

Two Think Minimum
Technology Policy Institute
Podcast of the Technology Policy Institute of Washington, D.C.
The Technology Policy Institute is a think tank that focuses on the economics of innovation, technological change, and related regulation in the United States and around the world. Our mission is to advance knowledge and inform policymakers by producing independent, rigorous research and by sponsoring educational programs and conferences on major issues affecting information technology and communications policy.
The Technology Policy Institute is a think tank that focuses on the economics of innovation, technological change, and related regulation in the United States and around the world. Our mission is to advance knowledge and inform policymakers by producing independent, rigorous research and by sponsoring educational programs and conferences on major issues affecting information technology and communications policy.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 30, 2024 • 52min
Congressional Silence, Agency Power, and the Chevron Doctrine with Caroline Cecot
In this episode of Two Think Minimum, Caroline Cecot, an associate professor of law at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, talks about her recent article "The Meaning of ‘Silence.’" The discussion focuses on the potential consequences of narrowing the applicability of the Chevron doctrine and consequences on the major questions doctrine. She discusses the broader implications of overruling or limiting Chevron deference and the role of cost-benefit analysis in agency decision-making and the effect of the composition and views of the Supreme Court on administrative law issues.

Mar 29, 2024 • 44min
FTC Actions on Antitrust Reforms with Ginger Jin and Liad Wagman
FTC Actions on Antitrust Reforms with Ginger Jin and Liad Wagman by Technology Policy Institute

Mar 25, 2024 • 53min
Navigating Technological Change: TikTok, AI Bias, and Societal Adjustments with Megan McArdle
The latest episode of the TPI Two Think Minimum podcast featured guest Megan McArdle, discussing pressing issues at the intersection of technology and society. The podcast covered several topics related to technology, policy, and societal impact, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of the implications of technological advancements and regulatory actions. Key topics included the proposed U.S. legislation to ban or force a sale of TikTok over national security concerns, the biases detected in Google's AI system Gemini that favored certain political perspectives, and the broader societal adjustments that may be required as AI transforms various industries and jobs.

Mar 25, 2024 • 43min
Growing Threats to Wireless Communications and How to Address Them
Growing Threats to Wireless Communications and How to Address Them by Technology Policy Institute

Feb 7, 2024 • 43min
Airwaves of Innovation: Milgrom & Kwerel on the Past and Future of Spectrum Auctions
The journey to implementing spectrum auctions was not without its challenges. Evan Kwerel shed light on the initial resistance, particularly from the broadcasting industry and legislators. Concerns about market concentration and the potential costs of spectrum use were at the forefront of the debate. Despite these hurdles, the need for government revenue and the inefficiency of the existing system for cellular licenses were catalysts for change.
Paul Milgrom provided a fascinating comparison between the United States and other countries. He noted the fragmented nature of the industry abroad and the various tactics used to suppress auction prices. In contrast, the U.S. wireless companies were less resistant, which played a part in the smoother implementation of spectrum auctions stateside.

Feb 2, 2024 • 48min
Marius Schwartz on The Perverse Effects of the Robinson Patman Act
The Perverse Effects of the Robinson-Patman Act
https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/antibull31&div=37&id=&page=

Jan 3, 2024 • 35min
Joe Nocera Discusses the Covid Policy Big Fail
Joe Nocera Discusses the Covid Policy Big Fail by Technology Policy Institute

Dec 6, 2023 • 39min
An Autocrat's Dilemma: Boosting Domestic Business Profits at the Expense of Research Quality
On the most recent episode of TPI's podcast "Two Think Minimum," Dr. Meicen Sun, assistant professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign joined TPI's Scott Wallsten to discuss her research on the effects of a country's decision to control international internet traffic. She finds that China's Great Firewall has helped increase profits of Chinese firms, but at the cost of reducing research quality as scientific collaboration and connections wither. This result presents a dilemma for autocrats if they try to balance short-term and long-term effects.

Nov 30, 2023 • 39min
Freedom of Speech in the Digital Age with Professor Jeff Kosseff
Freedom of Speech in the Digital Age with Professor Jeff Kosseff by Technology Policy Institute

Nov 17, 2023 • 46min
Unpacking US-China Tech Policies with Xiaomeng Lu
On the latest episode of TPI's podcast "Two Think Minimum," Xiaomeng Lu, a director at Eurasia Group, discussed the evolving dynamics of US-China relations related to technology policy with TPI's Scott Wallsten and Sarah Oh Lam. The discussion included implications of the CHIPS Act, strategic competition, semiconductor manufacturing, and the broader geopolitical landscape shaped by technology. The conversation highlighted how policy shifts and strategic decisions in both countries are shaping the future of global tech dominance and addressed the tension between domestic industrial policy and the globalized nature of the semiconductor industry.