The Curious Task

Alex speaks with Russ Roberts about the nature of education and how we should rethink it in today's world. This is a special episode being released in conjunction with this week's episode of Econtalk.  References 1. The Center for Experiential Learning at Washington University Link: https://olin.wustl.edu/student-resources/center-for-experiential-learning.php#:~:text=The%20Center%20for%20Experiential%20Learning,Driven%E2%84%A2%20practice%20and%20application.  2. EconTalk Podcast Link: https://simplecast.econtalk.org/  3. “How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness” by Russ Roberts Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life/dp/1591847958

Alex speaks with Aaron Powell about the origins of fusionism, where it stands today, and why non-traditional alliances might be the way of the future.  References 1. Free Thoughts Podcast  Link: https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts  2. ReImagining Liberty Podcast Link: https://www.reimaginingliberty.com/podcast/  3. “After protests, Disney CEO speaks out against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill” by Elizabeth Blair Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/08/1085130633/disney-response-florida-bill-dont-say-gay  4. “An Introduction to Marxism for Non-Marxists” ReImagined Podcast Episode  Link: https://www.reimaginingliberty.com/an-introduction-to-marxism-for-non-marxists-w-ian-bennett/

Alex speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac and Peter Jaworski about the advantages of advocating for more refugees and immigrants in Canada, and how it makes both immigrants and receiving countries better off.  References 1. Institute for Liberal Studies  Link: https://www.liberalstudies.ca/

Alex speaks with Charles Cockell about his focus on the future of liberty in space. They discuss solutions for protecting individual freedoms and rights on settlements beyond earth, and the novel solutions to the problems that would emerge from these overlooked facts of life in space. References 1. “The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth” by Charles S. Cockell Link: https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Liberty-Beyond-Earth-Society/dp/3319095668  2. Earth and Space Foundation Link: https://www.earthandspace.org/  3. “Interplanetary Liberty: Building Free Societies in the Cosmos” by Charles S. Cockell Link: https://www.amazon.com/Interplanetary-Liberty-Building-Societies-Cosmos/dp/0192866249 

Economist Pete Boettke joins Alex to discuss the promise of liberalism in creating a better world. (This episode originally aired Aug 21, 2021.) References 1. “The Struggle for a Better World” by Pete Boettke Link: https://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Better-World-Peter-Boettke/dp/1942951876  2. “Hayek on the Role of Reason in Human Affairs” by Intercollegiate Studies Institute Link: https://isi.org/hayek-on-the-role-of-reason-in-human-affairs/#:~:text=Hayek's%20argument%20is%20primarily%20directed,socially%20autonomous%20human%20reason%20capable  3. Read more about Frederick Douglass and Lysander Spooner on Abolitionism  Link: https://teachdemocracy.org/images/pdf/Abolitionists-and-the-Constitution.pdf  4. “National Economic Planning: What is Left?” by Don Lavoy Link: https://www.amazon.com/National-Economic-Planning-What-Left/dp/1942951264  5. “Politically Impossible” by W.H. Hutt Link: https://mises.org/library/book/politically-impossible  6. “The Theory of Economic Policy in English Classical Political Economy” by Lionel Robbins Link: https://mises.org/library/book/theory-economic-policy-english-classical-political-economy  7. “Liberty’s Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution” by Emma Griffin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Libertys-Dawn-Peoples-Industrial-Revolution/dp/0300205252  8. “So Who is Carmen Segarra? A Fed Whistleblower Q&A” by Jake Bernstein Link: https://www.propublica.org/article/so-who-is-carmen-segarra-a-fed-whistleblower-qa  9. “Rothbard and the Nature of the State” by Matt Palmer Link: https://mises.org/mises-daily/rothbard-and-nature-state  10. “Libertarianism as Humanism: Remembering Steve Horwitz” by Trevor Burrus Link: https://www.cato.org/blog/libertarianism-humanism-remembering-steve-horwitz 

Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about the effects of pandemic policy, impending war and populism on a once-optimistic outlook for liberalism's future. References 1. Institute for Liberal Studies  Link: https://www.liberalstudies.ca/ 2. “What is the Future of Liberalism” The Curious Task Episode with Matt Bufton Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-22-matt-bufton-%e2%80%94-what-is-the-future-of-liberalism/  3. “Portland Protesters Create ‘Autonomous Zone’ by Pitching Tents, Rebuilding Barricades Removed by Police” by Danielle Wallace Link: https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-protest-autonomous-zone-tents-barricade-seattle-chop-chaz  4. “Ukraine in Maps: Tracking the War in Russia” by the BBC Visual Journalism Team Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682  5. “Government of Canada prohibits Russian aircraft to enter Canadian airspace” by Transport Canada Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/02/government-of-canada-prohibits-russian-aircraft-to-enter-canadian-airspace.html

Alex speaks with Mike Munger about the concept of monopoly and the history of anti-trust and industrial policy in America.  References 1. “Is Capitalism Sustainable?” by Michael Munger Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Sustainable-Michael-Munger/dp/1630691739  2. “Michael Munger on Antitrust” Podcast by Econlib Link: https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-antitrust/  3. “The Antitrust Laws” by the Federal Trade Commission Link: https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/antitrust-laws  4. “The Antitrust Paradox” by Robert H. Borke Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Antitrust-Paradox-Robert-H-Bork/dp/1736089706  5. “Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall)” by Federal Reserve History Link: https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/glass-steagall-act#:~:text=The%20Glass%2DSteagall%20Act%20effectively,Roosevelt%20in%20June%201933

Alex speaks with Bryan Caplan about his novel solutions to the housing crisis, his affinity for graphic novels as a teaching tool, and the market-based approaches that are already working despite what our psychology is leading us to believe. References 1. “The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Rational-Voter-Democracies-Policies/dp/0691138737  2. “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Case-against-Education-System-Waste/dp/0691174652  3. “Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Open-Borders-Science-Ethics-Immigration/dp/1250316960  4. “Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being A Great Parent is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Selfish-Reasons-Have-More-Kids/dp/0465028616  5. “Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415  6. “Build, Baby, Build: Now Under Construction” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.econlib.org/build-baby-build-now-under-construction/  7. “Laisseze-faire” by Britannica Link: https://www.britannica.com/money/laissez-faire  8. “Labour Econ Versus the World: Essays on the World’s Greatest Market” by Bryan Caplan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Labor-Econ-Versus-World-Greatest/dp/B09QF44HHG

Alex speaks with Andrew Smith about capitalist peace theory and discusses a Canadian case study as an example of mutually beneficial exchange leading to peace and prosperity.  References 1. “Canadian Entrepreneurs and the Preservation of the Capitalist Peace in the North Atlantic Triangle in the Civil War Era, 1861-1871” by Andrew D. Smith and Laurence B. Mussio Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/enterprise-and-society/article/abs/canadian-entrepreneurs-and-the-preservation-of-the-capitalist-peace-in-the-north-atlantic-triangle-in-the-civil-war-era-18611871/228FB9ECC4A2E2BA40799185F77B0239

Alex speaks with Adam Gurri about how the large umbrella of liberalism under which a number of movements, systems of thought, and ideological identities may have more in common than is often thought.  References 1. Liberal Currents Magazine Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/  2. Embodiment and Exclusion Blog Link: https://embodimentandexclusion.com/  3. Jacobin Magazine Link: https://jacobin.com/  4. “The Communitarian Critique of Liberalism” by Michael Walzer Link: https://www.ias.edu/sites/default/files/sss/pdfs/Walzer/CommunitarianCritiqueLiberalism.pdf  5. Matthew McMannis Articles Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/author/mattmcmanus/  6. “Private Government: How Employer’s Rule our Lives (and Why We Don’t Talk about It)” by Elizabeth Anderson Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Private-Government-Employers-Lives-about/dp/0691176515  7. Alex Aragona Articles Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/author/alexaragona/