

Let People Prosper
Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
What works best to let people prosper? Join leading free-market economist Vance Ginn, Ph.D. as he works to understand this question through weekly interviews with interesting people on Tuesdays and weekly economic updates on Fridays. His insights build on past lessons, being president of Ginn Economic Consulting, and contributing to more than 15 think tanks while formerly teaching economics in academia and serving as chief economist of the White House's OMB. Dr. Ginn is a Christian, husband, father of three kids, classical liberal, and rock drummer who resides near Austin, Texas.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 22, 2025 • 16min
Free Speech & Free Markets: The Case for Pro-Growth Policies | This Week's Economy Ep. 130
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many are asking what comes next. Free speech feels under attack. Policy debates feel more heated than ever. But now is not the time to retreat—it’s the time to fight for truth. We need clarity about which policies work and which don’t, and we must pursue those that let people prosper.Part of that fight is advancing pro-growth policies that get government out of the way. The latest economic data paint a troubling picture: inflation is running hot, the national debt is soaring, the labor market is weakening, and a third of U.S. states are slipping into recession. Now more than ever, we need policies that can steady the ship and put America back on the path to prosperity.In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I’ll break down what all this data means—and what solutions can move us forward. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Sep 18, 2025 • 49min
Navigating AI Policy with Jake Morabito | Let People Prosper 166🎙️
What happens when innovation runs headfirst into big government?On this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I’m joined by Jake Morabito, Senior Director at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where he leads both the Communications and Technology Task Force and the Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force. Jake is working directly with state lawmakers to make sure freedom—not federal micromanagement—drives the future of innovation.From AI and broadband expansion to smart cities and age verification, Jake has been at the center of some of the most pressing debates in technology policy. His background—from Capitol Hill with Rep. Darrell Issa to his work with Software.org—gives him a unique perspective on how lawmakers handle innovation and how often they get it wrong. Together, we explore how states can lead in AI without replicating California’s regulatory overreach, how to bridge the digital divide without fostering dependency, and how free-market principles can guide a more prosperous digital future.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.

Sep 15, 2025 • 11min
Empowering Students and Families Through School Choice | This Week's Economy Ep. 129
Across the U.S., students are heading back to school. But here’s the reality: despite record levels of public education funding, student performance is flat—or more likely declining—in many places.Nearly twenty states have adopted near-universal Education Savings Accounts, giving families more freedom. Yet in many others, progress lags. Even where legislation has recently passed, like in Texas, the programs often fall short of true, universal choice in terms of all students, all options, and all dollars.The time for a school choice revolution is now! In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I break down why education needs choice, competition, and innovation—and how those principles can transform not just the lives of individual students, but families, communities, and the future of our nation.You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Sep 11, 2025 • 48min
Fiscal Democracy in America with Kurt Couchman | Let People Prosper 165 | Let People Prosper 165🎙️
Today’s guest is Kurt Couchman, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy at Americans for Prosperity—and a trusted fiscal ally since our days in Washington, back when he was at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Kurt’s cutting-edge thinking on balanced-budget amendments, statutory fiscal targets, and bipartisan reform has made him one of the most respected voices in the fight against runaway spending.His new book, Fiscal Democracy in America: How a Balanced Budget Amendment Can Restore Sound Governance, is out now—and it’s essential reading if you care about fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and long-term economic growth.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.

