Jeffrey Ding, a scholar at George Washington University and author of "Technology and the Rise of Great Powers," delves into the U.S.-China tech rivalry. He presents a fresh theory emphasizing that it's not merely about developing new technologies but also about how well they spread across the economy. Ding argues that while China is perceived as an AI superpower, misconceptions about its capabilities abound. He highlights the vital role of education and decentralization in fostering innovation and discusses how effective technology diffusion can drive significant economic growth.

Kristen Soltis Anderson, a leading voice in opinion research and analytics, discusses the tight race in the upcoming presidential election. She breaks down the fluctuating polling data, emphasizing the need to understand underlying narratives rather than just numbers. The conversation also explores voter perceptions, brand stability of candidates, and how technological advancements shape political engagement. Additionally, they touch on American workers' job satisfaction and their desire for higher salaries amidst economic uncertainty.

What is the right foreign economic policy toward China? Did the Fed cut rates in time to avoid a recession? Have agglomeration economies been changed by work-from-home and the dematerializing economy? On September 21st, Paul Krugman joined host Cardiff Garcia live on stage for a sweeping conversation at the #EconTwitterIRL conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They discussed not only Paul’s view of the economy and his achievements in economics, but also his approach to communicating his ideas about economics — which is likely to be as important a part of Paul’s legacy as the (Nobel prize winning) economics itself.Among the other topics they covered: Paul’s hippie-punching days in the 1990s How economic geography has changed through the decadesWhether place-based policy worksWhy a previous regret no longer bothers him muchHow Paul blends style and substance in his writing Why Democrats seem so bad at running big cities The work Paul is most proud ofAnd at the end of this fun, dense, and surprisingly humorous chat, you’ll hear Paul answer the questions he fielded from the audience of economists, journalists, think tankers and others in attendance.  RELATED LINKS: Incidents from my CareerHow I WorkWhat isn’t the matter with American WorkersTPP at the NABEHow Trump Is Undermining the Economy in Some Struggling CitiesGeography and Trade Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allison Schrager, an economist and author, dives into the intriguing rise of the introvert economy. She notes how post-pandemic shifts have led Americans to favor quieter activities over socializing, highlighting changing dining trends and increased remote work. The discussion also touches on societal implications, including the evolving dynamics of risk in social settings and the balance between introversion and extroversion in workplaces. Schrager posits that this newfound introvert-friendliness in the economy might just be here to stay.

