"The Riff" with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg cover image

E32: Populism, Elites, and Preparing for AGI

"The Riff" with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg

NOTE

The Stabilizing Mechanism of Cycling Between Technocrats and Populists

When a country is governed by individuals for an extended period, it can lead to economic issues like over-indebtedness, corruption, and inefficiencies. This often results in a collapse followed by the appointment of a more academically inclined leader. The cycle alternates between the competent yet stagnant management of technocrats and the more populist approach of stimulating the economy through spending or tax cuts. Populist leaders who increase spending make the economy more transparent by determining essential data about the population. This complex economic cycle creates opportunities for technocrats to fine-tune economic policies and is seen as an unavoidable process.

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