How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Ep. 386 Rebroadcast)

Shane Hamilton, an American historian, and Peter Timmer, a retired Harvard economist, dive into the surprising role of supermarkets in shaping U.S. agricultural policy during the Cold War. They explore how supermarkets became symbols of capitalist abundance, contrasting starkly with Soviet scarcity. The conversation reveals the hidden costs of agricultural policies, from industrial meat production to their effects on family farms. Listeners will contemplate the far-reaching implications of these changes on today’s food landscape and consumer behavior.