Fiction writing and economics are closely linked as both delve into understanding human motivation and decision-making. Just like novelists aim to grasp the reasons behind people's choices, economists try to comprehend the factors influencing financial decisions. Money reflects an individual's values and priorities, shedding light on what truly matters to them. This parallels the economic concept of revealed preference, which emphasizes that actions speak louder than words. Novelists, like behavioral economists, strive to decipher human behavior through their narratives, showcasing how economic principles underlie various aspects of our lives. Some novels unexpectedly incorporate economic themes, indicating a hidden connection between storytelling and the study of economics.
Some of the most influential and beloved novels of the last few years have been about money, finance, and the global economy. Some overtly so, others more subtly. It got to the point where we just had to call up the authors to find out more: What brought them into this world? What did they learn? How were they thinking about economics when they wrote these beautiful books?
Today on the show: we get to the bottom of it. We talk to three bestselling contemporary novelists — Min Jin Lee (
Pachinko and
Free Food for Millionaires), Emily St. John Mandel (
Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel and
Sea of Tranquility), and Hernan Diaz (
Trust, In the Distance) – about how the hidden forces of economics and money have shaped their works.
This episode was hosted by Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi. It was produced by Willa Rubin, edited by Molly Messick, and engineered by Neisha Heinis. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez.
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