Matt Yglesias, author of One Billion Americans, envisions a larger, less polarized America. He discusses why growing cities like Tokyo is easier than in New York and the governance challenges of urban population increases. Yglesias advocates for addressing declining fertility rates and suggests that larger families could benefit feminism. He emphasizes the importance of smart governance in navigating demographic shifts and shares insights on how to attract more competent individuals to government roles. His unique perspectives spark a fascinating conversation!
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insights INSIGHT
National Growth vs. City Growth
Increasing returns to scale are observed in cities, but national growth depends on resource exploitation.
Energy technology advancements, like fracking or solar power, heavily influence national growth.
insights INSIGHT
Energy Breakthrough and Growth
A positive energy breakthrough, such as in nuclear power, would boost America's growth.
Clean, abundant energy would more clearly place the U.S. in an increasing returns to scale world.
insights INSIGHT
Urban Growth and Governance
Tokyo's continuous growth, unlike New York City's, is due to different land use regulations.
Japan's regulations allow easier housing additions, demonstrating that governance, not congestion, limits urban growth.
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In 'One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger', Matthew Yglesias makes a compelling case for why the United States needs to significantly increase its population to remain a global leader. He argues that supporting parents and children, welcoming immigrants, and implementing policies such as more housing, better transportation, improved education, revitalized welfare, and climate change mitigation are crucial for national prosperity. Drawing on examples and solutions from around the world, Yglesias presents a radical but well-reasoned challenge to traditional thinking on population growth and national greatness.
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Robert Nozick
In 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia', Robert Nozick presents a rigorous argument in favor of a minimal state, limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, and the enforcement of contracts. He critiques more extensive state activities as violations of individual rights and argues against more extreme views such as anarcho-capitalism. Nozick's work is influenced by John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Hayek, and it includes a theory of rights, a critique of John Rawls' 'A Theory of Justice', and a model of utopia. The book is a foundational text of libertarian thought and has been widely acclaimed for its philosophical richness and analytical argumentation[1][2][5].
They discussed why it’s easier to grow Tokyo than New York City, the governance issues of increasing urban populations, what Tyler got right about pro-immigration arguments, how to respond to declining fertility rates, why he’d be happy to see more people going to church (even though he’s not religious), why liberals and conservatives should take marriage incentive programs more seriously, what larger families would mean for feminism, why people should read Robert Nozick, whether the YIMBY movement will be weakened by COVID-19, how New York City will bounce back, why he’s long on Minneapolis, how to address constitutional ruptures, how to attract more competent people to state and local governments, what he’s learned growing up in a family full of economists, his mother’s wisdom about visual design and more.
Conversations with Tyler 
