

Free The Economy
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Free The Economy is a weekly podcast hosted by Richard Morrison of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, examining the intersection of news, policy, and economics featuring guests that include writers, policymakers, explorers, contrarians, and free thinkers of all kinds.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 20, 2023 • 57min
Ugh, Capitalism with Jeremiah Johnson
This week we talk about Democrat and Republican myths, corporate welfare in Ohio, scams in the carbon offset market, and how Gen Z workers are getting remedial office etiquette courses. Our interview this week is with Jeremiah Johnson of the Center for New Liberalism and the Neoliberal podcast. We discuss his recent Substack post “Ugh, Capitalism,” and why some extremely online people are blaming everything in their lives on free markets. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jul 13, 2023 • 36min
School Choice for Everyone with Ed Tarnowski
This week we talk about trends in self-employment, how rent control leads to more evictions, empty corporate gestures on indigenous lands, and how Americans are losing faith in higher education. Our interview this week is with Ed Tarnowski of EdChoice. We discuss the success of the school choice movement, recent changes in state law, the influence of public sector unions, and the downstream opportunities created by better learning outcomes. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jul 6, 2023 • 54min
Teaching Capitalism with Allen Mendenhall
This week we talk about the cost of thriving in America, the incredible expanding CHIPS Act, occupational licensing reform in New Hampshire, and celebrate Adam Smith’s 300th birthday with the moral side of free trade. Our interview this week is with Prof. Allen Mendenhall of Troy University. We discuss attitudes toward capitalism and socialism, global governance, ESG investing, and how threats to freedom have changed over the last fifty years. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jun 29, 2023 • 49min
Importing Talent with Connor O’Brien
This week we talk about the income tax case going to the Supreme Court, the death of ESG, community meetings and housing permits, and the prospect for reforming civil asset forfeiture. Our interview this week is with Connor O’Brien of the Economic Innovation Group. We discuss immigration myths, economic growth, foreign-born entrepreneurs, and how the U.S. can poach the best talent from around the world. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jun 22, 2023 • 49min
Online Trust with Taylor Barkley
This week we talk about a survey on work trends for finance bros, Delta’s questionable bid to become the first carbon neutral airline, the Economic Innovation Group’s case for high-skilled immigration, and the psychological reasons we (wrongly) tend to think everything in the world is getting worse. Our interview this week is with Taylor Barkley of the Center for Growth and Opportunity. We discuss public attitudes toward big tech companies, safety for kids online, the poor cybersecurity job the government does, and who is allowed to moderate our social media content. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jun 15, 2023 • 52min
Growth and Taxes with Alex Muresianu
This week we talk about Gen Z and remote work, businesses moving between states, and inspiring evidence of human progress. Our interview this week is with Alex Muresianu of the Tax Foundation. We discuss expiring tax provisions, research and development deductions, economic growth, and how to raise government revenue without causing too much social dysfunction. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jun 8, 2023 • 46min
Immense Economic Costs with Scott Lincicome
This week we talk about central bank digital currencies, bankers backing off of ESG claims, avoiding the mistakes of public housing, and new research of inequality and progressivity. Our interview this week is with economist Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute. We discuss trade tariffs, empowered workers, returning to the 1950s, and working-class wages. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

Jun 1, 2023 • 53min
Capitalists of the World Unite! with Richard Salsman
This week we talk about conservatives defending the D.C. swamp, Andrew Stuttaford’s warning about green land grabs, a new Heartland Institute report on the threats from ESG investing, and the American Express survey on small business financial confidence. Our interview this week is with economist Richard Salsman of Duke University. We discuss the origins of capitalism, the morality of profit-seeking, how students are learning economics, and the democratization of investing. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

May 25, 2023 • 47min
Transparency for Government, Privacy for People with Brian Hawkins
This week we talk discuss Tim Carney’s view on why big government is good for big business, Stone Washington on the troubling mission creep at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dan King on protecting Georgia property owners from getting their property seized, and Alec Stapp and Pat Hedger on the puzzling bus project in Los Angeles called “La Sombrita.” Our interview this week is with Brian Hawkins of People United for Privacy. We discuss government transparency, confidential donor lists, the IRS, state attorneys general who leak information, and the ongoing legacy of the famous civil rights case NAACP v. Alabama (1958). Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

May 18, 2023 • 43min
Letting People Prosper with Vance Ginn
This week we talk about Warren Buffet’s electric vehicle pessimism, sky-high school funding in New York City, worker job satisfaction numbers, and why we’re in the top 1% of all podcasts. Our interview this week is with economist, consultant, podcaster, think tanker, and former White House economic policy advisor Vance Ginn. We discuss the strength of the union, competition between states for people and capital, the debt ceiling negotiations, confusing unemployment numbers, and more. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.


