two seemingly opposed approaches to our possessions--minimalism and hoarding--may stem from the same impulse to cope with uncertainty. They also discuss the downsides of minimalism and how to figure o...
2025-02-2655 minEconTalkMinimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter)Why do we buy stuff we don't need? Maybe for the same reason that some people can't stand stuff at all. Listen as author Michael Easter speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how two seemingly opposed approaches to our possessions--minimalism and hoarding--may stem from the same impulse to cope with uncertainty. They also discuss the downsides of minimalism and how to figure out whether we're really buying the right things.
2025-02-1055 minEconTalkThe Mysterious World of Owls (with Jennifer Ackerman)An owl will eat a rabbit whole, but owls can't digest the fur or the bones. So how do they survive? Why do their eyes face forward rather than to the side? Long-eared Owls don't have ears, so what's up with the name and how do they hear? How can dogs help us track owls--that seems impossible. Owls don't make nests, so where do they live? Listen as Jennifer Ackerman, author of What an Owl Knows, talks about the book with EconTalk's Russ Roberts, peeling back the feathers to reveal the astonishing biology and behavior of owls, as well...
2024-09-231h 05
Luke FordDon’t like and subscribe (9-19-24)https://www.econlib.org/econtalk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Roberts
https://adamlanesmith.com/
I had a strong negative reaction to this video: 15 Harsh Psychology Facts That Will Make Your Life Better - Adam Lane Smith, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3BnroTQuOg
Russell Roberts recommended these books at the end of the class:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gulag_Archipelago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeeves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_Homeward,_Angel
https://odysee.com/@LukeFordLive, https://rumble.com/lukeford, https://dlive.tv/lukefordlivestreams
Superchat: https://entropystream.live/app/lukefordlive
Bitchute: https://www.bitchute...
2024-09-2041 minEconTalkLiving with the Constitution (with A.J. Jacobs)What does it mean to live Constitutionally in the year 2024? For a start, it means getting off social media. It also means swapping a quill pen for your keyboard, and candlelight for electricity. And don't forget the tricorn hat and musket--though maybe skip the boiled mutton. Join author A.J. Jacobs as he deep-dives with EconTalk's Russ Roberts into the centuries-old principles of the U.S. Constitution and tries to apply them to the current day. Topics include the original conceptions of our most cherished amendments, the office of the President, and the Supreme Court, and an explanation of h...
2024-05-061h 08
The Answer Is Transaction CostsCurrent Event: Smart Grids, DERs, and the Economics of EnergySend us a textUnlock the secrets of the energy market evolution with economist Professor Lynn Kiesling, who brings her expertise on transaction costs and the digital transformation of the electricity industry to our table. Our energized discussion orbits around the innovative world of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), where we explore the shift from consumers to proactive producers, thanks to technologies like rooftop solar panels and home energy storage. Professor Kiesling, drawing from her academic journey and reverence for Ronald Coase's work, delves into the institutional structure of production within firms and imparts her wisdom on navigating...
2024-01-301h 12
Podcast Notes Playlist: Signal From The Noise: By Podcast NotesKevin Kelly on Advice, AI, and TechnologyEcontalk: Read the notes at at podcastnotes.org. Don't forget to subscribe for free to our newsletter, the top 10 ideas of the week, every Monday
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Photographer, author, and visionary Kevin Kelly talks about his book Excellent Advice for Living with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. His advice includes how to have a deep conversation, why it's better to control time than money--and whether, in the end, we should give advice in the first place. Other topics of discussion include the right object of our aspirations, the reason for optimism when it comes to technology, and why Kelly is not worried ab...
2023-04-0100 min
Invested by AlephRuss Roberts on the Difficulty of Giving Good Advice, Work-Life Balance, Our Obsession with Productivity, Storytelling and Wild ProblemsOn the 2nd episode of Invested, Michael hosts Russ Roberts, the first trained academic on the show. Russ is the President of Shalem College in Jerusalem and the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Roberts also hosts the weekly podcast EconTalk, which he started in 2006—with 875+ hour-long conversations with interesting thinkers to date, with guests including Marc Andreessen, Milton Friedman, and others. His latest book is Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us. The book looks at the challenge of making big life decisions–whether to marry, whether to have ch...
2023-03-221h 21
Talking About MarketingBelonging To The BrandWould you join a community build around your brand? If you're anything like Groucho Marx, you'd refuse to join any club that would have you as a member, which is why this episode might make some uncomfortable and challenging listening, re Belonging To The Brand. This book by Mark Schaefer, offers community as a new frontier for marketing to explore, but it's a high stakes option where people will be able to smell bad motivation from miles away. Later in the episode, we tackle community in different ways, reacting to an article that...
