Send us a textHow do you teach about a man who does not fit neatly into a box? Hayek is one such man, and today, we tackle the difficult task of putting him in a box. We conclude that we cannot put someone like F. A. Hayek into boxes such as “economist” or “philosopher” or “political theorist”, because he did it all. How and when do you teach the ideas of a man who did it all? I’m excited to welcome Tawni Hunt Ferrarini to the podcast today to talk to us about teaching Hayek and his most important ideas. Ferrarini is a co-author of Common Sense Economics and an economic educator worldwide. We go through multiple ideas of in-class examples and places his thought could be applied in the context of modern education. Keep listening to hear me talk about how I, Pencil is scary. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textIt’s often said that if you want to get to know someone, you should look through their garbage. Now, I don’t recommend this method of getting to know someone (it’s kind of gross). But biographers often have the luck of getting to know the people they study by looking through their stuff- that stuff not being actual garbage. For example, Bruce Caldwell spent time with Hayek’s skis and botanical photographs. You might be thinking, why do I care? Why does anyone care? Hayek didn’t even write about skiing or photography! That’s exactly the point: the minutia of life, those characteristics that are seemingly irrelevant to the output of an academic can give insight into their uniqueness. Hayek’s context, his family, and youth and involvement in certain political parties, shines a light on what, why, and how he thought, which helps us to better understand him and his ideas. Join me today in conversation with Bruce Caldwell, one of Hayek’s biographers, to explore the context of Hayek and what it means to be a biographer. Caldwell is a research professor of economics at Duke where he is the Director of the Center for the History of Political Economy. He is also the co-author of the book Hayek: A Life, among other works. He also believes Santa Claus exists (stay tuned to hear why!). Want to explore more?Don Boudreaux on the Essential Hayek, a Great Antidote podcast.Bruce Caldwell on Hayek, an EconTalk podcast.Rosolino Candela, Using Reason to Understand the Abuse and Decline of Reason, an Econlib Liberty Classic.Peter Boettke, Hayek's Nobel at 50, at EconLog.Peter Boettke, Hayek's Epistemic Liberalism, in Liberty Matters at the Online Library of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textThe title of this episode might confuse you: what on earth do Adam Smith and F. A. Hayek have to say about social justice? A surprising amount, given how much we talk about it!Smith makes a big point of critiquing men of pride and vanity. What happens when those ultimately negative aspects of humanity go too far, into the territory of what he calls “domineering”? What happens when small acts of domination are aggregated throughout a society? So here we are, talking about slavery, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement, through the lens of Hayek and Adam Smith. Our tour guide on this perilous journey towards the implementation and understanding of justice is the wonderful Jacob Levy.  Levy is the Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory at McGill University. He is also the coordinator of the research group on Constitutional Studies at McGill. Want to explore more?Jacob Levy, Rationalism, Pluralism, and the History of Liberal Ideas, a Liberty Matters symposium at the Online Library of Liberty. Don Boudreaux on the Essential Hayek, a Great Antidote podcast.Steven Horwitz, Spontaneous Order in Adam Smith, at AdamSmithWorks.Dan Klein on Adam Smith's Justice, a Great Antidote podcast.Rosolino Candela, Private Property and Social Justice: Complements or Substitutes? at Econlib.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textThe month of October 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of F. A. Hayek winning the Nobel Prize. Winning such a prize is obviously a big deal, but someone wins one every year, so what’s the big deal about this guy? Well. Hayek’s contributions to the field of economics are significant because they spoke to more than simply economics. Spontaneous order, price signals as information, and the pretense of knowledge all might come to mind, but they might not. (Maybe you’re new to this! If so, helloooo there!) These concepts branch into philosophy, social structure, and the nature of the human mind. Stick with us to learn the depths and beauty of Hayekian thought, in the first of this series! Want to explore more?Profile in Liberty: Friedrich A. Hayek, at Econlib.Don Boudreaux on Reading Hayek, an EconTalk podcast.Elaine Sternberg, The Power and Pervasiveness of Spontaneous Order, at Econlib.Nicholas Wapshott on Keynes and Hayek, an EconTalk podcast.Hayek and Spontaneous Orders, at the Online Library of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a text Do you ever take a moment to think about the fact that Americans, the people of the land of the free, spent 13 years under Prohibition? Did you know that Americans used to seriously “drink like a fish”? And no, I’m not talking about fraternity men in college. I’m talking about everyone, everywhere, from George Washington’s parties to lunchtimes in the manufacturing factories (until Henry Ford put a stop to it, you know, for efficiency purposes). Then Prohibition happened. What were the forces that drove Prohibition into existence? Our first and only constitutional amendment to be repealed, what was so severe about America under prohibition that it only lasted 13 years? How did a guy smuggle whiskey into America in an egg carton? All that and more on this episode with Wabash College Professor Nicholas Snow. Tune in! Want to explore more?Read John Alcorn's 2019 series on prohibition of all kinds at EconLog.Daniel Okrent on Prohibition and his Book, Last Call, an EconTalk podcast.Lysander Spooner, Vices are Not Crimes. A Vindication of Moral Liberty, at the Online Library of Liberty.Randy Simmons on Public Choice, a Great Antidote podcast.Sandra Peart on Ethical Quandaries and Politics Without Romance, a Great Antidote podcast.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textWhat does it actually mean to run a think tank, to create harmony within an office building full of idea-confident folk? Some have called the think tank a monastery, some have called it an academic social club, and some have even called it a policy incubator. What truly is it and how on earth do you lead one? Leading a think tank is a multifaceted job, because you have your own scholarship to do too. Today, I’m excited to welcome the president of AEI, Robert Doar, to the podcast for a similarly multifaceted conversation. Doar talks to us about his work on poverty and, more recently, the Nixon impeachment, as well as his job as the president of AEI. Stay with us till the end to hear us talking about our favorite books! Want to explore more?Daniel Rothschild on Liberalism and Think Tanks, a Great Antidote podcast.Yesim  Sayin on the DC Life and Policy, a Great Antidote podcast. Undivide Us: Ben Klutsey on Exploring and Confronting Polarization, a Great Antidote podcast.Max Borders, Can We Have Welfare Without the Threat of Violence? at Econlib.Richard Gunderman, Joy in Economics...And Tolstoy? at Econlib.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textEven though I hope you’ve been avoiding the election news like I have (as you would the plague), admittedly, it’s hard to do. It’s like someone is blasting it outside your window at 5 AM. Or like a billboard outside your front door that you can’t help but see every time you step outside. Bummer.  Fortunately, AEI’s wonderful Yuval Levin joins us today to talk about the remedy to the plight of election season and America’s recent malaise (not to echo Jimmy Carter…): the American constitution. Now, I know, you might be rolling your eyes and thinking “Those classical liberals are at it again, always talking about the founding…” But seriously. Remembering and embracing the spirit upon which America was founded—one of intellectual and political dynamism—is key to striking the balance between life, politics, and disagreement that has felt so off-kilter recently. Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at AEI, as well as the founder and editor of National Affairs. He recently released the book American Covenant, which we are talking about today. Join us today for a livelier, timelier version of what you learned in your 7th-grade civics class. Want to explore more?How the Constitution Can Bring us Together, an EconTalk podcast with Yuval Levin.Yuval Levin on a Time to Build, an EconTalk podcast.Darren Staloff on the American Founding, a Great Antidote podcast.Christy Lynn Horpedahl, A Skeptic's Guide to the Perfect Commonwealth, at Speaking of Smith.Understanding Jefferson: Slavery, Race, and the Declaration of Independence, a Liberty Matters Forum at the Online Library of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textGrowth is essential to human life. Always has been, always will be. From the moment we are born, we grow, and we continue to throughout our lives, whether that is physically, mentally, or otherwise. Societies grow too.But what is growth? Real growth is replicable, durable, and sustainable (and not in the sense that immediately comes to mind). Your seven-year-old doesn’t shrink back down after she grows an inch. It might happen when she’s ninety, but that’s gravity (and don’t you think she’s had a good run at this point? We should accept that it’s ok to have a growth recession every now and again). So how have intellectuals conceptualized the growth of societies, environments, and economies over time? And how should we think about growth? The wonderful Henry C. Clark joins us on the podcast today to answer these questions and more. He is the program director of the Political Economy Project at Dartmouth College and the author of several books including the newly released The Moral Economy We Have Lost: Life Before Mass Abundance. Go check it out!Want to explore more?Henry Clark on the Enlightenments, a Great Antidote podcast.Pierre Desrochers, From Prometheus to Arcadia: Liberals, Conservatives, the Environment, and Cultural Cognition, at Econlib.Robert Pindyck on Averting and Adapting to Climate Change, an EconTalk podcast.Sandra Peart and David Levy, Happiness and the Vanity of the Philosopher: Part1, at Econlib.Deirdre McCloskey and Economists' Ideas About Ideas, a Liberty Matters forum at the Online Library of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a textSome questions are hard to ask. Some questions you don’t want to ask. Some questions are hard for you to hear the answers to. Like, how do you tell someone, politely, that they eat with their mouth open? Between a rock and a hard place, you know you gotta do it. You really don’t want to, but you know you can’t stand to watch it anymore either.Candace Smith is a wonderful teacher of etiquette and the creator of the Etiquette: For the Business of Life blog. Her philosophy on the importance of etiquette is that if the world was a little more polite, that we’d live in a much kinder world. Join us today for a conversation about how to make that change in your life and community today! Want to explore more?Candace Smith, Etiquette and Adam Smith, at Speaking of SmithDan Klein on Smith: Self-Command, Pride, and Vanity, a Great Antidote podcast.Leonidas Montes, The Importance of Self-Command, at AdamSmithWorks.Sarah Skwire, The Science of Dining, at the Online Library of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.What does it mean for something to be ESG when two of those words are adjectives and one is a noun? I mean think about it. “Environmental, social, and governance” doesn’t really describe anything. It’s also a good example of cacophony. So can someone please explain what it means? Today, luckily, Paul Mueller, senior research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, comes to my rescue. He explains what ESG means and how it relates to CSR (corporate social responsibility, ESG’s more comprehensible predecessor). He answers a question that’s been plaguing me forever, which is, why are free marketeers generally against these types of movements, even though they are private endeavors? Want to explore more?Paul Mueller, A Short Guide to ESG, at AIER.Paul Mueller, ESG Puppeteers, at AIER.Dwight R. Lee, Corporate Social Responsibility: The Seen and the Unseen, at Econlib.David Henderson, ESG Feeds Inflation, Hurts Economic Growth, at Econlib.Read the entry on Corporate Governance in the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.What’s in a price? Good question. How can you be “enslaved” to something like a price, to something that doesn’t eat, sleep, or breathe? Good question. What does it mean to wage a war against this inanimate enslaver? Good question. Join me today with Ryan Bourne, the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at the Cato institute. Bourne paints a picture of a bloodless yet economically catastrophic war. It's one which leaves us vulnerable as the weapons of the market (dollars) diminish in our pockets (inflation) and the state of war (price controls) depletes the quality and quantity of our conquests (market interactions) until they are vastly inferior to the opposition’s (free markets). Want to explore more?Russ Roberts, Where Do Prices Come From? at Econlib.Michael L. Davis, Price Gouging is Fine, but Humans are Better, at Econlib.Michael Munger on John Locke, Prices, and Hurricane Sandy, an EconTalk podcast.Rosolino Candela, Can Price Controls Fight Inflation? at Econlib.Michael Cannon on Prices and Health, a Great Antidote podcast.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Michael Cannon is the Cato Institute’s director of health policy studies and it is his third time on the podcast. He has been on The Washingtonian’s list of most influential people for four years in a row. Today, we talk about why people think the American healthcare system is “free market” and the role of prices in determining health outcomes--- and how unfettered markets improve the lives of everyone in need of healthcare. He tells us about the ways government intervention, like patchwork, distorts and attempts to undistort prices, and how it leaves us all worse off. He leaves us with a bit of hope though, so tune in for a sunbeam of optimism in the thundering sky of our health policy landscape! Want to explore more?Michael Cannon on Medicare, a Great Antidote podcast.Michael Cannon on Employer-Sponsored Healthcare, a Great Antidote podcast.Keith Smith on Free Market Healthcare, an EconTalk podcast.Explore all the EconTalk episodes on healthcare. There are a lot! Richard McKenzie and Katherine Shelton, How Free-Market Kidney Sales Can Save Lives- and Lower the Total Cost of Kidney Transplants, at Econlib.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Charles Noussair is the Eller Professor of Economics at the University of Arizona and the Director of the Economic Science Laboratory. He also serves as the President of the Economic Science Association. Today, we talk about experimental economics, how it complements other types of economic research, and how economic experiments are conducted. He tells us about a recent macro experiment that tests institutions for growth and welfare, such as electoral systems, political speech, and corruption. He explains the difference between extractive and inclusive economic institutions. Finally, he explains how experimental economics applies to everyone’s lives, not just to economists.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Sandra Peart is a Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies and the President of the Jepson Scholars Foundation at the University of Richmond, as well as a coauthor of Towards an Economics of Natural Equals: A Documentary History of the Early Virginia School, with David Levy. She is also a distinguished fellow of the history of economics society. Today we talk about the importance of humility in discussing important ideas in addition to the importance of asking the right questions, ethical questions. She leads us through the intellectual landscape of the 60s, post World War II, and the birth of the Virginia School of Economics, which was intent on asking important questions about humanity and the nature of equality. We talk about James Buchanan, Warren Nutter, Gordon Tullock, and their influences such as Adam Smith and Frank Knight. We talk about how public choice and experimental economics both critique and improve the field of economics. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Daniel Di Martino is a PhD candidate in Economics at Columbia University and a graduate fellow at the Manhattan Institute—where he focuses on high-skill immigration policy he also founded the Dissident Project to teach high school students about the evils of socialist regimes. Today we talk about his life in Venezuela and the economic realities he faced growing up, particularly inflation and shortages. He explains how poor institutions, even democratically elected ones, can turn a trusting and prosperous society into a mistrusting and thieving one (watch out ladies, they’ll even steal the hair from your head). We talk about the incentives involved in immigration policy and the immigration situation in places like New York City and Miami today. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Anne Bradley is an economics professor at the Institute of World Politics and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at The Fund for American Studies. Today, we talk about the political economy of terrorism: what terrorism is, what makes a terrorist, and what the war on terror does to attempt to prevent terrorism. We talk about how economics is uniquely positioned to pose questions and find answers about this area usually dominated by those studying defense and international relations, and how the human element of economics informs her framing of the issue. Want to explore more?Anne Rathbone Bradley, The Economics of al-Qaeda, at Econlib.Gary Shiffman on the Economics of Violence, an EconTalk podcast.Robert P. Murphy, Ensuring- and Insuring- Air Security, at Econlib.Chris Coyne on Manufacturing Militarism, a Great Antidote podcast.Kristi Kendall on Human Action and Inspiring Through Ideas, a Great Antidote podcast.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Craig Richardson is a professor of economics at Winston-Salem State University, and the director of the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility there. Today, we talk about a ton of things, from a breakdown of compelling narratives to magic. He tells us why Elizabeth Warren is more interesting to listen to than economists, although she doesn’t understand economics as well as economists do. We talk about the importance of relationships and trust in society, from multinational corporations and small towns to the communication of big ideas. We talk about the lack of awe and magic in economics and communication, and he explains why bringing back the *wow* factor will help us personally and professionally. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Dan Klein is a professor of economics at George Mason University. Today, He talks to us about another of Smith’s great ideas: self-command. We discuss what the difference between command and control is, and how its important in today’s society. He describes the pride man and the vain man, including details such as their reactions to unwanted estimation (usually bad, not valuing them as they value themselves or want you to value them). We discuss whether Adam Smith is a reason-oriented philosopher. This episode is jam-packed, so check it out! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Katherine Mangu-Ward is the editor-in-chief of Reason: the Magazine for Free Minds and Free Markets. Today, we talk about what it is like to be an editor-in-chief and what that job description actually entails. She talks to us about the recent AI issue of Reason, in which they grapple with the big questions regarding the future of AI, what the valid concerns are, and what the less valid concerns are. We talk about how "tech bros" are responding to AI fears and whether being optimistic for the future has a place in this discussion. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message.Ryan Yonk is a senior research faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research where he is the director of the public choice and public policy project. He is also a co-author of The China Dilemma: Rethinking US-China Relations Through Public Choice Theory, with Ethan Yang. Today, we talk about the book and how to apply public choice thinking to a topic like international relations, and how it diverges and critiques the mainstream modes of thought on this topic. He gives us examples and breaks down how this analysis can help US policy makers and citizens think about China. I ask him if he is optimistic or cynical about the future of US-China relations. His response might shock you, so tune in to find out! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Send us a Text Message. Erik Matson is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and the Deputy Director of the Adam Smith program. He recently released a new book, New Paternalism Meets Older Wisdom: Looking to Smith and Hume on Rationality, Welfare, and Behavioral Economics. Today we talk about paternalism, and how new paternalists differ from classic paternalists and how this arose. We talk about the difficultly of knowing one’s own preferences and how important freedom and choice are to the discovery of the good life and how to obtain it. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alice Temnick joins us today on The Great Antidote. She is an IB economics teacher at the United Nations International School in Manhattan and is an education consultant for Liberty Fund’s Adam Smith Works. We continue a previous conversation on Adam Smith, this time exploring his time at Glasgow and his Lectures on Rhetoric and Belle Lettres, lectures from his time there. We talk about why he left the University and the ways that we as modern day learners benefit, but how it impacted his students at the time. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Russell Sobel is a Professor of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the Baker school of Business at The Citadel and he just put out a new book with the Fraser Institute, The Essential Joseph Schumpeter. He has also written an introductory economics textbook and many, many papers on the economics of entrepreneurship. Today, we talk about what an entrepreneur is, what institutions ---both cultural and governmental --- uplift entrepreneurs, and why we want more entrepreneurs. He explains the work of the economist Joseph Schumpeter, walking us through his views on entrepreneurship to his pessimistic view that capitalism necessarily ends in socialism. We talk about ways to prevent that, if indeed we are on that path. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Byron Carson is an associate professor of economics and business at Hampton-Sydney College in Virginia. He is also the author of a recently published book, Challenging Malaria, which we talk about today. He explains to us what malaria is and the different ways that individuals and private interests responded to it before the invention of pesticides. We talk about why it is so difficult for larger groups to respond quickly and how individuals moving towards an emergency solution can align with societal interests. He gives examples of private malaria prevention action and private COVID prevention action, giving us insight into how we as members of our communities can solve problems held up by collective action. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Matt Mitchell is a senior fellow in the Center for Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute and senior research fellow at the Knee Regulatory Research Center at West Virginia University . Today, we talk about what socialism really means and what it meant for a country like Estonia, which was first occupied by Hitler and then Stalin. He tells us about what life under occupation was like and how Estonia broke away from socialism. Join us for stories of oppression, cultural resilience, and to hear what makes real the realities of socialism. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kristi Kendall is the director of Undivide Us, a documentary about political polarization in America, what it does to us, and how to fix it, along with many other productions. Today, we’re going to be talking about what’s in a documentary, or film generally, that makes it so moving, especially with members of my generation. We talk about  Ludwig von Mises’s human action model, and how it’s actually applicable to inspiring action in media. We discuss how to inspire and make our communication relevant to audiences, and how audiences have changed over time. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stan Veuger is a senior research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, with a myriad of different research areas including the political situation in the Netherlands, which he’s written about at The Unpopulist, and the “Implications of Cannabis Legalization for the U.S. Federal Budget”, a paper which he wrote with Alex Brill and Brian J Miller for AEI. Today, we talk about both. He explains not only the Dutch political situation, but the differences between Dutch populism and populism elsewhere. We talk pros and cons about the American system versus parliamentary systems of government and their ability to get us to the correct political outcome. Then we pivot to cannabis, talking about what the costs of legalization are and correcting the record of what’s to come on the road to legalization. We talk trade, healthcare, and more, Veuger explaining to us the different ways legalization could cost the government- and as a result, taxpayers- in the future.  Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Giandomenica Becchio is a professor of economics and the history of economic thought at the University of Torino. Today, she tells us about feminist economics and why it’s an important criticism of neoclassical economics. Without understanding the role of typical gender and family roles, we cannot correctly understand or think about the true division of labor between genders in the workforce and in the home. She talks to us about how to measure these statistics, the history of the field, and the differences between types of feminists. We later discuss how to account for religion or other cultural preference-shaping institutions in measuring what equality looks like. She tells us about her favorite feminist economist, Barbara Birdman. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

David Henderson is a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and the editor of the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. He is also an emeritus professor of economics with the Naval Postgraduate School. Today, we talk about another famous economist who has recently passed, Robert Solow. Henderson tells us about the Solow model, a still relevant model used in macroeconomics relating to economic growth, and we discuss its origin and its flaws. He talks to us about Solow’s career, his reputation, and his attitude (Solow had a career-long grudge against Milton Friedman). Henderson leads us on a multi-media experience, where he reads us quotes from a book containing and interview of Solow about Friedman, and you can listen to it here, on the podcast!Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

David Boaz is a distinguished senior fellow of the Cato Institute and for over more than four decades, he was the executive vice president. He has written many books, including The Libertarian Mind and Libertarianism: A Primer. Today, we talk about the historical origins and importance of liberalism and rehash the discussion of what to do about it and the current disillusionment with it. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thomas Stratmann is a Distinguished University Professor of economics and law at George Mason University, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Institute, and the creator of the Reservation Economic Freedom Index. Today, we talk about reservations in America and the economic wellbeing of Native Americans. He explains to us how he got interested in reservation economics and the barriers to increased economic wellbeing for Native Americans, also explaining why economic wellbeing is an important metric to focus on. He has great stories about trade and property rights in Native American history, too!Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kristi Kendall is the director of the documentary Undivide Us, about the toxic polarization in America and practical steps to solving it through deep, face to face conversations in our communities. Today, we talk about the production of the documentary and how to communicate ideas through film. She tells us about how her career led her to directing the documentary and why she did it, all while explaining the roles in the filmmaking industry to us. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alice Temnick teaches IB Economics for the United Nations International School in Manhattan and is an education consultant with Liberty Fund’s Adam Smith Works and Econlib. Today, we begin what is going to be a long conversation about Adam Smith and education. We begin with Adam Smith’s upbringing and education and talk about our own. We discuss how important being a student is to being a teacher. Stay tuned for more! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alain Bertaud is an urbanist and a senior research scholar at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management. He is the author of a book about urban planning that is titled Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities. He has worked as an urban planner in a multitude of cities around the world. Today, we talk about his view of a city and what he’s observed as an urban planner. He gives us examples and draws connections between how culture and regulation shape cities --- he means literally; cities shaped by regulation are shaped like donuts. We discuss the problems with central planning from old Soviet cities to today's urban sprawl caused by zoning regulation. He explains how being a "free market urban planner" is not a contradiction and shares personal stories about how he came to this career.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Ben Klutsey is the Director of Academic Outreach and the Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is also one of the masterminds behind a recent documentary, Undivide Us, which tackles the affective polarization in America and how to remedy it through thoughtful conversation. We talk about Ben’s journey and how it led him to this project, the findings of the Undivide Us documentary, and potential solutions to the divisions in society today. Near the end, we discuss the relationship between technology and affective polarization, and the limitations of virtual interactions. Ben gives advice to individuals and institutions longing for deeper connections across perceived boundaries and divisions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Robert Lawson is the Jerome M. Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Economic Freedom and is director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. Today, we talk about James Gwartney, a great economist who recently passed but leaves a significant legacy, from accessible and interesting textbooks to the creation of the Economic Freedom of the World index. Unlike many academics, he even left his desk to pursue his ideas! We discuss Gwartney’s life and how his work has transformed the teaching of and measurement in economics. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Adam White is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Co-Director of the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at George Mason University. He also leads seminars with the Hertog Foundation, one of which I had the chance to attend this summer. Today we talk about the American judicial system, from its structure to its founding to its role in American society. We address whether courts function differently today than we have in the past, looking at the issues debated like court-packing and precedent. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Brent Orrell  is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where his research lights the path in job training, workforce development, and criminal justice reform. Today, we talk about the state of work in the United States and the main issues that the labor market faces. We talk about the importance of meaning and dignity in one’s work and how it is tied to economic growth. Tune in for some good advice and good conversation! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Lauren Hall is the author of several books, the author of the wonderful Substack The Radical Moderate’s Guide to Life, and a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Today, we talk about radical moderation, what that is, and why it's important. We talk about the importance of breaking away from the political binaries and models we currently have and how to do so. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Cheryl Miller is the executive director of the Hertog Foundation, an educational philanthropy organization in Washington, DC. Today, we talk about the mission of the foundation and the importance of the humanities in policy making and being a human more generally. We talk about the state of the youth, optimism, and Edith Wharton! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kerianne Lawson is a faculty scholar at the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth as well as an assistant professor of economics at North Dakota State University. Today, we talk about a lot of different topics including the implementation of property rights in South Africa through the Khaya Lam project and the realities of differences of economic freedom by gender. We talk about finding your career path and what economics is as well! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Bob Ewing is the founder of the Ewing School, which helps clients with public speaking and listening skills, and writes the Substack Talking Big Ideas. Today we talk about communication, breaking it down into the components of speaking and listening. We discuss why communication is so important and how it can bring value and guide success, and what success might mean. The Narcissism DecoderThis is a podcast that takes a comprehensive look at various facets of...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Albert Zambone is the author of Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life. He is also the host of the podcast Historically Thinking, where he teaches listeners not only history but how to do it. Go check it out if you haven’t. He also has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford. Today, we talk about what history is, why it’s so important, how to do it, and what it tells us. We touch on culture and narratives, and the education system as well.  Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

