Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss how today’s economy compares to the Reagan-era, cheap oil geopolitics, how much the war in Ukraine is actually costing the US, and the economics of the populist anthem Rich Men North of Richmond. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/102

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Econ 102 is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co

🎧 You can also listen to Econ 102 on the podcast platform of your choice: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102

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Timestamps:

(01:13) What would a better US economy look like?

(05:59) Debt gets inflated away

(09:02) Fiscal Dominance

(09:59) Age of cheap oil

(19:05) Noah vs. Balaji Srinivasan’s bearish case that the US financial system is vulnerable.

(27:25) How the Reagan Era Compares to Today

(32:28) Economic attribution for presidents

(43:12) The surplus war in Ukraine

(49:05) Fact checking the economics of Rich Men North of Richmond

(57:47) Is the age of the nerd over?

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.