2023-03-1332 min
NVC Life with Rachelle LambWhat's making people ill?Russ Roberts, is the host of EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious. His recent guest was Marco Ramos, MD, PH.D, Historian of Medicine, and Psychiatrist at Yale University.
This episode contains a brief segment of their important discussion.
Some things to wonder about:
What is it in this culture that is making people ill?
.. the idea that we don't look at the underlying problem, it is bizarre.
What's happening at a broader level?
Links:
Marco Ramos on Misunderstanding Mental Illness: https://www.econtalk.org/marco-ramos-on-misunderstanding-mental-illness/
Watch it on YouTube: htt...
2023-02-2812 minEconTalkMarco Ramos on Misunderstanding Mental IllnessWhen psychiatrist Marco Ramos of Yale University prescribes antidepressants to patients in distress and they ask him how they work, Ramos admits: We don't really know. And too often, they don't work at all. Despite decades of brain research and billions of dollars spent, psychiatry has made little progress in understanding mental illness. Listen as Ramos explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how the myth of the biological basis for mental illness began, why it stubbornly persists, and why honesty about what we know and don't know is the best policy.
2023-02-201h 28
Talking About MarketingWords To Make The World Do Your BiddingDon't you wish you could weave some words and have people fall under your spell? In the Principles section, David explains how author, Blair Warren, has compiled a list of 27 words that will achieve this end. Is this hocus pocus or does it have substance? You're about to discover it's the latter! Meanwhile, following our remininiscing about the infamous "ants" TV commercial recently, we're returning to the topic like ants to a sugar spill. Steve argues that the behaviour of forrager ants, well, 10-15 per cent of them, gives...
2022-12-2537 min
Dad Saves AmericaThis Economist Might Memorialize His Rap Career On His Tombstone | Pop WisdomRuss Roberts has some wisdom to share.This father of four has spent a long time thinking about why having kids is so special. Russ may be an economist and a college president, but his stories about his grandfather, his dad, and his kids leave no doubt that his first priority is family.His latest book, Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us, takes the analytical approach of economics and explores how it can be adapted for questions that don’t have measurable data and can’t be answered with calc...
2022-12-0813 minEconTalkPatrick House on ConsciousnessHow does the mind work? What makes us sad? What makes us laugh? Despite advances in neuroscience, the answers to these questions remain elusive. Neuroscientist Patrick House talks about these mysteries and about his book Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. House's insights illuminate not just what we know and don't know about our minds--he also helps us understand what it means to be human.
2022-12-051h 28
Dad Saves AmericaThese Guys Made YouTube’s First Viral Rap Battle | The ShowWhat do hip hop and economics have in common? Well, until host John Papola and Russ Roberts met following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, there was very little overlap between those two topics.John learned of Russ after listening to his popular podcast, EconTalk, which sent John down the economics rabbit-hole. This led to an unlikely collaboration between John, a filmmaker, and Russ, economist. In 2010, “Fear the Boom and Bust: Keynes vs. Hayek” debuted on YouTube and became an internet sensation, practically overnight. It was the first viral rap battle of its kind, predating the popular “Epic Rap Ba...
2022-12-021h 15EconTalkKieran Setiya on MidlifeJohn Stuart Mill's midlife crisis came at 20 when he realized that if he got what he desired he still wouldn't be happy. Art and poetry (and maybe love) saved the day for him. In this week's episode, philosopher Kieran Setiya of MIT talks about his book Midlife with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Setiya argues we can learn from Mill to help deal with the ennui to which so many midlifers succumb--along with regrets for roads not taken and wistfulness for what could have been. Setiya argues that a well-lived life needs fewer projects and more pursuits that don't have...
2022-09-191h 39EconTalkRoosevelt Montás on Rescuing SocratesHow do books change our lives? Educator and author Roosevelt Montás of Columbia University talks about his book Rescuing Socrates with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Drawing on his own educational and life journey, Montás shows how great books don't just teach us stuff--they get inside us and make us who we are.
2022-06-201h 20
Rogue LearnerSupporting our Self Directed Teens with Blake BolesGuest Blake Boles Official Bio: (From his website.) Blake Boles is the founder and director of Unschool Adventures and the author of Why Are You Still Sending Your Kids to School?, The Art of Self-Directed Learning, Better Than College, and College Without High School. He hosts the Off-Trail Learning podcast and has delivered over 75 presentations for education conferences, alternative schools, and parent groups. Blake and his work have appeared on The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, BBC Travel, Psychology Today, Fox Business, TEDx, The Huffington Post, USA Today, NPR affiliate radio, and the b...