John Bitzan is the Menard Family Director of the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University. Today we are talking about the findings of their annual survey on American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing, which has some shocking and non-shocking results. Tune in for more as we look at the statistics, try to find causes, and look for solutions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Today, I am excited to welcome on Vincent Geloso. He is an assistant professor at George Mason University, specializing in the measurement of living standards. We talk about his new study with Chelsea Follet of the Cato Institute titled “Global Inequality in Well-Being Has Decreased across Many Dimensions” , which discusses a new way of measuring global inequality, the Inequality of Human Progress Index. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I am excited to have Chelsea Follett on to talk to us about her new book Centers of Progress: 40 Cities that Changed the World. The title speaks for itself. She is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s center for global liberty and prosperity and the managing editor of humanprogress.org. We talk about a few key characteristics of centers in progress, the connection between cities and progress, and some interesting cases of progress! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Lawrence Reed is the president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education and of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is currently the Humphreys family senior fellow at FEE. Visit his website lawrencewreed.com. Today we talk about the best and worst presidents in American history and the reasons why. We start with the role of the presidency, which informs the rest of the discussion. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Peter Boettke is a professor of economics and philosophy at George Mason University, as well as the author of several books. Today we talk about a book called Mainline Economics, which is a collection of Nobel lectures from what he defines as “mainline economists”. A mainline economist’s methodology of economics falls in the tradition and lineage of Adam Smith. We talk about the benefits of this type of economics and how it diverges from mainstream economics, along with when and why that happens. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Former Senator Phil Gramm began as a professor of economics at Texas A&M, then became a representative in the House, later becoming a senator. And now, he’s written a book with John Early and Robert Ekelund called The Myth of American Inequality: How Government Biases Policy Debate. We talk today about his book and observations of the system during his time in office, identifying problems with the way the census and other measuring tools bias the data and conversations that follow. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jeremy Horpedahl is the director of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics and an associate professor at the University of Central Arkansas . Today we talk about American Compass’s Cost of Thriving Index (COTI), what it says and why it is wrong. The COTI shows that Americans today have a higher cost of thriving than ever before, but in a paper with AEI’s Scott Winship, Horpedahl corrects the index and shows that the cost of thriving has instead decreased. Some of the corrections are essential to the average American’s life, for example accounting for changes in taxation in the past few decades. Listen in to hear more about the cost of thriving today, why it has decreased, and how I cannot pronounce COTI for the life of me.   Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jeremy Lott is the managing editor at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, but he also has written several Adam Smith comics for Adam Smith Works, and written an impressively wide range of books, from a novel about William F. Buckley Jr.’s faith to children's books like Growlilocks to comics like Movie Men. Today, we talk about his experience creating in so many different mediums and the purpose of art, as well as the ideas of Adam Smith and their place in America today. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Today, I host Lawrence White on the podcast. He is an economics professor at George Mason University with a specialty in the history and theory of banking and money and is the author of several books including Better Money: Gold, Fiat, or Bitcoin. We talk about why on earth money and monetary policy come across as so intimidating, then he takes us on a tour of the different currencies we’ve used. We talk about federal banks, the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the use of cryptocurrencies. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Aaron Ross Powell, formerly of the Cato Institute (at the time of this interview), and currently the host of podcasts ReImagining Liberty and Zooming In, talks to us about his new book with Paul Matzko called Visions of Liberty.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content!Arnold Kling is an economist and the author of the book The Three Languages of Politics: Talking Across Political Divides. His substack, In My Tribe, explores many areas of economics and policy. Today, he talks to us about the divide in politics, explaining the need for his book and giving current examples. We explore affective polarization and the rise of polarization generally. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content!Scott Winship, resident scholar and the director of poverty studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), joins us this week to discuss the United States's "War on Poverty", the welfare state, and the future of anti-poverty policy.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Summer and catch you soon with new content! William B. Allen, resident scholar and former chief operating officer of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, talks to us today about the book he recently edited, The State of Black America. He tells us about his upbringing and the current narrative about racism and policy in the United States. Is it a problem? What should we do about it? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Emily Hamilton is a senior research fellow and the director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we talk about the current housing market and the regulations that prevent the building of more affordable, diverse, and abundant types of housing. Hamilton tells us the story of DC and similar areas, where deregulation of housing has begun, explaining the effects. We talk about NIMBY arguments against deregulation, her responses to them, and what deregulation would mean for Americans. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This week is going to be a little different. Today I am excited to share with you a recording of the play Enquiry Concerning Hereafter by Duane Kelly.  (You can also read the script here.)The play is about the friendship between (and deaths of) Adam Smith and David Hume. Enjoy! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This week is going to be a little different. Today I am excited to share with you a recording of the play Enquiry Concerning Hereafter by Duane Kelly.  (You can also read the script here.)The play is about the friendship between (and deaths of) Adam Smith and David Hume. Enjoy! