New Books in Economics
Marshall Poe
This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field.
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Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com
Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/
Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetworkSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 30, 2026 • 37min
Robert Yee, "The City's Defense: The Bank of England and the Remaking of Economic Governance, 1914-1939" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Robert Yee, a Yale lecturer and economic historian of finance and central banking. He traces how the Bank of England transformed after World War I. Short takes cover its hiring of economists, overseas missions to build central banks, interventions in industry, tensions with the Treasury and the Fed, and policies that sustained sterling and London’s financial primacy.
Jan 27, 2026 • 45min
Misty L. Heggeness, "Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy" (U California Press, 2026)
Misty L. Heggeness, an economist and co-director of the Kansas Population Center who built The Care Board, blends pop culture and data to spotlight women’s economic influence. She links Taylor Swift and other female icons to wider patterns of reinvention, unrecognized caregiving work, social media power, and practical reforms to help women thrive in an economy not designed for them.
Jan 27, 2026 • 38min
Duy Lap Nguyen, "Walter Benjamin and the Critique of Political Economy: A New Historical Materialism" (Bloomsbury, 2024)
Duy Lap Nguyen, Associate Professor of World Cultures and Literatures and author of books on Benjamin and Vietnamese studies, argues Walter Benjamin’s scattered writings form a coherent project. He explores Benjamin’s distinctive historical materialism, critiques of progress and Kantian history, influences from utopian socialists, the Arcades Project’s excavation of capitalist phantasmagoria, and the call for urgent political organization.
Jan 24, 2026 • 32min
Nick Romeo, "The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy" (PublicAffairs, 2024)
Nick Romeo, journalist and author who reports on economics and public policy, discusses bold alternatives to conventional economic dogma. He explores True Price accounting, living-wage businesses, a Vienna job guarantee pilot, public-option gig platforms, perpetual purpose trusts, and participatory budgeting. Short, vivid stories illustrate people reshaping economies around justice, dignity, and sustainability.
Jan 22, 2026 • 1h 18min
Colin Mayer, "Capitalism and Crises: How to Fix Them" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Colin Mayer, Emeritus Professor of Management Studies at Oxford, dives into how capitalism can address looming global crises. He critiques the misconception that profit must come from harm, proposing a moral business ethic of 'profit without harm.' Mayer contrasts this with traditional views of shareholder value, emphasizing corporate accountability. He discusses models like Denmark's enterprise foundations that align ownership with societal benefits and highlights the role of technology in enhancing corporate transparency. Excitingly, he advocates for reshaping business education to prioritize purpose-driven curricula.
Jan 19, 2026 • 49min
Emily Hund, "The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media" (Princeton UP, 2023)
In this engaging discussion, Emily Hund, a research affiliate at the Annenberg School, dives into her book, exploring the birth of the influencer industry amid the Great Recession. She examines how early digital creators transformed their struggles into a lucrative market, emphasizing the evolution of authenticity as a commercial asset. Hund reveals the impact of social media on personal branding and discusses the industry's societal implications, including mental health challenges and the spread of misinformation. Her insights offer a fascinating look at the interplay between digital culture and our everyday lives.
Jan 18, 2026 • 45min
Laurie Parsons, "Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown" (Manchester UP, 2023)
Laurie Parsons, an academic from Royal Holloway, University of London, dives into her research on environmental politics and labor in the global South. She discusses the concept of carbon colonialism, revealing how rich countries outsource climate damage to poorer nations. The conversation critiques sustainable consumerism and exposes the harsh realities of Cambodia's garment industry. Parsons argues for political action rather than relying on individual choices, highlighting the importance of regulating global supply chains to combat environmental degradation.
Jan 16, 2026 • 1h
Zeke Hernandez, "The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers" (St. Martin's Press, 2024)
Zeke Hernandez, a Wharton School professor and author of "The Truth About Immigration," explores the critical role immigrants play in boosting investment and economic growth. He challenges harmful narratives by revealing that newcomers foster innovation and job creation. Hernandez shares insights from his extensive research, debunking myths about immigration's negative impacts. He also discusses the historical significance of immigration laws and how current domestic migration mirrors these concerns. Ultimately, he paints a hopeful picture of immigration's benefits for society.
Jan 12, 2026 • 34min
Ofer Sharone, "The Stigma Trap: College-Educated, Experienced, and Long-Term Unemployed" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Ofer Sharone, a sociologist at UMass Amherst and author of The Stigma Trap, dives into the hidden pitfalls of unemployment, emphasizing that even highly educated professionals face stigma that complicates their job search. He explores how recruiters often use unemployment as a shortcut for decision-making, risking the exclusion of talented individuals. Sharone also highlights the emotional impacts of unemployment, revealing how it can strain relationships and self-identity. Ultimately, he advocates for a cultural shift in how society perceives unemployment.
Jan 12, 2026 • 40min
Julia H. Meszaros, "Economies of Gender: Masculinity, "Mail Order Brides," and Women’s Labor" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Julia H. Meszaros, an expert in gender and migration, delves into the complex world of the international dating industry. She challenges stereotypes around mail-order brides and highlights how men navigate these 'intimate frontiers' in countries like Ukraine, the Philippines, and Colombia. Julia defines key concepts like femininity capital, explaining how these relationships are deeply intertwined with economic dynamics and perceptions of masculinity. She also addresses the impacts of war on matchmaking practices, offering a fresh perspective on power and intimacy.
