Economics Explored

Feb 07 2025 276 ep. 48 mins 273

Economics Explored Podcast artwork

Hard-headed economic analysis applied to important economic, social, and environmental issues.

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Bang for Your Buck in Economic Development: Access to Town Water, Roads to Connect Isolated Communities w/ Kate Schecter, World Neighbors - EP273

Feb 07 2025 32 mins

Kate Schecter, CEO of World Neighbors, returns to the show and reveals how empowering local communities leads to long-term self-sufficiency in developing economies. She explains that roads connecting isolated communities to local markets can massively improve opportunities. She also explains that even modest interventions, like access to municipal water, can have profound impacts.

Does Free Trade Benefit Everyone? A Deep Dive into the Stolper-Samuelson Theorem - EP272

Jan 31 2025 49 mins

Is free trade always good for workers? Gene Tunny explores the Stolper-Samuelson theorem, which shows how trade can lower wages for some workers, even though the overall economy is better off. He discusses key economic insights from Wolfgang Stolper and Paul Samuelson, real-world historical examples, and the implications for today’s global trade debates.

Industrial Policy vs Free Trade w/ Ian Fletcher, Coalition for a Prosperous America - EP271

Jan 19 2025 58 mins

Ian Fletcher, co-author of Industrial Policy for the United States, published by Cambridge University Press, joins the show to argue that free trade does not always serve national interests. Fletcher defines industrial policy as government intervention to support better industries, emphasizing that some industries are inherently more valuable. He highlights successful industrial po

How LBOs, Share Buybacks & Private Equity Revolutionized Corporate America: Don Chew’s Case for Transformation - EP270

Jan 12 2025 66 mins

Donald Chew discusses the evolution of corporate finance, emphasizing the shift from old-fashioned corporate finance, which focused on steady earnings growth, to modern corporate finance, which aims for high returns on capital. He highlights the decline of conglomerates in the 1970s and the rise of private equity. Despite criticism, Chew argues that modern corporate finance has bee

Jimmy Carter the Great Deregulator, AmFest, MAGA & Migration, and Why Competition? w/ Darren Brady Nelson - EP269

Jan 03 2025 60 mins

Gene Tunny and Darren Brady Nelson discuss the economic legacy of President Jimmy Carter, highlighting his deregulation efforts, particularly in aviation, which led to increased competition and significant cost savings. They also touch on Carter’s appointment of Paul Volcker as Federal Reserve Chairman, credited with fighting inflation. The conversation shifts to the America Fest

US Debt Ceiling: Why Trump is Right to Call for its Abolition & Gene’s Experience with Aussie Debt Ceiling - EP268

Dec 29 2024 30 mins

Show host Gene Tunny discusses the ineffectiveness of the U.S. debt ceiling, citing its frequent increases and the political grandstanding it entails. He notes that since 1960, Congress has amended the debt limit 78 times. Tunny argues that the debt ceiling does not enforce fiscal discipline and highlights the need for better fiscal rules, such as the Swiss Debt Brake or the Taxpay

How Global Events are Affecting Coffee Prices w/ Raihaan Esat, International Coffee Traders - EP267

Dec 20 2024 60 mins

Coffee prices have surged dramatically over the past year, with green coffee increasing by 78%. In this episode, International Coffee Traders GM Raihaan Esat joins hosts Gene Tunny and Tim Hughes to explore the key drivers behind this spike, including harvest shortages, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical factors. Discover why your morning brew may soon cost more and how the

Trump & Trade, France in Crisis, Global Capitalism’s Flaws & Job Losses from AI w/ Jean-Baptiste Wautier - EP266

Dec 13 2024 46 mins

This episode explores the economic implications of Trump’s re-election, France’s political deadlock under Macron, and the future of global capitalism. Jean-Baptiste Wautier, a private equity investor and World Economic Forum speaker, shares insights on trade wars and deficits. He argues that short-term profit motives undermine the global capitalist system. Jean-Baptiste also di

2024 Highlights: Reagan’s Budget Boss on Trump | Greedy Jobs | Super Abundance | Buffett in Omaha | Housing & Immigration

Dec 07 2024 57 mins

Host Gene Tunny discusses significant economic issues from the year. He features clips from interviews with experts on various topics, including the economic consequences of Donald Trump's re-election, the U.S. budget deficit, the gender pay gap, and environmental impact. President Reagan’s budget director David Stockman criticizes Trump’s policies for being anti-capitalist, ci

Uncertainty and Enterprise: Harnessing Imagination and Narrative w/ Prof. Amar Bhidé - EP264

Nov 28 2024 56 mins

Professor Amar Bhidé of Columbia University discusses his new book “Uncertainty and Enterprise”, published by Oxford University Press. It emphasizes the limitations of standard economic models that rely on probability distributions. He argues that entrepreneurship involves dealing with unique, non-quantifiable uncertainties, which require imagination and narrative skills. Bhid