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Steven Teles is a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University and a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center. Today he defines and talks to us about a few words, including “liberaltarianism” – explaining how it diverges from libertarianism with an intellectual history and why – and “kludgeocracy”. We talk about the complexities of government organization and the causes- including regulatory capture, and he tells us what he envisions to be potential solutions. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dan Klein is a professor of economics at George Mason University. Today he talks to us about F. A. Hayek’s conception of the Band-Man and our political psychology today. He explains to us that although our modern world looks a lot different from the world in 10,000 BC, that human beings are the same, with similar tendencies and desires. He talks to us about the implications of this idea for politics and the search for meaning in one’s life. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Christine McDaniel is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University with a focus on international trade and globalization. Today we talk about the different trade actions undertaken by recent presidents and what that means for the American public. We discuss tariffs, NAFTA, the WTO, and more. McDaniel also lays out the different trade relationships between the US and various geographic regions and countries. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

David Henderson is a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and the editor of the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. He is also an emeritus professor of economics with the naval postgraduate school. He is the Wall Street Journal’s go-to writer for pieces on Nobel prizes and deaths in economics, which we talk about today, exploring a list of favorites. He tells us of their contributions to the field and some stories. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

John Cochrane is a renowned economist and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He writes a popular blog called The Grumpy Economist. He is also a former professor of economics and finance at the University of Chicago. He is the author of a recent book called The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level. Today we talk about the monetary and fiscal theories of the price level, or inflation, discussing what inflation is, how it’s caused, and how to fix it. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Brian Hooks is the CEO and chairman of Stand Together, the president of the Charles Koch Foundation, and the co-author of Believe in People: Bottom-up Solutions for a Top-Down World. Today, we talk about the principles that guide Stand Together and the work that Stand Together does. He talks to us about how and why Stand Together is different from other philanthropic organizations, giving us the success story of one of their partners, The Phoenix, a drug rehabilitation organization. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Emily Chamlee-Wright is the president and CEO of IHS, the Institute for Humane Studies. Today we talk about the liberal sensibility, what it is and what happened to it. She explains to us the four corners of the liberal project and why they are important to a liberal society such as ours. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Marian Tupy is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and the coauthor of two books: Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know, with Ron Bailey, and Superabundance, with Gale Pooley. Today we talk about Superabundance to address the doom and gloom, often environmentalist concerns about overpopulation. He talks to us about his research that shows why this is not the case, and explains what factors contribute to a state of superabundance. Also, check out  Human Progress, edited by Tupy, which is an innovative and successful version of the Good News Network, which relates to part of our later conversation about the relationship between media and superabundance.  Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yesim Sayin is the executive director and the founder of the DC Policy Center, a non-partisan, independent think tank that produces research and analyses on the local economy, workforce, education, housing, and other policy issues in the District of Columbia. She talks to us about what makes DC unique compared to other cities, and how that makes the DC Policy Center unique as a think tank. We also talk about DC-specific policy issues and what we can learn from the center. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason, the magazine of "free minds and free markets" and a fellow in liberal studies at the Acton Institute. Today we talk about fusionism, the fusion of freedom and virtue. We talk about the necessary relationship between seemingly contradictory ideals and the importance of civil society. She explains to us the history of fusionism and the need for it in today’s current political environment. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dr. Samuel Gregg is a distinguished fellow in political economy and senior research faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. He recently wrote a book called The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World. We talk about the current consensus about the American economy and how it’s changed over time. He explains to us the renewal of enthusiasm for industrial policy, and what classical liberals can do to better the defense of free markets. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Scott Lincicome is the vice president of general economics and trade at the Cato Institute. He recently coauthored and edited Empowering the New American Worker: Market Based Solutions for Today’s Workforce, which we talk about today. In light of “Buy America” and continuous calls for bettering the position of the American worker, what really is the state of the American worker today? Who is the American worker? Lincicome answers these questions and more as we explore policy areas that hinder workers when they were intended to help. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mark Calabria was the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the director of Financial Regulation Studies at the Cato Institute. Today, he is a senior advisor to the Cato Institute, and recently wrote a book on his experiences in the Agency, called Shelter From the Storm. Today, he talks to us about the book, and saving the United States from a 2008-like financial crisis by respecting congressional statutes in agency behavior and resisting calls for bailouts. He explains what the agency is and what it looks like “on the inside”. He addresses free market skepticism about being in government and influencing change. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Troy Senik is the author A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland. He also was a white house speech writer and is the cofounder of kite and key media. Today, he talks to us about his new book and the life of Grover Cleveland. We talk about how Cleveland became president and the political scene of the time, as well as how and why he is often forgotten today. Senik characterizes Cleveland’s principled nature and his time in office. He also gives politicians and Americans both advice on what can be learned from this amazing yet inconspicuous figure in history. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Nico Perrino is FIRE's Executive Vice President and the creator and host of FIRE’s So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. He is also the codirector of the 2020 documentary Mighty Ira, which is about the life and career of former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser.Today, he talks to us about FIRE’s name change and mission expansion. What changed and why? What is going on with civil liberties today? He responds to some criticisms of free speech, we explore social media and censorship. We also talk about his optimism for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eli Dourado, a senior research fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, talks to us today about energy abundance. We discuss at the most basic level what energy is and why it is significant to human life, making the clear case that we should aim for energy abundance. He responds to climate change worries and explains the regulatory barriers in the way of that future, and what that future would bring. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Timothy Sandefur is the vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute and the author of six books, including Frederick Douglass: Self Made Man and Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in an Age of Darkness. These three women all lived during the Great Depression, so he talks to us about the literary, historical, and political scenes of the time, painting a picture of their works and relationships in context. We discuss the parallels between their time and ours, and his optimism for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Chris Freiman, a professor of philosophy at William and Mary and the author of several books, talks to us about another philosophy of liberty: consequentialism. First, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy in defending liberty. Then he talks to us about the differences between consequentialism and other liberty philosophies, and we discuss the strengths and weaknesses in its defense of liberty. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Chris Freiman, a professor of philosophy at William and Mary and the author of several books, talks to us about another philosophy of liberty: consequentialism. First, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy in defending liberty. Then he talks to us about the differences between consequentialism and other liberty philosophies, and we discuss its strengths and weaknesses in its defense of liberty. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Robert Tracinski is the editor of Symposium, a substack and podcast about liberalism, the author of several books, a columnist at Discourse Magazine, and he writes on his own substack The Tracinski Letter. Today he talks to us about his view of liberalism and its current opponent: illiberalism, which comes from both the left and the right. We talk about their differences and their similarities, as well as his optimism and plan for the future. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Ryan Hanley is a professor of political science at Boston College and the author of several books, including Our Great Purpose: Adam Smith on Living a Better Life. Today, he talks to us about the foundations of Adam Smith’s theory of virtue and proceeds to lay this theory out for us. We talk about how Smith’s philosophy and economics intersect, and how Smith comes to make a case for markets being moral, instead of amoral as many economists claim. We also talk about the influences and openness of Adam Smith, particularly Jean Jacques Rousseau. Who would’ve thought?!?Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eric Daniels is the assistant director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, as well as a professor with Clemson’s Lyceum Program. Today, we talk about history as a discipline and profession, getting down to what it is and why so many podcast guests say it is so important. We break history down into a few components and even address Adam Smith as a historian! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kaytlin Bailey is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Old Pros, which aims at decriminalizing and destigmatizing sex work. Today, she talks to us about the history of the oldest profession and her experiences with it. She makes the case for decriminalizing sex work and addresses common objections, along with clarifying decriminalization versus legalization. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Peter Boettke is a professor of economics and philosophy at George Mason University. He talks to us today about Don Lavoie, a late GMU economics professor, and his contributions. Lavoie’s work focused mainly on central planning and the answer to the socialist calculation problem, continuing the work of Mises and Hayek. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Scott Bullock, president and general counsel of the Institute for Justice and who represented Susette Kelo in the Supreme Court case Kelo v. The City of New London, talks to us about civil asset forfeiture and eminent domain. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Nadine Strossen, civil liberties activist and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), joins us this week to discuss hate speech, its policy implications, and if we should be protecting it.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Russ Roberts, host of EconTalk, author of several books, and research fellow at Hoover Institution, talks to us about his book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Great Antidote is on a break from recording new content right now, but please enjoy this rerun of one of our favorites in the meantime. Happy Holidays and catch you soon with new content! Dr. Samuel Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research, joins us this week to discuss culture, the origins of morality, and the intersectionality between liberalism and Christianity.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Daniel Rothschild is the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we talk about liberalism and institutions, whatever that means. After exploring their definitions, he talks to us about the role of each in society at the current moment, how this is a departure from the past, and potential paths forward. We also talk specifically about think tanks as an institution- both what they are and the role they play in upholding a liberal order.  Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Craig Biddle is the founder and director of the Objective Standard Institute, as well as the author of several books including Loving Life. Today, he talks to us about the importance of philosophy and the different components of philosophy. Then he explains the philosophy of objectivism, and we explore common objections to it. Listen in and stay tuned for more episodes on the various classical liberal philosophies! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Henry C. Clark, professor at Dartmouth College and director of the Political Economy Project, talks to us today about Montesquieu. Listen in to learn about his life and the political environment in Europe in the early 18th century, especially in following the death of Louis XIV after a 72-year rule. Learn about Montesquieu’s contributions, such as the idea of separation of powers, and stay a while as Professor Clark talks to us about Montesquieu’s influence on Europe’s political discourse and America’s founding. We also explore the similarities and differences between Montesquieu and Adam Smith! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Colin Grabow, a research fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Trade Policy Studies, talks to us today about the Jones Act. He gives us a refresher on what the Jones Act is, but for more details listen to our first episode on the topic, Colin Grabow on The Jones Act.He talks to us about the recent treason charges against critics of the Jones Act, the effects of the Jones Act in times of emergencies -namely Hurricane Fiona- and the Jones Act for cruise ships, the Passenger Vessel Services Act. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dianne Durante holds a PhD in Classics from the University of Cincinnati and has been a freelance writer, lecturer, and tour guide for the over 30 years. She has written books on many topics, her books Innovators in Sculpture and Financial Programs of Alexander Hamilton are just a few. Today, we talk about art and art history, as well as their significance. She lays out what an innovation in sculpture is and leads us through some innovations in sculpture. We also talk about government involvement in art and the effects of that involvement on the art produced. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Phil Magness is the author of multiple books, a scholar at the American Institute for Economic Research, and the intellectual watchdog for academic writing. Today we talk about Nancy MacLean’s book, Democracy in Chains, and debunks her claims about James M. Buchanan, the father of public choice economics, being a racist. He explains the peer review process and the types of errors made in journalistic malpractice, as well as the current state of academic honesty and integrity in academia. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

