EconTalk

EconTalk is a weekly podcast hosted by professor Russell Roberts at George Mason University. The talk consists of Roberts interviewing a guest--often a professional economist--while discussing topics in economics. Each episode lasts roughly an hour, but it varies widely. The podcast is notable for its clear and thoughtful conversations about economics, and for its ability to bring the economic way of thinking to a vast range of subjects.

EconTalk is hosted by the Library of Economics and Liberty (sponsored by the Liberty Fund). In 2006, and again in 2007, the podcast received 2nd place in the Weblog Awards. [http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_podcast.php] , [http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/best-podcast-1.php] Roberts has interviewed several Nobel Prize laureates on EconTalk.

Themes

Throughout the podcasts, Roberts puts emphasis on a running series of economic ideas, weaving them into the topic of the interview. Major themes include the way markets evolve, spontaneous order, and the division of labor. Guests often include authors of recently published books of current interest in economics. A few guests appear regularly and converse with Roberts about questions that arise in the press or in classrooms. Topics of interest to guests as well as topics suggested by commenters and listeners sometimes become extended themes in subsequent podcasts. Additional themes include the economics of sports, health, the law, public choice, and education.

pontaneous Order

Roberts has a particular interest in spontaneous order and related Hayekian themes which emphasize the role and nature of knowledge. This often finds form in how societies organize themselves in not just economic but in social and political spheres as well. A running question Roberts poses to guests in this vein is how we should set out to describe this critical idea, as normal conversation rarely captures the essence of the idea.

The Division of Labor

Adam Smith's division of labor plays a recurring role in the podcasts, particularly in how it contributes to the creation of wealth. These increases in productivity are notably striking and often appear in conversations concerning trade, growth, and technology.

The Future

Roberts sometimes asks his guests if they are optimistic about the future, particularly at the end of the interview. Guests occasionally speculate on what may evolve in the long run.

Controversial Topics

Invited guests sometimes include controversial authors or areas of discussion in economics where there is current disagreement. Authors on opposing sides of an economic debate are invited to present their perspectives and are challenged with ideas on the opposing side.

Episode List

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2008

January

*Edward Castronova on the Exodus to the Virtual World (1/7)
*Mike Munger on the Nature of the Firm (1/14)
*Don Boudreaux on Globalization and Trade Deficits (1/21)
*Paul Collier on the Bottom Billion (1/28)

February

*Daniel B. Klein on Coordination and Cooperation (2/4)
*William Easterly on Growth, Poverty, and Aid (2/11)
*Timothy Brook on Vermeer's Hat and the Dawn of Global Trade (2/18)
*Thomas Sowell on Economic Facts and Fallacies (2/25)

March

*Vernon Smith* on Rationality in Economics (3/3)
*Stephen Marglin on Markets and Community (3/10)
*Tyler Cowen on Monetary Policy (3/17)
*Mike Munger on Subsidies and Externalities (3/25)
*Deirdre McCloskey on Capitalism and the Bourgeois Virtues (3/31)

April

*Christopher Coyne on Exporting Democracy after War (4/7)
*Diane Coyle on the Soulful Science (4/14)
*Russ Roberts on the Least Pleasant Jobs (4/21)
*William Bernstein on the History of Trade (4/28)

May

*John Nye on Wine, War and Trade (5/5)
*Chris Anderson on Free (5/12)
*Allan Meltzer on the Fed, Money, and Gold (5/19)
*Robin Hanson on Signalling (5/26)

June

*Gene Epstein on Gold, the Fed, and Money (6/2)
*Steve Cole on the market for new cars (6/9)
*Don Boudreaux on Energy Prices (6/16)
*Richard McKenzie on Prices (6/23)
*Arnold Kling on Hospitals and Health Care (6/30)

July

*Michael Munger on the Political Economy of Public Transportation (7/7)
*Eric Hanushek on Education and School Finance (7/14)
*Doug Rivers on polling (7/21)
*Hal Varian on Technology (7/28)

August

*Robert Barro on Disasters (8/4)
*Bruce Bueno de Mesquita on Iran and Threats to U.S. Security (8/11)
*John Taylor on Monetary Policy (8/18)
*Russell Roberts on The Price of Everything (8/25)

eptember

*Jonathan Rauch on the Volt, Risk, and Corporate Culture (9/1)
*Joseph Ellis on American Creation and the Founding (9/8)
*Robert Shiller on Housing and Bubbles (9/15)
*Karol Boudreaux on Wildlife, Property, and Poverty in Africa (9/22)"* denotes a Nobel Prize winner."

References

Links

* [http://www.econtalk.org/ EconTalk home page]
* [http://www.econtalk.org/archives.html Archives page]