Sep 8, 2025 • 13min
Washington Doesn’t Belong in the Boardroom | This Week's Economy Ep. 128
Many lawmakers have lost sight of the basic economic principles that build flourishing societies. From putting Washington in private boardrooms to imposing tariffs, this administration seems intent on focusing on anything but the real problem: runaway government spending.Inflation and many of today’s economic woes are made worse by federal deficits that fuel higher interest rates and add relentless inflationary pressure. These challenges won’t be solved by squeezing “revenues” out of private industry or taxing imports. They’ll only be solved by spending less, taxing less, and regulating less.We’ll break down the latest news on these issues and more in this edition of This Week’s Economy.You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Sep 4, 2025 • 41min
Defending Economic Liberty with Iain Murray | Let People Prosper 164🎙️
What keeps the socialist temptation alive—and why does it resonate with younger Americans?On this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I interview Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Iain is one of the sharpest voices in the movement for economic liberty, directing CEI’s Center for Economic Freedom and shaping the debate on labor, trade, energy, and beyond.We discuss his journey from the UK to the US, his time as a civil servant under heavy bureaucracy, and his work at CEI to expose the hidden costs of “regulatory dark matter.” We also dive into his book The Socialist Temptation, unpacking why socialism still attracts voters—and how free markets can win the argument with better storytelling. Along the way, we tackle Brexit, trade, environmental stewardship, and the battle of values driving today’s political realignment.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.

Sep 1, 2025 • 11min
Econ 101: Politicians Need to Know Free Markets Work Best | This Week's Economy Ep. 127
With socialist policies coming from progressives and conservatives, it’s clear America’s political class — left and right — has lost its economic compass.Headlines tell the story: student loan forgiveness, tariffs, income redistribution, protectionist trade. Each is a form of central planning that shifts decisions from people in markets to lawmakers and regulators in government. No wonder the economy feels stuck — with $37 trillion in national debt, a bloated Federal Reserve balance sheet, and growing doubts about the American Dream.What we need is a practical, principled defense of free markets — and the courage to push leaders to embrace it, even when it’s politically inconvenient. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Aug 28, 2025 • 50min
Empowering Freedom: A Conversation with The Honorable Konni Burton | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 163🎙️
What happens when principles collide with politics—and you refuse to back down?On this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I interview The Honorable Konni Burton, former Texas State Senator and Founder & CEO of The Texan. Konni has lived the journey from grassroots activist to policymaker to media entrepreneur—and she’s never wavered from putting liberty first.We talk about her battles in the Texas Senate—taking on taxpayer-funded lobbying and corporate welfare long before it was fashionable—and her bold decision to start The Texan, an outlet built to restore integrity to journalism in Texas. Along the way, we dig into faith, family, free markets, and the future of conservatism in Texas.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.

Aug 25, 2025 • 18min
How to Secure America’s Energy Future | This Week's Economy Ep. 126
Economist Julian Simon said, “Energy is the master resource, because energy enables us to convert one material into another. As natural scientists continue to learn more about the transformation of materials from one form to another with the aid of energy, energy will be even more important.”Energy powers our homes, fuels our industries, and drives the innovations that secure our future. However, when Washington attempts to micromanage the energy sector through regulations, subsidies, and political agendas, it distorts the market and drives up costs.But it doesn’t have to be this way. When markets are free to work, America thrives. We’ve seen that energy abundance, competition, and innovation emerge naturally when government steps back and entrepreneurs step forward. The path to a stronger economy and a more reliable grid isn’t more government planning—it’s less!In This Week’s Economy episode, I discuss how we got here, what’s at stake, and the four steps we must take to unleash America’s full energy potential. From ending regulations and subsidies, to rejecting ESG mandates, to fueling innovation, the blueprint is clear: trust markets, not bureaucrats, to power America’s future. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Aug 21, 2025 • 49min
Is Bitcoin the Future Money? with Stewart Arthur Pelto | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 162🎙️
What if I told you the most important tool for building generational wealth isn't sitting in a 401(k)—it’s digital, decentralized, and already here?This week on the Let People Prosper Show, I sat down with Stewart Arthur Pelto, host of Sat Chats, to talk about why Bitcoin is not just a financial instrument—it’s a movement. A movement about freedom, about family, and about finally reclaiming control of your financial future.Stewart’s journey is compelling: from PAC manager to tech sales to now full-time Bitcoin evangelist. His passion isn’t just philosophical—it’s deeply personal. “I do it for my kids,” he told me. And frankly, that hit hard. Because Bitcoin isn’t just for the tech-savvy—it’s for anyone who wants real ownership in a world of manipulated, fiat money.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.


