Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg delve into the economic challenges and solutions in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and North America. They discuss Egypt's constraints, Saudi Arabia's diversification efforts, Latin America's drug problems, and Canada's economic stagnation. The conversation also touches on transitioning from dictatorships to liberal democracies, geopolitical strategies, and indigenous empowerment initiatives.

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss key economies like US, China, Japan, Korea, and more. Topics include inflation, debt, industrial policy, and population challenges. They highlight each country's strengths and struggles, offering insights on future scenarios.

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Europe and Turkey's economies, covering UK's productivity issues, France's nuclear investments, Germany's weaknesses, Poland's success, Turkey's policies, and EU immigration challenges. They explore historical backgrounds, economic strategies, and future predictions, shedding light on the diverse economic landscapes in these regions.

Noah Smith, an economist and columnist known for his insightful takes on the Japanese economy, joins the conversation during his visit to Taiwan. He discusses the ambitions of Silicon Valley’s pro-Trump faction and the potential for nuclear armament in Asia. The talk touches on China's economic woes and demographic challenges, questioning their true impact. Smith also proposes innovative solutions for Taiwan's economic development and highlights cultural nuances, like bubble tea, that make Taiwan unique.

Economist Noah Smith and Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin discuss the case for authoritarianism in the age of information warfare. They explore the challenges of liberalism, the role of blockchains in societal structures, and the potential rise of totalitarian regimes. The conversation covers the impact of technology on authoritarian states, info wars, and solutions for decentralized app development.

Economist Noah Smith and Russ Roberts discuss the impact of plunder and imperialism on wealth. They debunk the idea that plunder is the sole explanation for wealth and highlight the importance of growth, productivity, and innovation. They explore the role of slavery, machinery, liberalization, and globalization in economic development. They also discuss the breakdown of enforcement of national borders, conflicts arising in the world, and the extraordinary achievements in economic well-being in China and India.

We speak with Noah Smith about our modern cold wars with China & Russia, the new right, and tech’s cultural & political shifts. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners, Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors. Check out the first episode with the architect of Netflix’s culture deck Patty McCord.https://link.chtbl.com/hrhereticsTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) intro (01:50) sponsor (02:15) What determines a country’s success (06:00) Chinese collapse? (08:35) Why does Ukraine matter? (13:30) Can America be isolationist? (20:20) Are we in a Cold War with China? (25:45) Unpacking the new right (35:44) The future of wokeness (41:40) How Noah finds meaning in life (petting rabbits) (44:20) Noah defends his liberalism (53:00) American cope (57:00) Why American infrastructure sucks (01:01:00) Fake liberals (01:06:30) Why California is a one-party state (01:15:00) Tech’s political shift (01:20:00) Noah’s advice to tech peopleSPONSORS: Beehiiv | Shopify | NetSuite | SecureframeHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three months-Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial periodShopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen-NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.-Secureframe (www.secureframe.com)Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention MOMENT OF ZEN during your demo to get 20% off your first year.

Economist Noah Smith, known for his insights on poverty and modernity, discusses the relentless nature of poverty as humanity's 'elemental foe.' He argues that industrial modernity is crucial for combating poverty, providing a historical perspective on the evolution of labor and technology. Smith critiques the nostalgic views of past hardships and expresses skepticism toward the degrowth movement, asserting it undermines progress. The conversation also touches on GDP’s complexities and the balancing act between economic growth and maintaining deep human connections.

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Kamala Harris's potential as a presidential nominee, Biden's legacy, COVID-19's impact on the economy, U.S. foreign relations shifts, and immigration policies. Topics include COVID vaccine timing, economic trends, trade policies under Biden and Trump, national security implications, and Biden's foreign policy and immigration handling.

Scott Sumner, a renowned monetary economist, and Noah Smith, an adept economics writer, engage in a lively debate over America's industrial future amid China's manufacturing ascendancy. They discuss the significance of industrial policy, with Sumner favoring measured engagement and Smith insisting on bold action to counter China's rise. Their conversation also touches on the effectiveness of recent U.S. initiatives like the CHIPS Act, emphasizing the necessity of robust policies to address economic and geopolitical challenges.