EconTalk
Russ Roberts
EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious is an award-winning weekly podcast hosted by Russ Roberts of Shalem College in Jerusalem and Stanford's Hoover Institution. The eclectic guest list includes authors, doctors, psychologists, historians, philosophers, economists, and more. Learn how the health care system really works, the serenity that comes from humility, the challenge of interpreting data, how potato chips are made, what it's like to run an upscale Manhattan restaurant, what caused the 2008 financial crisis, the nature of consciousness, and more. EconTalk has been taking the Monday out of Mondays since 2006. All 900+ episodes are available in the archive. Go to EconTalk.org for transcripts, related resources, and comments.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 14, 2006 • 1h 28min
The Political Economy of Power
Russ Roberts talks with Hoover Institution and NYU political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita about his theory of political power--how dictators and democratically elected leaders respond to the political forces that keep them in office. This lengthy and intense conversation covers a wide range of topics including the evil political genius of Lenin, the dark side of US foreign aid, the sinister machinations of King Leopold of Belgium, the natural resource curse, the British monarchy in the 11th century, term limits and the inevitable failure of the standard methods of fighting world poverty.
Aug 7, 2006 • 53min
Chris Anderson and the Long Tail
Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail, discusses the weird world of internet distribution, the economics of choice and the role of filters, and the challenges of wrapping our minds around emergent phenomena. He explores the concept of the long tail in digital marketplaces and the power of niche content. They also delve into the limitations imposed by scarcity and the expansion of consumer choice. The conversation highlights the paradox of choice, the power of relevance, and the diffusion of power in mainstream media and the blogosphere. They also touch on the influence of the internet on politics and the lack of diversity in the political landscape.
Jul 31, 2006 • 53min
John Cogan on Improving the Health Care System
Russ Roberts talks with Stanford University's John Cogan about what's wrong with America's health care system and how to make it right.
Jul 24, 2006 • 34min
Making Schools Better: A Conversation with Rick Hanushek
Russ Roberts and Rick Hanushek, of Stanford University, talk about why the standard reforms such as more spending or better educated teachers have failed and what needs to be done in the future.
Jul 17, 2006 • 47min
Robert Barro on Growth
Russ Roberts interviews Robert Barro, Harvard University Professor and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow, on the economics of growth, what the developed world can do to help poor people around the world, and the role of US assets and the dollar in world finance.
Jul 10, 2006 • 30min
An Interview with Gary Becker
Russ Roberts interviews Gary Becker, of the University of Chicago, on the challenges of being an intellectual maverick, the economic approach to human behavior, the influences of Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall on Becker's work and Becker's optimism for the future of economics.
Jun 23, 2006 • 29min
Michael Munger on Giving Away Money: An Economist's Guide to Political Life
Mike Munger, of Duke University, and Russ Roberts talk about the economics of politics, rent-seeking, lobbying and the sometimes perverse incentives of the political world.
Jun 16, 2006 • 24min
Russ Roberts on Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Mental Illness or Made-Up Malady?
Russ Roberts looks at the economics and science of intermittent explosive disorder--violent rage out of proportion to its cause. Was the recent study that discovered this problem good science or unreliable? Was the media coverage of the study accurate? How do state insurance regulations create incentives for intellectual dishonesty?
12 snips
Jun 5, 2006 • 40min
Richard Epstein on the Economics of Organ Donation
Richard Epstein, law professor at the University of Chicago, and Russ Roberts discuss the market for kidneys. Should people be allowed to buy and sell kidneys? How might a market for kidneys actually work in practice? Should mercenary motives be allowed to trump altruism? Epstein deals with these questions and more.
15 snips
May 30, 2006 • 39min
Alex Tabarrok on the Economics of Medical Malpractice
Alex Tabarrok of George Mason U. and Russ Roberts talk about medical malpractice, why insurance premiums vary by state, price gouging by insurance companies, the politics of being a judge and an idea for a new TV show using a tried-and-true formula, the American Victim.
