Alex Tabarrok

Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, co-founders of the Marginal Revolution blog, share insights from two decades of economic commentary. They discuss their contrasts in writing approaches and the intrinsic joy that fuels impactful content creation. The duo reflects on how diverse topics, including popular culture, engage audiences more effectively. They also emphasize the evolution of education through their platform, highlighting the transformative power of self-publishing and technology in making economics accessible, especially in places like India.

In this discussion, Alex Tabarrok, an economics professor at George Mason University, and Scott Duke Kominers, a Harvard Business School researcher, dive into the intriguing world of prediction markets. They assess the recent election performance of these markets compared to traditional polling, explore their design challenges, and discuss the implications of integrating AI and blockchain technology. The pair also contemplate innovative governance models like futarchy and the future of journalism shaped by predictive capabilities. Their insights promise a fresh perspective on information aggregation.

Alex Tabarrok, a professor at George Mason University and co-blogger at Marginal Revolution, dives into the remarkable facets of American democratic capitalism. He and the host explore the dichotomy of authoritarianism and democracy, analyzing China’s economic trajectory. The conversation shifts to the nuances of U.S. and European economic disparities, plus the misleading narratives surrounding energy politics. They also tackle cryptocurrencies, discussing their potential and pitfalls, before concluding with the changing landscape of AI and its societal implications.

In this conversation, Alex Tabarrok, a professor of economics at George Mason University and co-author of the Marginal Revolution blog, dives into the innovative Grand Innovation Prize concept aimed at speeding up vaccine development. He explores the Baumol effect, which sheds light on rising prices in stagnant sectors like education. Tabarrok discusses the transformative potential of online learning and emphasizes the need for effective governance through dominant assurance contracts and even prediction markets to enhance democratic decision-making.

In this engaging conversation, economist Alex Tabarrok shares insights on the decline of American economic dynamism and the decreasing number of startups. He reflects on the migration of talented professionals to finance and questions the sustainability of the recent surge in post-pandemic startups. The discussion also tackles complex issues like crime trends, cash bail dynamics, and the unpredictable future of AI. With a touch of humor, Tabarrok emphasizes the importance of practical skills and diverse perspectives in today's evolving economy.