Dambisa Moyo, a renowned economist and author, joins the discussion to unpack the complex state of the world. She dives into the pitfalls of public policy and capitalism, exploring the widening chasm of inequality and its repercussions. Moyo sheds light on our voting system's inefficiencies and proposes mandatory voting as a fix. The conversation also touches on automation's looming impact on employment and the intricate dynamics of identity politics, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to foster genuine democratic engagement.
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insights INSIGHT
Importance of Economic Growth
Economic growth funds essential public goods like education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Pre-COVID, many economies struggled with slow growth, high debt, and limited policy effectiveness.
insights INSIGHT
Historical Parallels to Current Economic Concerns
The US experienced economic malaise after the Gilded Age due to progressive policies, similar to current trends.
This period (1930-1954) saw low growth and high unemployment despite increased government intervention.
insights INSIGHT
Inequality and Its Consequences
Inequality hinders access to education, healthcare, and opportunities, not just wealth accumulation.
Economists lack a clear solution to inequality, with both redistribution and supply-side interventions failing.
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In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.
The edge of chaos
Pamela McCorduck
Dead aid
Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa
Dambisa Moyo
In 'Dead Aid,' Dambisa Moyo challenges the myth that billions of dollars in aid from wealthy countries have helped reduce poverty and increase growth in Africa. Instead, she argues that aid has led to a vicious cycle of dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further poverty. The book contrasts African countries that have rejected aid and prospered with those that have become aid-dependent. Moyo offers a new roadmap for financing development that guarantees economic growth and a significant decline in poverty without relying on foreign aid.
Winners Take All
The Elite Charade of Changing the World
Anand Giridharadas
In 'Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World,' Anand Giridharadas argues that members of the global elite use their wealth and influence to address social issues in ways that do not fundamentally challenge the systems that perpetuate those issues. The book explores the dynamics between philanthropy, capitalism, and social change, highlighting how market-driven solutions often address symptoms rather than root causes. Giridharadas critiques the limitations of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, suggesting that true social change requires robust, egalitarian institutions and democratic engagement rather than reliance on the benevolence of the wealthy.
Sam Harris speaks with Dambisa Moyo about the state of the world. They discuss public goods, economic growth, capitalism, American economic history, bad public-policy choices, inequality, tax avoidance among the wealthy, government inefficiency, the problems with democracy, the breakdown of trust in institutions, failures of transparency, voter participation, future automation and unemployment, identity politics, the reality of racism in America, the problems with affirmative action, competition with China, and other topics.
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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
Making Sense with Sam Harris 
