Freakonomics Radio cover image

Freakonomics Radio

599. The World's Most Valuable Unused Resource

Aug 1, 2024
40:08
Snipd AI
Nathan Dietz, research director at the Do Good Institute, Al Roth, Stanford economics professor, Krista Wyatt, CEO of Timebanks.org, and Andrew Yang, former presidential candidate, explore the value of human hours as a resource. They delve into time banking as a revolutionary economic model that prioritizes human connections over money. The discussion emphasizes community engagement, the intrinsic worth of time, and the challenges of measuring time in economic terms. They also highlight the potential of this approach to foster support and equity within communities.
Read more

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Time banking redefines economic value by facilitating service exchanges based on time, fostering community engagement and social contribution.
  • Despite its potential, time banking struggles with recognition and implementation, challenged by practicality and the dominance of traditional monetary systems.

Deep dives

Introduction to Time Banking

Time banking is a concept where individuals exchange services based on time instead of money, creating a human-centered economy that values social contributions. The idea is that people can offer their skills or time for tasks they excel at, accumulating 'human dollars' they can spend on services from others. For example, someone could tutor in math for a few hours, earning credits that allow them to receive a home-cooked meal in return from a skilled cook. This innovative approach to valuing time fosters community and encourages communal interactions, contrasting with our current financialized economy.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode