List of EconTalk episodes

This is a list of the episodes of EconTalk, a weekly podcast hosted by Russ Roberts at George Mason University. Roberts interviews a guest on topics in economics.[1] EconTalk is hosted by the Library of Economics and Liberty (sponsored by the Liberty Fund). A list of episodes is given below, including several Nobel Prize laureates on EconTalk.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Episodes

2006

No. Title Guest Air date
1"The Economics of Parenting"Donald CoxMarch 16, 2006
Don Cox of Boston College talks about parenting and incentive compatibility.
2"Ticket Scalping and Opportunity Cost"Michael MungerApril 4, 2006
Michael Munger of Duke University talks about the economics of ticket scalping, examining our reactions to free and found goods, gifts, e-Bay, value in use vs. value in exchange, and opportunity costs.
3"The Economics of Sports"Raymond D. SauerApril 18, 2006
Skip Sauer of Clemson University talks about the economic impact of sports stadiums, how to create incentives in baseball, football and soccer, and the virtues and failings of socialism in sports.
4"The Economics of Inheritance"Donald CoxMay 4, 2006
Don Cox of Boston College discusses the economics of inheritance, estates and the family. He looks at how parents divide their time and money between their children and our concerns for what people think of us after we are gone.
5"The Economics of Medical Malpractice"Alex TabarrokMay 30, 2006
Alex Tabarrok of George Mason University talks about medical malpractice, why insurance premiums vary by state, price gouging by insurance companies, the politics of being a judge and an idea for a new TV show using a tried-and-true formula: American Victim.
6"The Economics of Organ Donations"Richard EpsteinJune 5, 2006
Richard Epstein, law professor at the University of Chicago, discusses the market for kidneys. Should people be allowed to buy and sell kidneys? How might a market for kidneys actually work in practice? Should mercenary motives be allowed to trump altruism?
7"Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Mental Illness or Made-Up Malady?"Russ RobertsJune 16, 2006
Russ Roberts himself looks at the economics and science of intermittent explosive disorder – violent rage out of proportion to its cause. Was the recent study that discovered this problem good science or unreliable? Was the media coverage of the study accurate? How do state insurance regulations create incentives for intellectual dishonesty?
8"Giving Away Money: An Economist's Guide to Political Life"Michael MungerJune 23, 2006
Mike Munger of Duke University talks about the economics of politics, rent-seeking, lobbying and the sometimes perverse incentives of the political world.
9"An Interview with Gary Becker"Gary Becker*July 10, 2006
Gary Becker talks about the challenges of being an intellectual maverick, the economic approach to human behavior, the influences of Adam Smith and Alfred Marshall on his work and his optimism for the future of economics.
10"Barro on Growth"Robert BarroJuly 17, 2006
Robert Barro, Harvard University Professor and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow, talks about the economics of growth, what the developed world can do to help poor people around the world, and the role of US assets and the dollar in world finance.
11"Making Schools Better: A Conversation with Rick Hanushek"Eric HanushekJuly 24, 2006
Rick Hanushek, of Stanford University, talk about why the standard reforms such as more spending or better educated teachers have failed and what needs to be done in the future.
12"Cogan on Improving the Health Care System"John F. CoganJuly 31, 2006
Stanford University's John Cogan talks about what's wrong with America's health care system and how to make it right. He also discusses economics of health care, the tax treatment of employer-provided insurance, the role of state-mandated insurance requirements and the political economy of health care reform.
13"Chris Anderson and the Long Tail"Chris AndersonAugust 7, 2006
Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine talks about the ideas in his book, The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More. Topics include the weird world of internet distribution and production, how the Sears catalog of the 1890s was the predecessor to Amazon books in the 1990s, the economics of choice and the role of filters, and the challenges of wrapping our minds around emergent phenomena.
14"The Political Economy of Power"Bruce Bueno de MesquitaAugust 14, 2006
Hoover Institution and NYU political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita talks about his theory of political power – how dictators and democratically elected leaders respond to the political forces that keep them in office. The conversation covers topics such as the evil political genius of Lenin, the dark side of US foreign aid, the sinister machinations of Leopold II of Belgium, the natural resource curse, the British monarchy in the 11th century, term limits and the inevitable failure of the standard methods of fighting world poverty.
15"Milton Friedman on Money"Milton Friedman*August 28, 2006
Russ Roberts talks with Milton Friedman about his research and views on inflation, the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke, and what the future holds.
16"Friedman on Capitalism and Freedom"Milton Friedman*September 4, 2006
Part two of a conversation with Milton Friedman about the radical ideas he put forward almost 50 years ago in Capitalism and Freedom.
17"Legislators vs. Wal-Mart"Richard EpsteinSeptember 11, 2006
Richard Epstein discusses the attempts to use legislation to handicap Wal-Mart. He also discusses the evolution of the union movement and the constitutionality of various legislative attacks on Wal-Mart.
18"The Economics of Paternalism"Edward GlaeserSeptember 18, 2006
Economist Ed Glaeser of Harvard University talks about the dangers of soft paternalism – various forms of government regulation that fall short of outright bans or taxes but that are meant to correct alleged flaws in the choices we make. Glaeser argues that while individuals do inevitably make mistakes, so do politicians, and the concentration of power in the hands of the few makes government "benevolence" particularly dangerous.
19"The Economics of Obesity"Darius LakdawallaSeptember 25, 2006
Darius Lakdawalla of RAND and the National Bureau of Economic Research talks about the economics of obesity, how much fatter are Americans and why. How much is due to the spread of fast food vs. the falling price of food and the change in the U.S. workplace?
20"Private vs. Public Risk-Taking"Michael MungerOctober 3, 2006
Mike Munger discusses the differences between public and private risk-taking. Their conversation includes the history of Honda, the Apple computer and even the use of turkey carcasses as an energy source. He also discusses why the public is skeptical of good new ideas but often embraces bad new ideas.
21"The Economics of Religion"Larry IannacconeOctober 9, 2006
Larry Iannaccone of George Mason University talks about the economics of religion. Iannaccone explains why Americans are more religious than Europeans, why Americans became more religious after the colonies became the United States and why it can be rational and rewarding to make religious sacrifices.
22"Walter Williams on Life, Liberty and Economics"Walter E. WilliamsOctober 16, 2006
Professor, Radio Host, and Syndicated Columnist Walter Williams of George Mason University talks about his early days as an economist, his controversial view of the Civil War, the insights of Adam Smith and Friedrich Hayek, and some deep but simple economic principles.
23"The Economics of Moneyball"Skip SauerOctober 23, 2006
Skip Sauer of Clemson University discusses the economics of Michael Lewis's Moneyball. (Lewis claims that the Oakland Athletics [A's] found an undervalued asset – the ability of a baseball player to draw a walk – and used that insight to succeed while spending less money than their rivals.) Asking whether this is true, Sauer tries and answer the question and lots of others along the way. How competitive is the baseball industry? Why do some baseball skills get more attention than others? How important is defensive ability? He also discusses why Kevin Youkilis is a good lead-off hitter and some of the peculiar incentives facing baseball teams and owners.
24"Clint Bolick Defends Judicial Activism"Clint BolickOctober 31, 2006
Clint Bolick, co-founder of the Institute for Justice and President of the Alliance for School Choice makes the case for judicial activism. He discusses school choice, interstate wine sales, the Kelo eminent domain case and the roles that the Supreme Court and the Constitution can and should play in securing economic liberty.
25"Richard Thaler on Libertarian Paternalism"Richard ThalerNovember 6, 2006
Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business defends the idea of libertarian paternalism – how government might use the insights of behavioral economics to help citizens make better choices. Host Roberts accepts the premise that individuals make imperfect choices but challenges Thaler on the likelihood that government, in practice, will improve matters. They also discuss the design of Sweden's social security system, organ donations and whether professors at Cornell University are more or less like everyday people.
26"Peltzman on Regulation"Sam PeltzmanNovember 13, 2006
Sam Peltzman of the University of Chicago talks about his views on safety, regulation, unintended consequences and the political economy of bad regulation. The focus is on his studies of automobile safety and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pharmaceutical regulation and the perverse incentives that even good intentions can produce.
27"Engerman on Slavery"Stanley EngermanNovember 21, 2006
Stanley Engerman of the University of Rochester talks about slavery throughout world history, the role it played (or didn't play) in the Civil War and the incentives facing slaves and slave owners. Engerman is the co-author of Time on the Cross (with Robert Fogel) and Slavery, Emancipation, and Freedom (LSU Press, 2007).
28"Postrel on Style"Virginia PostrelNovember 27, 2006
Author and journalist Virginia Postrel talks about how business competes for customers using style and beauty, going beyond price and the standard measures of quality. She looks at the role of appearance in our daily lives and the change from earlier times when style and beauty were luxuries accessible only to the wealthy. She also talks about her donation of a kidney to a friend and how that affected the intensity of her feelings about the policies surrounding organ donations.
29"Caplan on Discrimination and Labor Markets"Bryan CaplanDecember 4, 2006
Bryan Caplan discusses the economics of discrimination and government's regulation of labor markets. Topics include the role of the profit motive in reducing or eliminating discrimination and the role of government, particularly in European labor markets. When does government regulation reduce or enforce discrimination? How do other labor market regulations affect employment and unemployment? What is the impact on the European and American standard of living? Does money buy happiness? Does it depend on whether it is earned or received as welfare?
30"Boudreaux on Law and Legislation"Donald J. BoudreauxDecember 11, 2006
Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks about the fundamental principles of economics and civilization: spontaneous order and law. Drawing on volume one of Friedrich Hayek's classic, Law, Legislation and Liberty, Boudreaux talks about the distinction between law and legislation, the appropriate role of judges, and how the fulfillment of our expectations allows us to pursue our goals and dreams.
31"Boettke on Katrina and the Economics of Disaster"Peter BoettkeDecember 18, 2006
Pete Boettke of George Mason University talks about the role of government and voluntary efforts in relieving suffering during and after a crisis such as Katrina. Drawing on field research he is directing into the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Boettke talks about the role of what he calls "civil society" – the informal, voluntary associations we make as individuals with each other to create community.

2007

No. Title Guest Air date
32"Munger on Price Gouging"Michael MungerJanuary 8, 2007
Mike Munger of Duke University recounts the harrowing (and fascinating) experience of being in the path of a hurricane and the economic forces that were set in motion as a result. One of the most important is the import of urgent supplies when thousands of people are without electricity. Should prices be allowed to rise freely or should the government restrict prices?
33"Bruce Yandle on Bootleggers and Baptists"Bruce YandleJanuary 15, 2007
Bruce Yandle of Clemson University talks about why politics makes such strange bedfellows and the often peculiar alliance of self-interested special interests with more altruistic motives. He explains some of the seemingly perverse but politically understandable effects of the Clean Air Act, the tobacco settlement and other regulation.
34"Greg Mankiw on Gasoline Taxes, Keynes and Macroeconomics"Greg MankiwJanuary 22, 2007
Greg Mankiw of Harvard University and Greg Mankiw's Blog talks about the state of modern macroeconomics and Keynes vs. the Chicago School. He defends his proposal to raise gasoline taxes and discusses the politics of tax policy.
35"Michael Lewis on the Hidden Economics of Baseball and Football"Michael LewisJanuary 29, 2007
Michael Lewis talks about the economics of sports – the financial and decision-making side of baseball and football – and books on baseball and football: Moneyball and The Blind Side. He also discusses the implications of Moneyball for the movie business and other industries, the peculiar ways that Moneyball influenced the strategies of baseball teams, the corruption of college football, and the challenge and tragedy of kids who live on the streets with little education or prospects for success.
36"Lucas on Growth, Poverty and Business Cycles"Robert Lucas*February 5, 2007
Bob Lucas, Nobel Laureate and professor of economics at the University of Chicago talks about wealth and poverty, what affects living standards around the world and over time, the causes of business cycles and the role of the money in our economy. He also talks about Jane Jacobs, immigration, and Milton Friedman's influence on his career.
37"Bruce Bueno de Mesquita on Democracies and Dictatorships"Bruce Bueno de MesquitaFebruary 12, 2007
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita of NYU and Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks about the incentives facing dictators and democratic leaders. Both have to face competition from rivals. Both try to please their constituents and cronies to stay in power. He applies his views to foreign aid, the Middle East, Venezuela, the potential for China's evolution to a more democratic system, and Cuba. He also talks about why true democracy is more than just elections – it depends crucially on freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.
38"Richard Epstein on Property Rights and Drug Patents"Richard EpsteinFebruary 19, 2007
Richard Epstein of the University of Chicago and Stanford University's Hoover Institution talks about property rights, drug patents, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the ideas in his book, Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation.
39"Viviana Zelizer on Money and Intimacy"Viviana ZelizerFebruary 26, 2007
Viviana Zelizer, Princeton University sociologist, talks about the ideas in her book, The Purchase of Intimacy. Does money ruin intimacy? Does intimacy ruin our commercial transactions? Zelizer and host Russ Roberts have a conversation on the sometimes contentious border between economics and sociology.
40"Easterbrook on the American Standard of Living"Gregg EasterbrookMarch 5, 2007
Author Gregg Easterbrook talks about the ideas in his book, The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse. Questions concern: How has life changed in America over the last century? Is the average person getting ahead or are the rich taking all the gains? Easterbrook argues that life is better for the average American in almost every dimension. The paradox is that despite those gains, we don't seem much happier.
41"Cowen on Liberty, Art, Food and Everything Else in Between"Tyler CowenMarch 12, 2007
Tyler Cowen, co-blogger (with Alex Tabarrok) at MarginalRevolution.com, talks about liberty, global warming, using the courts vs. regulation to protect people, the challenges of leading a country out of poverty, the political economy of cuisine, and a quick overview of the Washington, D.C. art museum scene.
42"David Leonhardt on the Media"David LeonhardtMarch 19, 2007
David Leonhardt, of the New York Times, about media bias, competition between old and new media, global warming, and the role of information as an incentive to provide better health care.
43"Kevin Kelly on the Future of the Web and Everything Else"Kevin KellyMarch 26, 2007
Author Kevin Kelly talks about the role of technology in our lives, the future of the web, how to time travel, the wisdom of the hive, the economics of reputation, the convergence of the biological and the mechanical, and his impact on the movies The Matrix and Minority Report.
44"Mike Munger on the Division of Labor"Michael MungerApril 2, 2007
Mike Munger, of Duke University, about specialization, the role of technology in aiding specialization and how the division of labor creates wealth.
45"Bogle on Investing"John C. BogleApril 9, 2007
John Bogle, founder of the Vanguard Group and creator of the index mutual fund, talks about the Great Depression, the riskiness of bond funds, how he created the Index 500 mutual fund (now the largest single mutual fund in the world), how the study of economics changed his life and ours, and Sarbanes-Oxley. At the end of the conversation, he reflects on his life and career.
46"Boudreaux on the Economics of "Buy Local""Donald J. BoudreauxApril 16, 2007
Proponents of buying local argue that it is better to buy from the local hardware store owner and nearby farmer than from the Big Box chain store or the grocery store headquartered out of town because the money from the purchase is more likely to "stay in the local economy." Don Boudreaux of George Mason University talks about the economics of this idea. Is it better to buy local than from a seller based out of town? Is it better to buy American than to buy foreign products? Does the money matter? In this conversation, Boudreaux and Roberts pierce through the veil of money to discuss what trade, whether local, national, or international, really accomplishes.

2007 (continued)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

* denotes a Nobel Prize winner.

References

  1. ↑ EconTalk Archives
  2. ↑ Platt, Charles (February 7, 2009). "Fly on the Wall". New York Post. NYP Holdings. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hoover Institution: Senior Fellow Bio: Lee Ohanian
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