2022-03-091h 13EconTalkLuca Dellanna on Compulsion, Self-deception, and the BrainWhy do people eat too much even when they don't want to? Why are there so many bad managers? And why might anti-vaxxers be useful? Luca Dellanna, author of The Control Heuristic, thinks the answers to all of these questions are in our heads, or rather in our basal ganglia. Dellanna talks to EconTalk's Russ Roberts about why both brains and employees need immediate feedback, why we're wired to believe our best guesses, and why addiction is just our brain's way of making sure we survive.
2022-02-211h 17
Conversations with TylerRuss Roberts on Israel and Life as an ImmigrantIn this special crossover special with EconTalk, Tyler interviews Russ Roberts about his new life in Israel as president of Shalem College. They discuss why there are so few new universities, managing teams in the face of linguistic and cultural barriers, how Israeli society could adapt to the loss of universal military service, why Israeli TV is so good, what American Jews don’t understand about life in Israel, what his next leadership challenge will be, and much more. Check out Macro Musings. Follow Macro Musings on Twitter. Subscribe to Macro Musings on your favorite podcast app....
2022-01-1959 min
Dit leer je niet op school007 - The fastest way to learn is to teach — with Blair EnnsThat’s what my special guest found out while consulting his clients, and the rest is history. I’m very excited to share my conversation with Blair Enns. As always, I’ve learned a lot from Blair during this one hour call and did my best to discover his story behind the story we all know from him.So instead of talking hours about value based prizing or why hourly billing is nuts, I’ve invited Blair to share a few anecdotes about some life changing events that got him where he is right now.Yes, we did go a bit...
2021-12-201h 01
Dit leer je niet op school007 - The fastest way to learn is to teach — with Blair EnnsThat’s what my special guest found out while consulting his clients, and the rest is history. I’m very excited to share my conversation with Blair Enns. As always, I’ve learned a lot from Blair during this one hour call and did my best to discover his story behind the story we all know from him.
So instead of talking hours about value based prizing or why hourly billing is nuts, I’ve invited Blair to share a few anecdotes about some life changing events that got him where he is right now.
Yes, we did go a bit tech...
2021-12-201h 01EconTalkDon Boudreaux on the PandemicEconomist Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks about the pandemic with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Boudreaux argues that a perfect storm of factors created a huge overreaction, including unnecessary lockdowns that accomplished little at a very high cost in physical and emotional health. Instead, Boudreaux argues, we should have focused attention on the population most at risk of dying from COVID--the elderly and especially the elderly with co-morbidities. The conversation includes a discussion of externalities and the insights of Ronald Coase applied to the policies during the pandemic.
2021-07-121h 10
PodsongsRuss Roberts, Economist and host of EconTalk... "don't let numbers rule your life"Russell Roberts is an economist, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and president designate of Shalem College. He is known for communicating economic ideas in understandable terms as host of the EconTalk podcast. Roberts categorizes himself as a proponent of classical economic liberalism. He has said, "I believe in limited government combined with personal responsibility. So I am something of a libertarian, but . . . that term comes with some baggage and some confusion." Roberts was awarded a B.A. in economics in 1975 from the University of North Carolina and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago...
2021-03-0556 minEconTalkMichael McCullough on the Kindness of StrangersAuthor and psychologist Michael McCullough of the University of California, San Diego talks about his book The Kindness of Strangers with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. McCullough traces the history of human empathy and tries to explain why we care about the welfare of people we don't even know.
2021-02-011h 21
The Rabbi's HusbandRuss Roberts on Genesis 44 – “Forgiveness and the Unheralded Hero of the Book of Genesis”Mark is delighted to welcome Russ Roberts, possibly America’s premier popular economist, to the podcast today. A host of his own remarkably successful podcast, ‘EconTalk’, Russ is also a prolific writer in many forms, including rap, on a variety of topics such as economics and liberty. A three-time ‘Teacher of the Year’ at George Mason University, Russ currently teaches at Stanford. The passage he has chosen to discuss with Mark today is Genesis 44. Russ begins by sharing his summary of this passage and its backstory before joining Mark in an analysis of the use of the word ‘approach’ and their diffe...
2021-01-2237 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on BuchananEconomist and author Don Boudreaux of George Mason University discusses the life and work of the economist James Buchanan with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Buchanan received the Nobel Prize in 1986 for his work creating and developing public choice--the field which applies the tools of economics to politicians and political behavior. After discussing the importance of public choice, Boudreaux and Roberts focus on two contrarian articles of Buchanan's where he argues for the importance of markets and life as processes rather than problems to be solved analytically.
