The Economics of Time: Valuing Human Capital

It’s not oil or water or plutonium — it’s human hours. We've got an idea for putting them to use, and for building a more human-centered economy. But we need your help.

• SOURCES:
  • Nathan Dietz, research director at the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland.
  • Al Roth, professor of economics at Stanford University.
  • Krista Wyatt, C.E.O. of Timebanks.org.
  • Andrew Yang, co-chair of the Forward Party and former U.S. presidential candidate.

• RESOURCES:
  • "The Employment Effects of a Guaranteed Income: Experimental Evidence from Two U.S. States," by Eva Vivalt, Elizabeth Rhodes, Alexander W. Bartik, David E. Broockman, and Sarah Miller (NBER Working Paper, 2024).
  • "Where Are America's Volunteers," by Nathan Dietz and Robert T. Grimm Jr. (Do Good Institute, 2018).
  • "Believe in People," talk by Edgar Cahn at TEDxAshokaU (2010).
  • The Pencil, by Allan Ahlberg (2008).
  • No More Throw-Away People: The Co-Production Imperative, by Edgar S. Cahn (2000).
  • Time Dollars: The New Currency That Enables Americans to Turn Their Hidden Resource-Time-Into Personal Security and Community Renewal, by Edgar S. Cahn and Jonathan Rowe (1992).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Why Don’t We Have Better Candidates for President?" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
  • “Andrew Yang Is Not Giving Up on Politics — or the U.S. — Yet,” by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).
  • “The Future of New York City Is in Question. Could Andrew Yang Be the Answer?” by Freakonomics Radio (2021).
  • “Why Is This Man Running for President? (Update),” by Freakonomics Radio (2019).
  • "Make Me a Match," by Freakonomics Radio (2015).