Intelligence Squared Food for Thought: A Hungry Economist Explains the World
Feb 8, 2023
Join Ha-Joon Chang, a prominent development economist and author, as he critiques the dullness of British cuisine and neoclassical economic thinking. He shares insights from his book 'Edible Economics,' emphasizing the need for a diverse economic discourse much like a rich diet. Chang discusses the limitations of GDP in measuring well-being and advocates for alternative metrics like happiness indices. He humorously unpacks myths about productivity in tropical economies while stressing the urgent need for public intervention in tackling climate change.
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British Food Transformation
- Ha-Joon Chang was shocked by British food in the 1980s, citing Pizza Land's baked potato pizza topping as a low point.
- However, he now considers Britain one of the best places to eat, showcasing a culinary explosion.
Narrow Economic Thinking
- While British food has diversified, economic thought has narrowed, focusing on neoclassical economics.
- This limited perspective hinders a full understanding of complex economic realities.
Beyond GDP
- GDP is flawed because it only counts marketized activities, ignoring crucial unpaid work like childcare.
- Chang suggests adopting multidimensional indicators like happiness surveys, life expectancy, and educational achievement for a more holistic view of well-being.