2021-01-111h 16EconTalkMichael Blastland on the Hidden HalfAuthor Michael Blastland talks about his book The Hidden Half with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Blastland argues that the deeper you delve into science, medicine, astrophysics--pick a topic--the more you realize there is a lot we don't understand. Things we can't explain. Blastland believes we would all do well to admit that and stop pretending that everything is knowable and every problem solvable.
2020-12-281h 14EconTalkBranko Milanovic on the Big Questions of EconomicsAuthor and economist Branko Milanovic of CUNY talks about the big questions in economics with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Milanovic argues that the Nobel Prize Committee is missing an opportunity to encourage more ambitious work by awarding the prize to economists tackling questions like the rise of China's economy and other challenging but crucial areas of scholarship. In the conversation, he lays out what those questions might be and discusses what we know and don't know in these areas.
2020-12-071h 22
80,000 Hours Podcast#87 – Russ Roberts on whether it's more effective to help strangers, or people you knowIf you want to make the world a better place, would it be better to help your niece with her SATs, or try to join the State Department to lower the risk that the US and China go to war? People involved in 80,000 Hours or the effective altruism community would be comfortable recommending the latter. This week's guest — Russ Roberts, host of the long-running podcast EconTalk, and author of a forthcoming book on decision-making under uncertainty and the limited ability of data to help — worries that might be a mistake. Links to learn more, summary and fu...
2020-11-031h 49EconTalkRobert Lerman on ApprenticeshipsEconomist Robert Lerman of the Urban Institute talks about apprenticeships with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Lerman argues that apprenticeships--a combination of work experience and classroom learning--have the potential to expand opportunities for young people who don't want to attend college.
2020-07-061h 03
Limit Up! PodcastHow Corruption Affects the Bottom Line with Dr. Nerissa Brown, PhD CFEWe’re living in a world with a 24/7 news cycle dedicated to corruption. But how does corruption at the highest levels affect the bottom line of individual firms? On this week’s episode of Limit Up! we’re talking corruption with Dr. Nerissa Brown of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business.Professor Brown’s latest research analyzes the effects of political corruption on firm value. She and her colleagues found that in districts with high level of corruption, the value of firms in those areas declined by 4%. Tune in to learn more about Professo...
2019-09-2742 minEconTalkAndy Matuschak on Books and LearningSoftware Engineer Andy Matuschak talks about his essay "Why Books Don't Work" with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Matuschak argues that most books rely on transmissionism, the idea that an author can share an idea in print and the reader will absorb it. And yet after reading a non-fiction book, most readers will struggle to remember any of the ideas in the book. Matuschak argues for a different approach to transmitting ideas via the web including different ways that authors or teachers can test for understanding that will increase the chances of retention and mastery of complex ideas.
2019-08-051h 06
The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Transformation EconomyInterview with Economist Russ RobertsEd and I are honored to interview economist Russ Roberts, the host of our favorite podcast, EconTalk. Russ is the author of four books, each of which Ron recommends highly. We will discuss these books, along with other topics that Russ has addressed on his show. Folks, you don't want to miss this episode, and if you don't already listen to EconTalk, go subscribe to it right now. It's one of the best podcasts out there.
2018-10-1257 min
TechdirtWhy People Don't Trust Capitalism AnymoreThe tides of public opinion on economics seem to be shifting, and criticism of the very idea of free markets is on the ride. The conversation is messy, confusing, and transcends many traditional political boundaries — so we've got an expert source to help us dig in. EconTalk host Russ Roberts joins us to look at why so many people don't trust capitalism anymore.
2018-08-0757 min
Cross Cutting Concerns PodcastPodcast 067 - Season 2 FinaleThat's a wrap on 40 episodes of the Cross Cutting Concerns podcast for season 2. I'm going to take a break from recording over the holiday season, and resume posting new episodes in February 2018.
If you want to be a guest next season, you can! Just:
Click Here to Sign up to be on my Podcast!
Instead of sitting at your computer and hitting F5 waiting for a new episode, why don't you check out some other podcasts? Below are some recommendations. These aren't tech podcasts (though EconTalk does occasionally venture in this area), they...
2017-11-1300 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux, Michael Munger, and Russ Roberts on Emergent OrderWhy 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."
2017-06-121h 13EconTalkRobert Hall on Recession, Stagnation, and Monetary PolicyEconomist 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.
2017-01-091h 08
Economics Detective RadioWriting and Thinking Less Badly with Mike MungerIn this episode, I discuss the process of writing and being successful with Mike Munger. What follows is an edited transcript of our conversation. Petersen: My guest today is Mike Munger of Duke University. Mike, welcome to Economics Detective Radio! Munger: It's a pleasure to be on your show! Petersen: So first I stole EconTalk's format and now I have stolen Mike Munger as well, so if Russ Roberts sends me a cease and desist letter, I'll completely understand why. Munger: Russ and I have an open relationship. We both date other people. Petersen...
