On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with Tyler Cowen to discuss Harvard, AI, Javier Milei's legacy, the value of non-legibility in talent spotting, and more.
Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist
Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj
--
We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.
--
Listen to the 10X Capital Podcast: https://10xcapitalpodcast.com/
--
SPONSOR:
Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
Shopify - https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period
Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg.
--
LINKS
Read Tyler's new book for free: https://econgoat.ai/
Tyler's blog: https://marginalrevolution.com
--
X / TWITTER:
@tylercowen (Tyler)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@upstream__pod
@turpentinemedia
--
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(02:48) Tyler's new book GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter?
(05:19) Javier Milei and dismantling bureaucracy
(08:50) Who is the GOAT economist?
(12:29) AI, economic growth, and fertility
(16:58) Sponsor | Shopify
(18:34) Policies for managing population decline
(28:44) Emergent Ventures & talent spotting
(31:59) The value of non-legibility
(33:25) Predictions about Harvard
(35:38) The Future of Higher Education
(37:45) How Twitter and Harvard are related
(40:22) How to think about group differences
(43:43) Bronze Age Pervert on Nietzsche and postliberalism
(46:45) Rawls's veil of ignorance
(48:19) Tyler on his career and legacy
(52:45) The future of the University of Austin
(56:58) Wrap
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
Producer: Sam Kaufman
Editor: Michelle Poreh
For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co
