InFi: the Future of Finance

Alex Tabarrok is an economics professor at George Mason University and (with Tyler Cowen) co-host of a popular podcast. He and Tyler recently discussed the history and economics of life insurance, and in addition Alex has written extensively on blockchain finance. He was thus an obvious guest for Bob to interview. Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z24Z0eo9IEI  Related: - https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/02/the-licensing-racket.html  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsbvHcX_Ilk  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIpBpGQ0XTI  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10134440  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Brian Domitrovic is the Richard S. Strong Scholar at the Laffer Center, who holds a PhD in history from Harvard. He joins Bob to discuss his recent articles explaining why the economics profession is so opposed to tariffs but not income taxes. Why are there "free traders" but not "free laborers"? Watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/_fbPGGDR-FQ  Related: - https://lawliberty.org/forum/why-economists-loathe-tariffs/ - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/free-money-brian-domitrovic/1146872807  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

On the heels of his recent ZeroHedge debate against MMTer Nathan Tankus, Bob elaborates on one key issue: Does it help the private sector if the government issues more "safe assets" to bolster private balance sheets? Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYpy7AsHsHY  Related: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHoPf3OZzQY  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUTLCDBONok  - https://mises.org/podcasts/human-action-podcast/murphy-and-newman-do-postgame-analysis-zerohedge-mmt-debate  - https://mises.org/mises-daily/social-function-futures-markets Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Tyler Watts is a professor of economics at Ferris State University. In an analysis for the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, he proposes a plan for allowing citizens to opt out of Social Security in a way that helps the program's finances. Related: - https://www.pageturnpro.com/Indiana-Policy-Review-Foundation/112062-Winter-2025/sdefault.html#page/6  - https://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2017/Murphysocialsecurity.html  Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw1wA_6MizQ  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Bob explains that the yield curve has gone back to a "normal" upward sloping configuration, with 10-year Treasuries yielding more than the 3-month T-Bill. Bob reviews the historical pattern and the theory behind it, and also provides an estimate of when the next recession will hit. Related: - https://mises.org/understanding-money-mechanics/inverted-yield-curve-and-recession  - https://mises.org/podcasts/human-action-podcast/why-government-relief-spending-only-makes-recession-worse  Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBjv4IsSgF0  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Bob referees the recent debate among Trump supporters over the H-1B program, especially the remarks from Vivek Ramaswamy on American culture. Despite its official purpose, the H-1B program does in practice allow for pay below the domestic salary for a given occupation, but that by itself doesn't mean it hurts Americans. Related: - https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1872312139945234507 - https://x.com/RobertMSterling/status/1873175206073626660 - https://www.epi.org/publication/h-1b-visas-and-prevailing-wage-levels - https://modernagejournal.com/whats-at-stake-in-the-h-1b-visa-war/247164  Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vViQStaZ8eA  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Bob responds to critics of his earlier episode on Michael Saylor's arguments for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCzdfQBweWQ  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Bob reviews the classical gold standard era, including the demonetization of silver, to evaluate Michael Saylor's proposal for the US government to swap its gold reserves for Bitcoin. Bob agrees with George Selgin that the USD dollar doesn't need reserve assets because it's the global reserve currency, but Bob thinks that status will be forfeited over time, making BTC a wise purchase for the feds. Related: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq_sYGCrl_I  - https://substack.com/home/post/p-152252942  - https://mises.org/library/book/understanding-money-mechanics Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MPcINHydgk  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Evis Zenios is the new Interim CEO of DaffiOne. He joins Bob to discuss the importance of self-custody of crypto coins--and the role that the DaffiWallet plays here--as well as other topics, such as NFT solutions eliminating fraud (double sales) for event tickets. Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBST4GWno7c  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com     

Bob first reconciles two apparently contradictory positions he staked out in previous episodes (regarding the impact of slavery on the rest of society). Then he addresses the question of which party--American consumers or foreign exporters--will bear the brunt of Trump's proposed tariffs. Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8-dI_uk0ro  Related: - https://infineo.ai/64  - https://infineo.ai/61  - https://www.bobmurphyshow.com/episodes/ep-271-the-economics-of-reparations-and-the-danger-of-ai  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XXfmGS  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infineogroup  Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/infineogroup  Learn more about Infineo at: https://www.infineo.io  Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com