2016-10-1443 min
The Learning Leader Show With Ryan HawkRuss Roberts - A Guide To Human Nature & HappinessEpisode 155: Russ Roberts - A Guide To Human Nature & Happiness Russell Roberts is the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Roberts hosts the weekly podcast EconTalk–hour-long conversations with authors, economists, and business leaders. Past guests include Milton Friedman, Nassim Taleb, Christopher Hitchens, Marc Andreessen, Joseph Stiglitz, and John Bogle. EconTalk was named podcast of the year in the 2008 Weblog Awards. Over 425 episodes are available at EconTalk.org and on iTunes at no charge. His two rap videos on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes and F.A...
2016-09-0147 minEconTalkAdam Ozimek on the Power of Econometrics and DataAdam 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.
2016-02-081h 02
EconTalk Archives, 2014Bryan Caplan on College, Signaling and Human CapitalBryan Caplan of George Mason University and blogger at EconLog talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the value of a college education. Caplan argues that the extra amount that college graduates earn relative to high school graduates is misleading as a guide for attending college--it ignores the fact that a sizable number of students don't graduate and never earn that extra money. Caplan argues that the monetary benefits of a college education have a large signaling component rather than representing the value of the knowledge that's learned. Caplan closes by arguing that the subsidies to education should be reduced...
2014-04-0700 min
Rob Wiblin's top recommended EconTalk episodes v0.2 Feb 2020Bryan Caplan on College, Signaling and Human CapitalBryan Caplan of George Mason University and blogger at EconLog talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the value of a college education. Caplan argues that the extra amount that college graduates earn relative to high school graduates is misleading as a guide for attending college--it ignores the fact that a sizable number of students don't graduate and never earn that extra money. Caplan argues that the monetary benefits of a college education have a large signaling component rather than representing the value of the knowledge that's learned. Caplan closes by arguing that the subsidies to education should be reduced...
2014-04-071h 02EconTalkBryan Caplan on College, Signaling and Human CapitalBryan Caplan of George Mason University and blogger at EconLog talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the value of a college education. Caplan argues that the extra amount that college graduates earn relative to high school graduates is misleading as a guide for attending college--it ignores the fact that a sizable number of students don't graduate and never earn that extra money. Caplan argues that the monetary benefits of a college education have a large signaling component rather than representing the value of the knowledge that's learned. Caplan closes by arguing that the subsidies to education should be...
2014-04-071h 02EconTalk Archives, 2014John Christy and Kerry Emanuel on Climate ChangeJohn Christy of the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about climate change. Topics discussed include what we know and don't know about global warming, trends in extreme weather such as hurricanes, rising sea level, the likely change in temperature in the next hundred years. Both scientists also give their perspective on what policies might be put in place to reduce risk from climate change. This episode was recorded before a live audience at the College of Business Administration at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
2014-03-2400 minEconTalkJohn Christy and Kerry Emanuel on Climate ChangeJohn Christy of the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology talk with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about climate change. Topics discussed include what we know and don't know about global warming, trends in extreme weather such as hurricanes, rising sea level, the likely change in temperature in the next hundred years. Both scientists also give their perspective on what policies might be put in place to reduce risk from climate change. This episode was recorded before a live audience at the College of Business Administration at the University of Alabama in...
2014-03-241h 04
EconTalk at GMUBoudreaux on CoaseDon Boudreaux of George Mason University and Cafe Hayek talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the intellectual legacy of Ronald Coase. The conversation centers on Coase's four most important academic articles. Most of the discussion is on two of those articles, "The Nature of the Firm," which continues to influence how economists think of firms and transaction costs, and "The Problem of Social Cost," Coase's pathbreaking work on externalities.
2013-10-281h 13
EconTalk Archives, 2013Boudreaux on CoaseDon Boudreaux of George Mason University and Cafe Hayek talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the intellectual legacy of Ronald Coase. The conversation centers on Coase's four most important academic articles. Most of the discussion is on two of those articles, "The Nature of the Firm," which continues to influence how economists think of firms and transaction costs, and "The Problem of Social Cost," Coase's pathbreaking work on externalities.
2013-10-2800 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on CoaseDon Boudreaux of George Mason University and Cafe Hayek talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the intellectual legacy of Ronald Coase. The conversation centers on Coase's four most important academic articles. Most of the discussion is on two of those articles, "The Nature of the Firm," which continues to influence how economists think of firms and transaction costs, and "The Problem of Social Cost," Coase's pathbreaking work on externalities.
