EconTalk
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Sam Altman on Start-ups, Venture Capital, and the Y Combinator
Sam Altman, president of startup accelerating firm Y Combinator, talks ...
Sam Altman, president of startup accelerating firm Y Combinator, talks to host Russ Roberts about Y Combinator's innovative strategy for discovering, funding, and coaching groundbreaking startups, what the company looks for in a potential startup, and Silicon Valley's attitude toward entrenched firms. The two also discuss Altman's thoughts on sectors of the economy that are ripe for innovation and how new firms are revolutionizing operations in these industries.
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Chris Blattman on Cash, Poverty, and Development
Chris Blattman talks to host Russ Roberts about a radical ...
Chris Blattman talks to host Russ Roberts about a radical approach to fighting poverty in desperately poor countries: giving cash to aid recipients and allowing them to spend it as they please. He shares his research and cautious optimism about giving cash and discusses how infusions of cash affect growth, educational outcomes, and political behavior (including violence). The conversation concludes with a discussion of the limits of aid and the some of the moral issues facing aid activists and researchers.
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D. G. Myers on Cancer, Dying, and Living
D.G. Myers, literary critic and cancer patient, talks with host ...
D.G. Myers, literary critic and cancer patient, talks with host Russ Roberts about the lessons he has learned from receiving a cancer diagnosis six years ago. Myers emphasizes the importance of dealing with cancer honestly and using it as a way to focus attention on what matters in life. The conversation illuminates the essence of opportunity cost and the importance of allocating our time, perhaps our scarcest resource, wisely. The last part of the conversation discusses a number of literary issues including the role of English literature and creative writing in American universities.
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Michael Munger on the Sharing Economy
Mike Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about the sharing ...
Mike Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about the sharing economy--companies like Uber, AirBnB, FlightApp, and DogVacay that let people share their houses, cars, or other assets with strangers in exchange for money. These companies dramatically increase the use of resources that would otherwise be idle and disrupt existing services such as hotels and taxis. Topics discussed include the regulatory response to these companies, the politics of that response, and the significance of these new products. The conversation closes with the potential impact of Uber combining with driverless cars to change the automobile industry and cities.
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Hansen on Risk, Ambiguity, and Measurement
Nobel Laureate Lars Peter Hansen talks to host Russ Roberts ...
Nobel Laureate Lars Peter Hansen talks to host Russ Roberts about the power and limits of economic models and quantitative methods. Hanson defends the value of models while recognizing their limitations. The two also discuss quantifying systemic financial risk, how our understanding of financial markets has changed, the nature of risk, and areas of economics that Hanson believes are ripe for further research.
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Gregory Zuckerman on the Frackers and the Energy Revolution
Author Gregory Zuckerman talks to host Russ Roberts about his ...
Author Gregory Zuckerman talks to host Russ Roberts about his new book, The Frackers, the rise of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), how this technology developed, and the vibrant personalities that pioneered the energy revolution. Topics discussed include the history and future of fracking, environmental concerns about the process, and how the story of fracking is the classic tale of the successes and failures of determined risk-takers. The role of market forces in driving that success and failure runs through the entire conversation.
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William Easterly on the Tyranny of Experts
William Easterly talks to host Russ Roberts about the ideas ...
William Easterly talks to host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his book, The Tyranny of Experts. Easterly argues that poverty endures in many poor countries because of a lack of economic and political freedom for its poorest members. He argues that the aid process and the role experts play in that process reinforces the oppression of the poor. Other topics discussed include data-oriented solutions, autocracy vs. democracy, and Easterly's perspective on development from Bill Gates and recent EconTalk guest Jeffery Sachs.
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Edward Lazear on Becker
Edward Lazear talks with host Russ Roberts about Gary Becker's ...
Edward Lazear talks with host Russ Roberts about Gary Becker's innovative contributions to economics. The conversation opens with personal reminiscences by Lazear and Roberts. They then discuss Becker's application of economic principles to social phenomena such as discrimination, crime, education and the family along with Becker's overall approach to economic theory and measurement.
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McAfee, McArdle, and Ohanian on the Future of Work
Andrew McAfee, Megan McArdle, and Lee Ohanian talk with host ...
Andrew McAfee, Megan McArdle, and Lee Ohanian talk with host Russ Roberts on the future of work. Recorded before a live audience at the 33rd Santa Barbara Economic Summit, the conversation begins with each participant making a brief set of remarks. Topics discussed include the traits that might be rewards in a world of smart machines, reforming the educational system to prepare people for the changing economy, reforming immigration, and policies that might help the labor market work more effectively.
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Yuval Levin on Burke, Paine, and the Great Debate
Author Yuval Levin talks to host Russ Roberts about the ...
Author Yuval Levin talks to host Russ Roberts about the ideas of Burke and Paine and their influence on the evolution of political philosophy. Levin outlines the differing approaches of the two thinkers to liberty, authority, and how reform and change should take place. Other topics discussed include Hayek's view of tradition, Cartesian rationalism, the moral high ground in politics, and how the "right and left" division of American politics finds its roots in the debates of these thinkers from the 1700s.
