"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg cover image

"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

Singapore, Xi Jingping Cleans Up SF, & Progressive Dystopias

Nov 15, 2023
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Noah's travel reflections from Singapore, the recent San Francisco cleanup, and the dystopian routes of progressivism. They explore Singapore as a solar punk city, the advantages of government building housing supply, the effectiveness and societal implications of a tough on crime approach. They also examine the impact of tech workers on crime and homelessness in cities, the effects of technology on democracies and autocracies, pushback against progressives, the impact of math education on inequality, and the battle for equality and propaganda films.
01:00:19

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • De-growth, a dystopian concept of halting economic growth in rich countries to save the environment, could lead to the impoverishment of many people.
  • The decline of neighborhoods due to lack of development and opportunities is a more pressing issue than gentrification, and addressing it is crucial for ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Deep dives

The dangers of de-growth and settler decolonization

De-growth, the idea of halting economic growth in rich countries to save the environment, is a dystopian concept that would lead to the impoverishment of many people. Settler decolonization, which advocates for ethnically cleansing people of non-indigenous descent from certain territories, promotes territorial disputes and racial divisions. These ideas hinder progress and equality and should be critically examined.

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