2013-10-281h 13EconTalk at GMUBoudreaux on Reading HayekDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the work of F. A. Hayek, particularly his writings on philosophy and political economy. Boudreaux provides an audio annotated bibliography of Hayek's most important books and essays and gives suggestions on where to start and how to proceed through Hayek's works if you are a beginner.
2012-12-171h 13
EconTalk Archives, 2012Boudreaux on Reading HayekDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the work of F. A. Hayek, particularly his writings on philosophy and political economy. Boudreaux provides an audio annotated bibliography of Hayek's most important books and essays and gives suggestions on where to start and how to proceed through Hayek's works if you are a beginner.
2012-12-171h 13EconTalkDon Boudreaux on Reading HayekDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the work of F. A. Hayek, particularly his writings on philosophy and political economy. Boudreaux provides an audio annotated bibliography of Hayek's most important books and essays and gives suggestions on where to start and how to proceed through Hayek's works if you are a beginner.
2012-12-171h 13EconTalk Archives, 2012Taubes on Why We Get FatGary Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why we get fat and the nature of evidence in a complex system. The current mainstream view is that we get fat because we eat too much and don't exercise enough. Taubes challenges this seemingly uncontroversial argument with a number of empirical observations, arguing instead that excessive carbohydrate consumption causes obesity. In this conversation he explains how your body reacts to carbohydrates and explains why the mainstream argument of "calories in/calories out" is inadequate for explaining obesity. He also discusses the history of the...
2012-07-161h 20EconTalk at GMUTaubes on Why We Get FatGary Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why we get fat and the nature of evidence in a complex system. The current mainstream view is that we get fat because we eat too much and don't exercise enough. Taubes challenges this seemingly uncontroversial argument with a number of empirical observations, arguing instead that excessive carbohydrate consumption causes obesity. In this conversation he explains how your body reacts to carbohydrates and explains why the mainstream argument of "calories in/calories out" is inadequate for explaining obesity. He also discusses the history of the...
2012-07-161h 20EconTalkGary Taubes on Why We Get FatGary Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why we get fat and the nature of evidence in a complex system. The current mainstream view is that we get fat because we eat too much and don't exercise enough. Taubes challenges this seemingly uncontroversial argument with a number of empirical observations, arguing instead that excessive carbohydrate consumption causes obesity. In this conversation he explains how your body reacts to carbohydrates and explains why the mainstream argument of "calories in/calories out" is inadequate for explaining obesity. He also discusses the history of...
2012-07-161h 20EconTalk Archives, 2012Boudreaux on Public DebtDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the nature of public debt. One view is that there is no burden of the public debt as long as the purchasers of U.S. debt are fellow Americans. In that case, the argument goes, we owe it to ourselves. Drawing on the work of James Buchanan, particularly his book Public Principles of Public Debt: A Defense and Restatement, Boudreaux argues that there is a burden of the debt and it is borne by future taxpayers. Boudreaux argues that all public expenditures have a cost--the different financing...
2012-03-261h 24EconTalkDon Boudreaux on Public DebtDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the nature of public debt. One view is that there is no burden of the public debt as long as the purchasers of U.S. debt are fellow Americans. In that case, the argument goes, we owe it to ourselves. Drawing on the work of James Buchanan, particularly his book Public Principles of Public Debt: A Defense and Restatement, Boudreaux argues that there is a burden of the debt and it is borne by future taxpayers. Boudreaux argues that all public expenditures have a cost--the different...
2012-03-261h 24
EconTalk Archives, 2011Boudreaux on Monetary MisunderstandingsDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts on some of the common misunderstandings people have about prices, money, inflation and deflation. They discuss what is harmful about inflation and deflation, the importance of expectations and the implications for interest rates and financial institutions.
2011-01-1700 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on Monetary MisunderstandingsDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts on some of the common misunderstandings people have about prices, money, inflation and deflation. They discuss what is harmful about inflation and deflation, the importance of expectations and the implications for interest rates and financial institutions.
2011-01-171h 04
EconTalk Archives, 2010Don Boudreaux on China, Currency Manipulation, and Trade DeficitsDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Chinese exchange rate policy and the claim that China keeps the value of its currency artificially low in order to boost exports to the United States and reduce U.S. exports. Boudreaux argues that regardless of whether China is manipulating its currency, inexpensive Chinese imports are generally good for the United States. He also points out that manufacturing output in the United States has been thriving despite claims that the United States is being "hollowed out." The conversation also includes a discussion of whether Chinese holdings of...
