By Amy Willis

How are we to distinguish whether government or the market is a better solution to a particular problem? In this episode, EconTalk host Russ Roberts takes on a listener's question with his colleague Don Boudreaux. Boudreaux criticizes the mainstream economics approach, charging that it's looking for market failures whe...

Journalist and author Ben Cohen talks about his book, The Hot Hand, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. At times in sports and elsewhere in life, a person seems to be "on fire," playing at an unusually high level. Is this real or an illusion? Cohen takes the listener through the scientific literature on this question and ...

By Alice Temnick

This episode of The Jolly Swagman Podcast, hosted by Joseph Noel Walker took place on April 3, 2020, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts as guest.  Though recorded early into the pandemic, their conversation remains relevant today. Walker and Roberts converse freely, often about what constitutes meaningful conversation an...

John Kay and Mervyn King talk about their book, Radical Uncertainty, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. This is a wide-ranging discussion based on the book looking at rationality, decision-making under uncertainty, and the economists' view of the world.

By Amy Willis

Recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, EconTalk host Russ Roberts welcomed back flaneur and author Nassim Nicholas Taleb. The two have had several EconTalk conversations in the past; this episode focused on the COVID pandemic. The conversation begins with Roberts recounting the exceptional caution he has taken p...

Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks about the pandemic with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Topics discussed include how to handle the rest of this pandemic and the next one, the power of the mask, geronticide, and soul in the game.

By Alice Temnick

Amit Varma of The Seen and Unseen Podcast welcomes EconTalk host and podcast Innovator Russ Roberts, who has recorded over 700 episodes featuring a wide variety of guests since 2006. Varma, an avid listener of EconTalk, graciously acknowledges Roberts’ influence on his thinking and for his model of the craft of conve...

By Amy Willis

Systemic racism. Cancel culture. Police brutality. Tumbling statues. We hear about these everywhere and all the time today. Should this make us optimistic or pessimistic about America's future? In this episode, EconTalk host Russ Roberts welcomes economist and author Glenn Loury to discuss race and inequality in Americ...

Economist and author Glenn Loury of Brown University talks about race in America with EconTalk host Russ Roberts.

By Amy Willis

You probably know someone who seems to lose themselves in virtual worlds. But how "unreal" are these virtual realities? In this episode, EconTalk host Russ Roberts welcomes game designer and Forte co-founder Josh Williams to talk about the development of real property rights and market economies in the virtual world of...

Josh Williams, co-founder and CEO of the blockchain gaming company Forte, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the state of online gaming and the potential of a blockchain-based gaming platform to create market economies with property rights within online games.

By Amy Willis

What was your first paying job? Was it as a teenager? Was it delivering newspapers by bike to driveways, babysitting, a lemonade stand, or similar informal job? What was your next job, and was it more formal, say an apprenticeship or internship--such as helping out in an office or business establishment? Or a voluntee...

Economist Robert Lerman of the Urban Institute talks about apprenticeships with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Lerman argues that apprenticeships--a combination of work experience and classroom learning--have the potential to expand opportunities for young people who don't want to attend college.

By Amy Willis

You've heard EconTalk host Russ Roberts argue that the central problem in American health care is that doctors get paid to do stuff to us, rather than take care of us. In this episode, Roberts welcomes physician and author Vivian Lee to talk about her new book, The Long Fix, to continue this conversation. Robert...

By Alice Temnick

Why don’t we wonder enough about the marvels of markets? How do markets enable peaceful, productive, global cooperation?   In this episode, EconTalk host Russ Roberts introduces and reads his poetic tribute to the rich idea of spontaneous order, “It's a Wonderful Loaf”. The poem and its animated video ...

Physician and author Vivian Lee talks about her book The Long Fix with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Lee argues that we can transform health care in the United States, though it may take a while. She argues that the current fee-for-service system incentivizes doctors to provide services rather than keep patients healthy ...