Econception

Dive into the legal landscape of Trump's tariffs, exploring a court ruling that branded them unconstitutional. Discover the tension between presidential emergency powers and Congress's authority in trade. Delve into how American universities rely on foreign students, revealing contradictions in policy. The discussion also touches on the surprising trade surplus in education amidst protectionist views. Finally, hear critiques of rent control, suggesting deregulation could benefit market dynamics and growth.

What’s going on with the tariff deals? How free trade really is the United States? And what have the Popes taught about socialism? Dave Hebert joins Econception to discuss these questions and more with Dominic Pino. Dave Hebert, Ph.D, is a senior research fellow at AIER. Dr. Hebert’s research has been published in academic journals such as Public Choice, Constitutional Political Economy, and The Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice and popular outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, RealClearPolicy, RealClearMarkets, The Hill, and The Daily Caller. 

In a thought-provoking discussion, Brian Blase, former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and Paul Winfree, founder of the Economic Policy Innovation Center, tackle the urgent need for Medicaid reform. They reveal how the program often supports wealthier entities despite its intentions. The duo contrasts Germany's manufacturing successes with U.S. growth patterns, while also critiquing fiscal irresponsibility, drawing lessons from Greece and Argentina. Insights from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment highlight unexpected outcomes of Medicaid expansion on health and financial security.

What’s the case for free trade? What’s the history of free trade in the United States? And is undoing free trade a sound grand strategy for the United States? Dominic Pino looks through these questions on the latest episode of Econception.

How can government policy be more family-friendly? Can socialism exist without coercion? How did bad monetary policy encourage DEI and ESG? Susannah Petitt joins Dominic to discuss. Susannah Petitt is a Social Mobility Fellow at Young Voices and Programs Manager at the Mercatus Center.

Why does public transit keep costing the government more money? Why is cheaper goods the same thing as higher pay? And why don't most people have pensions anymore? Dominic Pino sits down with Marc Scribner to look through these questions on this episode of Econception. Marc Scribner is a Senior Transportation Policy Analyst at Reason Foundation.

Do Europeans work hard enough? Why do you pay higher interest rates than banks? And can a Hawaiian rum company end one of our worst protectionist laws? Garett Jones joins Dominic Pino to discuss these questions on the latest episode of Econception. Garett Jones is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

What does GDP truly represent? This discussion breaks down its importance in measuring a nation’s economic health and clarifies common misconceptions. It also tackles the complexities of European value-added taxes and explores the idea of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. Comparisons between Norway and the U.S. highlight different economic strategies, particularly in managing savings and debt. Additionally, a study reveals how VAT changes over 30 years have had minimal impact on international trade, challenging traditional beliefs about tariffs.

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been established in partnership with Elon Musk and is getting to work. What is going on with DOGE so far, and what changes have already happened? Joining Econception today to discuss this is Dr. James Broughel.  Dr. James Broughel is a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Dr. Broughel is an accomplished economist whose expertise lies in regulatory institutions and the impact of regulations on economic growth. He is the author of the book Regulation and Economic Growth: Applying Economic Theory to Public Policy and is a regular columnist at Forbes, where he writes on topics such as energy and cryptocurrency.

How should free market supporters think about welfare programs? Is road congestion pricing a good idea? And what's the matter with the Endangered Species Act? Dominic Pino discusses this on the latest episode of Econception.