2010-11-0800 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on China, Currency Manipulation, and Trade DeficitsDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Chinese exchange rate policy and the claim that China keeps the value of its currency artificially low in order to boost exports to the United States and reduce U.S. exports. Boudreaux argues that regardless of whether China is manipulating its currency, inexpensive Chinese imports are generally good for the United States. He also points out that manufacturing output in the United States has been thriving despite claims that the United States is being "hollowed out." The conversation also includes a discussion of whether Chinese holdings...
2010-11-081h 04EconTalk Archives, 2010Don Boudreaux on Public ChoiceDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about public choice: the application of economics to the political process. Boudreaux argues that political competition is a blunt instrument that works less effectively than economic competition. One reason for this bluntness is the voting process itself--where intensity does not matter, only whether a voter prefers one candidate to the other. A second reason is that political outcomes tend to be one-size-fits-all, which often leads to dissatisfaction. Boudreaux defends the morality of not voting, while Roberts, who does vote from time to time, concedes that one's vote is...
2010-03-1500 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on Public ChoiceDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about public choice: the application of economics to the political process. Boudreaux argues that political competition is a blunt instrument that works less effectively than economic competition. One reason for this bluntness is the voting process itself--where intensity does not matter, only whether a voter prefers one candidate to the other. A second reason is that political outcomes tend to be one-size-fits-all, which often leads to dissatisfaction. Boudreaux defends the morality of not voting, while Roberts, who does vote from time to time, concedes that one's vote...
2010-03-151h 09
EconTalk Archives, 2009Willingham on Education, School, and NeuroscienceDaniel Willingham of the University of Virginia and author of the book Why Don't Students Like School? talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how the brain works and the implications for teaching, learning, and educational policy. Topics discussed include why we remember some things but not others (and what we can do about it), the central role of memory in problem solving and abstract reasoning, the current state of math education in America, and what makes a good teacher.
2009-10-1200 minEconTalkDaniel Willingham on Education, School, and NeuroscienceDaniel Willingham of the University of Virginia and author of the book Why Don't Students Like School? talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about how the brain works and the implications for teaching, learning, and educational policy. Topics discussed include why we remember some things but not others (and what we can do about it), the central role of memory in problem solving and abstract reasoning, the current state of math education in America, and what makes a good teacher.
2009-10-121h 02EconTalk Archives, 2009Don Boudreaux on Macroeconomics and Austrian Business Cycle TheoryDon Boudreaux, of George Mason University, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the microfoundations of macroeconomics and the Austrian theory of business cycles. Boudreaux draws on Erik Lindahl's distinction between microeconomics and macroeconomics, emphasizing the difference between individual choices and the coordination of economic activity. Other topics include the Austrian view of capital and investment, the Austrian view of monetary policy, the issue of aggregation, and the intellectual successes of the Keynesians.
2009-04-1300 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on Macroeconomics and Austrian Business Cycle TheoryDon Boudreaux, of George Mason University, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the microfoundations of macroeconomics and the Austrian theory of business cycles. Boudreaux draws on Erik Lindahl's distinction between microeconomics and macroeconomics, emphasizing the difference between individual choices and the coordination of economic activity. Other topics include the Austrian view of capital and investment, the Austrian view of monetary policy, the issue of aggregation, and the intellectual successes of the Keynesians.
2009-04-131h 08
EconTalk Archives, 2008Don Boudreaux on Energy PricesDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the recent surge in energy prices. They talk about why prices have risen, the implications for America's standard of living and the implications for public policy.
2008-06-161h 03EconTalkDon Boudreaux on Energy PricesDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the recent surge in energy prices. They talk about why prices have risen, the implications for America's standard of living and the implications for public policy.
2008-06-161h 03EconTalk Archives, 2008Coyle on the Soulful ScienceDiane Coyle talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her new book, The Soulful Science: What Economists Really Do and Why it Matters. The discussions starts with the issue of growth--measurement issues and what economists have learned and have yet to learn about why some nations grow faster than others and some don't grow at all. Subsequent topics include happiness research, the politics and economics of inequality, the role of math in economics, and policy areas where economics has made the greatest contribution.
2008-04-141h 04EconTalkDiane Coyle on the Soulful ScienceDiane Coyle talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her new book, The Soulful Science: What Economists Really Do and Why it Matters. The discussions starts with the issue of growth--measurement issues and what economists have learned and have yet to learn about why some nations grow faster than others and some don't grow at all. Subsequent topics include happiness research, the politics and economics of inequality, the role of math in economics, and policy areas where economics has made the greatest contribution.