James Kirchick is the author of two books: Secret City and The End of Europe. Today, he talks to us about the intertwined history of gays in Washington DC and the history of the cold war and national security. He explains how and why he came to write this book, along with how homosexuality became conflated with communism. Why were there so many gay men in the state department? What is the relationship between the history of the cold war and the history of gay Americans? What’s so significant about that relationship? Listen to find out! Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, talks to us today about Medicare. He provides statistics on the size of Medicare spending and the history of how Medicare came into being. We also discuss the distortions that Medicare creates, and Cannon addresses calls for “Medicare for All”. Do you know how much fraud there is in the Medicare system? Listen to find out. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Rachel Ferguson is an economic philosopher at Concordia University Chicago and the director of the Free Enterprise Center, as well as an affiliate scholar with the Acton Institute. She is the co-author of Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America. Today, we talk about her book, which focuses on civil society and the classical liberal approach to many of the problems facing Black America today. We also talk about the history of free market thinkers and abolitionism, and the distinction between libertarians and classical liberalism.  Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Timothy Sandefur, vice president of legal affairs at the Goldwater Institute, talks to us today about his book, Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man. He talks to us about the philosophy behind and the development of American slavery, highlighting Douglass’s escape from it. Listen to learn about Douglass’s journey from slave to abolitionist- as well as to explore the debate about slavery and our Constitution. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Matthew Continetti, is a senior fellow and the Patrick and Charlene Neal Chair in American Prosperity at the American Enterprise Institute. Today, we talk about his new book The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism.  Continetti talks to us about the different terminology used to describe right-leaning ideologies, and how they’ve evolved over time. He also gives us a survey of the most important thinkers and events that have contributed to the history of the right. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Darren Staloff is a history professor at the City College of New York and the author of two books: Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson: The Politics of Enlightenment and the American Founding and The Making of the American Thinking Class: Intellectuals and Intelligentsia in Puritan Massachusetts. He talks to us today about the ideas at the core of our Constitution, the people who fought for it, and the results of those political conflicts. What is so special about our constitutional republic? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

David Epstein is the author of New York Times #1 bestsellers, Range and The Sports Gene, and an investigative reporter at ProPublica. Today, he talks to us about Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Listen for generalist success stories! He explains when best to use a generalist approach, in sports, versus a specialist approach, in chess. We talk about how to integrate the generalist approach into schooling and everyday life to improve learning, and he gives me advice on my guitar-learning journey. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Michael Cannon, Cato Institute’s director of health policy studies, talks to us today about health and health policy, reminding us of their definitions, goals, and importance. Learn about the origin of our current health care system, the different methods of obtaining health care (direct, government provided, employer-sponsored), and specifically employer-sponsored health care, which is the most common source of health insurance. What is “universal health care”? Do we really have a free market for health care? Why is employer-sponsored health care the most common source of heath care in the United States? What are the incentives in that system? What are the effects of the policies that have made this the case? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

William B. Allen, resident scholar and former chief operating officer of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, talks to us today about the book he recently edited, The State of Black America. He tells us about his upbringing and the current narrative about racism and policy in the United States. Is it a problem? What should we do about it? Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Your criminal sentence doesn’t necessarily end when you get out of jail. Criminal records prevent many Americans from entering jobs requiring occupational licensing. 66 million Americans have criminal records; 30% of jobs require occupational licensing. Licensed jobs range from electrician to medical professional to hair braider.Matthew Mitchell is a Senior Research Fellow and the Director of the Equal Liberty Initiative at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Today, we briefly recap occupational licensing, what it is, and its effects. Then, we go on to talk about the unequal burden of occupational licensing, particularly on those with criminal records, and potential reforms.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jon Murphy, recent PhD graduate from George Mason University and incoming instructor at Western Carolina University, talks to us today about Adam Smith’s theoretical and practical exceptions to free trade. We explore whether Smith would have endorsed The Jones Act through his endorsement of Britain’s Navigation Acts. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Weifeng Zhong, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, talks to us today about the distinction between misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. He leads us through his story of discovering the Tiananmen Square Massacre and how it led to the Policy Change Index project. We talk about hopes and fears for the future, along with some differences between the United States and China. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jason Fichtner, vice president and chief economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center, talks to us about retirement and saving strategies. He takes us through different types of savings accounts, why you should start saving today, and why you should start saving today. We also talk about starting to save later in life, how to save for and pay off big expenses, and social security considerations.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Clark Neily, senior vice president of legal studies at the Cato Institute, talks to us about upcoming Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. We explore her unique qualifications and the hopes that this brings, amicus briefs and how they are filed, and her judicial philosophy. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Peter Van Doren is the editor of the quarterly journal Regulation and is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, where he specializes in housing, land, energy, and more. Today, he talks to us about what energy independence is, whether America is energy independent, and if that is a good thing. He also talks to us about energy more generally, including nuclear and green energy. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Daniel Klein, professor of economics at George Mason University and expert on Adam Smith, talks to us about Smith’s definition of justice. There are three types of justice: commutative, distributive, and estimative. Today we break down the differences between each and their applications in government and private life. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Walter Olson is the author of several books and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies. Today, we talk about the 2020 election and the increasing fears of election fraud. He talks to us about the different types of election fraud, the actual reality of election fraud, and voter suppression. Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Inflation is always around, but it has been particularly worrisome recently. A startling departure from the United States' usual average of about 2% inflation, we faced 8.5% in the month of April. Where does inflation come from? What regulatory bodies aim to deal with inflation? How do they do it? Does it work?Today, Thomas Hoenig talks to us and answers all these questions and more, including his personal experience as President of the Kansas City Federal Reserve and on the Federal Open Market Committee. He is currently a distinguished senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.