

A Return to Econ 101 | Interview: Russ Roberts
55 snips Aug 6, 2025
Jonah Goldberg chats with Russ Roberts, President of Shalem College and host of EconTalk. They dive into tariffs, revealing public misconceptions and the role of human nature in economics. The discussion covers socialism versus social democracy, reflecting on emotional biases and the chaos of misinformation. They also tackle the individualism-collectivism divide, influenced by Rousseau, and explore the complexities of the Israel-Gaza conflict, touching on antisemitism and media representation. It's a thought-provoking blend of philosophy and current events.
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Milton Friedman's Warning on Economic Forgetfulness
- Russ Roberts shared a story of Milton Friedman warning that American elites would forget lessons about price controls with time.
- This forgetting forces society to relearn economic lessons, like the costs of tariffs and price controls, repeatedly.
Tribalism Shapes Political Views
- Our identities often attach to ideologies or political parties, shaping how we interpret information.
- This tribalism causes people to see their team as the good guys and others as the bad guys, twisting narratives.
Soviet Refugee Amazed by US Groceries
- Russ Roberts told a story of a Soviet refugee amazed by the abundance in American grocery stores.
- This story highlights how socialist economies' grocery shopping life can feel depressing compared to market economies.