2008-04-141h 04EconTalk Archives, 2008Don Boudreaux on Globalization and Trade DeficitsDon Boudreaux, of George Mason University, talks about the ideas in his book, Globalization. He discusses comparative advantage, the winners and losers from trade, trade deficits, and inequality with EconTalk host Russ Roberts.
2008-01-211h 19EconTalkDon Boudreaux on Globalization and Trade DeficitsDon Boudreaux, of George Mason University, talks about the ideas in his book, Globalization. He discusses comparative advantage, the winners and losers from trade, trade deficits, and inequality with EconTalk host Russ Roberts.
2008-01-211h 19
EconTalk Archives, 2007Waldfogel on Markets, Choice, and the Tyranny of the MarketJoel Waldfogel of the Wharton School of Business talks about the idea in his new book, The Tyranny of Markets: Why You Can't Always Get What You Want. He argues that when fixed costs are large, markets don't necessarily give people what they want and that, analogous to the political process, you can be hurt as the number of people with preferences that differ from yours gets larger. Host Russ Roberts challenges Waldfogel's claim that these phenomena are widespread and argues that in many cases, markets ultimately solve these problems. They discuss the amount of variety in newspapers, radio, and...
2007-11-1200 minEconTalk Archives, 2007Boudreaux on Market Failure, Government Failure and the Economics of Antitrust RegulationDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about when market failure can be improved by government intervention. After discussing the evolution of economic thinking about externalities and public goods, the conversation turns to the case for government's role in promoting competition via antitrust regulation. Boudreaux argues that the origins of antitrust had nothing to do with protecting consumers from greedy monopolists. The source of political demand for antitrust regulation came from competitors looking for relief from more successful rivals.
2007-10-0100 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on Market Failure, Government Failure and the Economics of Antitrust RegulationDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about when market failure can be improved by government intervention. After discussing the evolution of economic thinking about externalities and public goods, the conversation turns to the case for government's role in promoting competition via antitrust regulation. Boudreaux argues that the origins of antitrust had nothing to do with protecting consumers from greedy monopolists. The source of political demand for antitrust regulation came from competitors looking for relief from more successful rivals.
2007-10-011h 06Rob Wiblin's top recommended EconTalk episodes v0.2 Feb 2020Boudreaux on the Economics of "Buy Local"Proponents of buying local argue that it is better to buy from the local hardware store owner and nearby farmer than from the Big Box chain store or the grocery store headquartered out of town because the money from the purchase is more likely to "stay in the local economy." Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of this idea. Is it better to buy local than from a seller based out of town? Is it better to buy American than to buy foreign products? Does the money matter? In this conversation...
2007-04-1655 minEconTalk Archives, 2007Boudreaux on the Economics of "Buy Local"Proponents of buying local argue that it is better to buy from the local hardware store owner and nearby farmer than from the Big Box chain store or the grocery store headquartered out of town because the money from the purchase is more likely to "stay in the local economy." Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of this idea. Is it better to buy local than from a seller based out of town? Is it better to buy American than to buy foreign products? Does the money matter? In this conversation...
2007-04-1600 minEconTalkDon Boudreaux on the Economics of "Buy Local"Proponents of buying local argue that it is better to buy from the local hardware store owner and nearby farmer than from the Big Box chain store or the grocery store headquartered out of town because the money from the purchase is more likely to "stay in the local economy." Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the economics of this idea. Is it better to buy local than from a seller based out of town? Is it better to buy American than to buy foreign products? Does the money matter? In this...
2007-04-1655 minEconTalk Archives, 2007Easterbrook on the American Standard of LivingAuthor Gregg Easterbrook talks about the ideas in his latest book, The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse. How has life changed in America over the last century? Is the average person getting ahead or are the rich taking all the gains? Easterbrook argues that life is better for the average American in almost every dimension. The paradox is that despite those gains, we don't seem much happier.
2007-03-0500 min
EconTalk Archives, 2006Boudreaux on Law and LegislationDon Boudreaux of George Mason University talks about the fundamental principles of economics and civilization: spontaneous order and law. Drawing on volume one of Friedrich Hayek's classic, Law, Legislation and Liberty, Boudreaux talks about the distinction between law and legislation, the appropriate role of judges, and how the fulfillment of our expectations allows us to pursue our goals and dreams.
2006-12-111h 13EconTalk Archives, 2006The Economics of InheritanceDon Cox of Boston College and Russ Roberts discuss the economics of inheritance, estates and the family. They look at how parents divide their time and money between their children and our concerns for what people think of us after we are gone.
2006-05-0439 minEconTalk Archives, 2006The Economics of ParentingDon Cox of Boston College talks with Russ Roberts about how creating incentives can ease daily life with toddlers and young children.
2006-03-1634 min