Rethinking Shareholder and Profit Maximization

Daron Acemoglu and Jon Hartley discuss Daron’s career and main contributions to economics, including the study of institutions as a fundamental contributor to economic growth. Jon raises the question of how regulation holds back growth, and by how much, and whether liberal vs. illiberal economic institutions might be a better taxonomy than inclusive versus extractive institutions. Other economic growth components such as culture and geography are discussed as well. They conclude by talking about artificial intelligence and the future of work.