Noah Smith

This week's guest, Noah Smith, is an economist and author of the Substack "Noahpinion," celebrated for making complex economic topics accessible. The conversation delves into the implications of tariffs and healthcare costs on personal finance. Noah discusses demographic challenges like the baby bust and offers insights on social security funding amidst declining birth rates. They also explore Argentina's economic turnaround under new leadership, blending humor with serious economic discourse.

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.

Join economist Noah Smith, author of the popular "No Opinion" blog, as he unpacks the complexities of U.S.-China relations. He discusses the motivations behind U.S. export controls and the significant challenges posed by China's technological advancements, especially in AI. Smith emphasizes the need to understand historical context, including past cooperation and current tensions involving Taiwan and cyber warfare. He also explores China's strategic ambitions and potential pathways for stabilizing these crucial international relations.

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.

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.

In this discussion, Noah Smith, an expert commentator on economic policies, sheds light on Venezuela’s dramatic decline from wealth to poverty. He outlines how misguided economic strategies, including nationalization and price controls, paved the way for hyperinflation and a humanitarian crisis. The conversation draws parallels with leadership trends in Latin America and unveils the broader implications of Venezuela's plight on global economic policies. Listeners gain insights into the complexities of economic ideology and the stark realities of mismanagement.

Noah Smith is a former columnist for Bloomberg and is now a popular writer at his own Noahpinion Substack. Noah is also a returning guest to the podcast, and rejoins Macro Musings for a wide ranging discussion on some of the recent issues he’s been covering on his Substack, including China, social change in the US, recent macro developments, and much more. Noah and David also discuss the façade of Xi Jinping’s leadership, the elite overproduction hypothesis, how Fukuyama’s *End of History* thesis can be applied today, and more.   Transcript for the episode can be found here.   Noah’s Substack: Noahpinion Noah’s Bloomberg archive Noah’s Twitter: @Noahpinion   David’s Twitter: @DavidBeckworth Follow us on Twitter: @Macro_Musings Click here for the latest Macro Musings episodes sent straight to your inbox! Check out our new Macro Musings merch here, and use the promo code NGDP for 10% off!   Related Links:   *The Elite Overproduction Hypothesis* by Noah Smith   *Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China* by Hal Brands and Michael Beckley   *Book Review: “Danger Zone”* by Noah Smith   *Is China Heading Toward Another Tiananmen Square Moment?* by Lili Pike and Tom Nagorski

Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith discuss AI's impact on job markets, government roles, and the social contract. They explore comparative advantage, human wages in an AI-dominated economy, and the need for positive visions in the age of abundance.

Economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss potential worst-case scenarios from the Chevron ruling, the disconnect between American elite and working class, debunking the deep state myth, exploring Biden's age issues, and the reality of a 'deep state'. They also tackle topics like election dynamics, education reform, civil service, and the viability of Universal Basic Income.

Noah Smith, a Substacker known for his sharp insights on economics, and Matt Klein, a contributor providing economic analysis of China, delve into the complexities of China's economy. They discuss the concept of 'Peak China' and draw fascinating parallels with Japan's economic history. The conversation touches on China's advancements in semiconductors and electric vehicles, the implications for global competition, and potential shifts in US-China relations under a new administration. Their engaging dialogue also includes a humorous detour into music's reflection on China's future.