The Pie: An Economics Podcast The Pie, Wrapped: Innovation, Faith, Purpose, and Market Power
Dec 23, 2025
Hyuk-Soo Kwon, an industrial policy expert, shares insights on electric vehicle subsidies and their design challenges. Eduardo Montero analyzes how Seventh-day Adventist churches navigate the tension between faith and local economies in Africa. Virginia Minni reveals how a one-day purpose workshop can significantly enhance workplace productivity. Leo Bursztyn discusses the intriguing stigma created by iMessage's green and blue text bubbles, illustrating how design influences consumer behavior and market power. Tune in for enlightening discussions!
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Why EV Subsidies Vary By Country
- Governments design EV subsidies differently because they face two market failures: environmental externalities and firm market power.
- Attribute-based subsidies target product features but can distort design incentives if poorly chosen.
Subsidy Details Shape Car Design
- Attribute rules (range, battery size, price) steer firms toward different EV designs across countries.
- Poorly designed attributes caused early Chinese EVs to be tiny while U.S. entrants like Tesla built full-size cars.
Religions Adjust To Local Economic Costs
- Religious prescriptions interact with local economic opportunities, creating trade-offs for members.
- Churches adapt by loosening emphasis or building compensating institutions when costs rise.