When people talk about the crisis at the border between the US and Mexico, what specifically are they referring to?The Department of Homeland Security keeps track of a statistic called “border encounters” at the US border with Mexico. This includes primarily the large number of people who try to cross the border without documentation, or illegally, and aren't crossing at a formal port of entry. It also includes people who do try to cross the border at a port of entry but who are then found not eligible to be admitted into the US. In the past three years, under the Biden administration, the number of these border encounters each year has been more than quadruple the average of what it was throughout most of the previous decade, under the Trump and Obama administrations. The system for processing all these migrants has been entirely overwhelmed. And if you’re a politician or a pundit or someone else pushing an agenda, the temptation is to make it political. To argue that this is either all Joe Biden’s fault for being "too soft" on immigration, or the fault of Donald Trump for not fixing the problem sooner, or Congress for refusing to collaborate on a bill that would address the issue.Today’s guest does something different altogether. Andrew Selee is the head of the Migration Policy Institute, or MPI, which is the think tank Cardiff turns to when he wants factual, nonpartisan, non-stupid commentary on immigration—but especially when he just wants to inform himself on the topic outside the nonsense of how debates on immigration tend to play out in public.So Cardiff speaks with Andrew about the real, fundamental reasons behind the crisis at the border, and what can be done about it. They also talk about legal immigration, which despite many problems has actually been a kind of quiet success of recent years. Other topics they discuss include the two eras of border management, the multi-layered effects of the pandemic on immigration, and a new idea for how to reform immigration to become more responsive to the needs of the US labor market. Related links: Biden at the Three-Year MarkShifting Realities at the U.S.-Mexico BorderMigration at the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Challenge Decades in the MakingA New Way Forward for Employment-Based Immigration: The Bridge Visa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the Magic Johnson of economics? Who was the Adam Smith of basketball?On this fun and oddball episode of The New Bazaar, Cardiff speaks with Tyler Cowen, economist and author of GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter? Inspired by the sportswriter Bill Simmons, Tyler wrote his book from the standpoint of a fan—having fun, taking sides, admitting biases, unapologetically trying to entertain the reader instead of presenting sober (boring) analysis. Cardiff and Tyler—both huge basketball fans—first discuss Tyler's ranking of the great economists and his lament for what economics used to be. Tyler also gives his reasons for releasing the book as a ChatGPT trained on its text, the first such book of its kind.Then begins the fun. They take turns finding analogs for the great economists from the history of the NBA. And they do the same in reverse for basketball's own GOATs. Which economist changed the nature of the field similar to the way Steph Curry set off the three-point revolution? Is there an economist whose comprehensive genius rivaled the ability of LeBron James to engineer exactly the outcome he wants on the court? What basketball player matched the charisma, brilliance, and even investment success of Keynes? And why does Cardiff argue that Tyler himself is the Charles Barkley of economists despite their differences in personality, size, and other obvious dimensions? All throughout the chat, Tyler and Cardiff are exploring the common traits that define greatness in both hoops, the social sciences, and perhaps other domains. A treat for fans of either economics or hoops, or who simply enjoy the virtues of fandom itself. Related links: GOATMarginal RevolutionThe Book of BasketballThe Kobe Question Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Seth Stephens-Davidowitz discusses his use of AI tools to write a book on NBA players and the implications for the labor market. They delve into the backgrounds of successful NBA players, the role of genetics in success, market failures in the NBA, the success of foreign countries in sending players to the NBA, and the impact of college choice on future success. They also explore the power of AI in writing and data analysis, the importance of efficiency in basketball, the influence of height and vertical leap on NBA success, and being lucky to pursue unique interests.

Martha Gimbel and Gopi Shah Goda were formerly economists within the White House Council of Economic Advisors, or CEA. They look back on their time inside an important economic policymaking institution, telling Cardiff about:Their favorite projectsToughest assignmentsThe relationship between CEA and other economic policymakersThe difference between academia and policy work What they might change about itCommon misconceptions about the work of economistsAnd Martha clears up a big misunderstanding about an infamous graph controversy. All this and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angus Deaton—Scottish immigrant, Nobelist, and one of Cardiff's favorite economists—has written a new, forthcoming book titled Economics in America: An Immigrant Economist Explore the Land of Inequality. It’s great, if also hard to categorize. Partly it’s a memoir, about his humble origins in Scotland, where he was born; his studies at Cambridge with better-heeled peers; and his subsequent decades as a Princeton University, Nobel Prize winning economist. The book is also partly a reflection on a lifetime of practicing economics, and the good and bad of the economics profession. There's plenty of both.And finally it’s a series of observations about the American economy, including a fascinating self-analysis of his own ambivalence towards the US, his adopted country—the many great things here, including the lives that he and his family have led; and also, yes, some of the devastatingly grim things about life here for so many others. Related links: Economics in America, by Angus Deaton (available for pre-order)The Great Escape, by Angus DeatonMortality and the economy, featuring Anne Case and Angus Deaton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abraham Josephine Riesman talks with Aimee Keane about how Vince McMahon built an entertainment empire. They discuss McMahon's takeover of his father's regional wrestling business, the concept of kayfabe in wrestling, McMahon's rise to power, the evolution of wrestling storytelling, McMahon's transformation from villain to CEO, and the influence of professional wrestling on the UFC and the acquisition of McMahon's organization.