In this podcast, Lex Fridman and Steve Kean engage in a discussion about the state of economics, from the fundamental flaws of mainstream macroeconomics to the potential of modern ecological economics.
The bailout of 2008 was given to corporations rather than homeowners, even though the crisis was caused by derivatives of mortgages. If the federal government focused on homeowners instead of corporations, it would have been less expensive and more effective.
This podcast discusses the idea that controlling inflationary psychology is crucial to preventing economic downturns in the future. It examines how people's beliefs about inflation and their behaviors towards it ultimately impact the economy.
The concept of being a "price taker" in economics can be applied to understanding the Overton window in politics. Both involve the idea of market depth and the shifting of the midpoint by large masses of people and can impact prices and policies.
In this episode, the host explains how the Federal Reserve Bank's money printing strategy in 2020 to combat deflation has led to inflation and higher unemployment rates.
The Chinese government has extended tax cuts and plans for a stimulative economy, but this has resulted in decreased buying power for consumers. This mirrors global trends of plummeting consumer confidence and retail sales, leading to questions about potential tax cuts in the US.
The podcast episode features a discussion on economics and the speaker seems to have a love-hate relationship with the topic.
Discussion about the economics of small towns, including the average price of buildings and the tendency for individuals to hold out on selling.
An analysis of the economic situation in Somalia and its connection with piracy activity in the region.
This podcast discusses how the ancient human institution of bondage mixed with the proto-modern economic system of the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries, and how this contributed to the era of a trade revolution. It explores the idea that progress during this time wasn't necessarily progress for all people, as slavery and inequality were still rampant.
The traditional response in economics towards exhausted resources and environmental consequences involved relying on the free market but failed to understand the concept of depletion, thus creating a flawed structure. This concept continues and never truly improved with new jobs being created in exchange for lost ones in isolated industries and communities.
In this conversation, podcast hosts dissect the ideas in the book Freakonomics and criticize its narrative on economics and social issues. They talk about their new project "Trickle-Up Economics" as a way to reframe the American narrative.
The economic model is built on the mythical average man who does not exist in real life, and economists are incapable of adapting to real-world problems that conflict with their beliefs about economics.
Host Stephen Dubner and economist Steven Levitt answer listener's questions about safe sneezing and driving like an economist.
The hosts discuss the economics of wiring a single chair versus an entire cell and suggest throwing a toaster in water on the ground to start a fire, like in an Usher music video. The episode is an advertisement for the Asshole Army Patreon.
