Tag: EconTalk

Adam Cifu on the Case for Being a Medical Conservative

EconTalk | 1 July 2019 | 1h 13m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with physician and author Adam Cifu about the ideas in The Case for Being a Medical Conservative. Cifu encourages doctors to appreciate the complexity of medical care and the reality that many medical techniques advocated by experts are not always beneficial or cost-effective. The conversation explores the challenges of finding reliable evidence to support medical interventions and the inherent uncertainty surrounding outcomes.

Hitchens on Orwell

EconTalk | 17 August 2009 | 1h 09m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with the late Christopher Hitchens about George Orwell. Drawing on his book Why Orwell Matters, Hitchens talks about Orwell’s opposition to imperialism, fascism, and Stalinism, his moral courage, and his devotion to language. Along the way, Hitchens makes the case for why Orwell matters.

Anja Shortland on Kidnap

EconTalk | 17 June 2019 | 1h 17m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Anja Shortland about her book Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business. Explores this strange, frightening, but surprisingly orderly world of kidnapping, which is relatively common where government authority is weak. She shows how the interaction between kidnappers, victims, and insurance companies creates a somewhat predictable set of prices for ransom and creates a relatively high chance of the safe return of those who are kidnapped.

Bjorn Lomborg on the Costs and Benefits of Attacking Climate Change

EconTalk | 10 June 2019 | 1h 10m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Bjorn Lomborg, President of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, about the costs and benefits of attacking climate change. Lomborg argues that we should always be aware of tradeoffs and effectiveness when assessing policies to reduce global warming. He advocates for realistic solutions that consider the potential to improve human life in other ways. He is sceptical of the potential to move away from fossil fuels and argues that geo-engineering and adaptation may be the most effective ways to cope with climate change.

Russ Roberts on Life as an Economics Educator

Conversations with Tyler | 5 June 2019 | 1h 01m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Russ Roberts reflecting on thirteen years of EconTalk conversations. A treasure.

Alain Bertaud on Cities, Planning, and Order Without Design

EconTalk | 3 May 2019 | 1h 18m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Alain Bertaud about his book Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities. Bertaud explores the role of zoning and planning alongside the emergent factors that affect the growth of cities. He emphasizes the importance of cities as places for people to work and looks at how preferences and choices shape cities. Bertaud also reflects upon the differing perspectives of urban planners and economists.

Mary Hirschfeld on Economics, Culture, and Aquinas and the Market

EconTalk | 20 May 2019 | 1h 16m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with economist and theologian Mary Hirschfeld about her book, Aquinas and the Market: Toward a Humane Economy. Hirschfeld looks at the nature of our economic activity as buyers and sellers and whether our pursuit of economic growth and material well-being comes at a cost. She encourages a sceptical stance about the ability of more stuff to produce true happiness and/or satisfaction. The conversation includes a critique of economic theory and the aspect of human satisfaction outside the domain of economists.

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita on Democracies and Dictatorships

EconTalk | 12 February 2007 | 1h 06m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Bruce Bueno de Mesquita about the incentives facing dictators and democratic leaders. Both face competition from rivals and try to please their constituents and cronies to stay in power. He applies his ‘selectorate’ framing to foreign aid, the Middle East, Venezuela, the potential for China’s evolution to a more democratic system, and Cuba. Along the way, he explains why true democracy is more than just elections – it depends crucially on freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.