The AIER Standard

In this episode Ethan sits down with Chris Coyne at the Mercatus Markets and Society Conference to discuss his research on noxious markets. The conversation touches on the role of states in the perpetuation of weapon sales in conflict zones. Coyne's perspective applies an economic-public choice perspective to analyzing foreign policy decisions and how well intentioned programs end up doing more harm than good. Chris Coyne is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center

On this episode Ethan sits down with the great Professor Chandran Kukathas, the Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Singapore Management University and former Chair of Political Theory at the London School of Economics. The conversation covers his work on questions of nationalism, ethnic identity, and political order. Chandran also discusses his research into the work of Friedrich Hayek and the great economist's contributions to the advancement of not just human liberty but the field of political science.

On this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan sits down with Carroll Ríos de Rodríguez, a public choice professor and trustee at Universidad Francisco Marroquínas in Guatemala well as the president of the Instituto Fe y Libertad. Carroll also founded UFM's public choice center. Ethan asks Carroll about her intellectual journey, her efforts in creating a foothold for liberty minded economic and political ideas in Latin America, and general questions about the volatile nature of politics in the Latin world.

On this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan interviews Feler Bose, an economics professor at Indiana University East at the Public Choice Conference in Seattle. There has been much research on the correlation between economic freedom and prosperity. However, not much has been done on what leads to economic freedom. Feler's research compares differing governance structures among different American state governments to uncover relationships with policies that maintain business friendly environments. He also tosses in a taste of his most recent research on sexual freedom and its relationship to economic philosophies.

In this episode of the AIER Standard Ethan sits down with Nikolai Wenzel a professor of economics and a new member of the faculty at AIER. The discussions covers both Nikolai and Ethan's journey from left leaning progressives as undergraduates to passionate advocates for markets as professionals. Nikolai then focuses on the content of his forthcoming book which is aimed at posing market solutions to problems that are usually seen as areas for greater state action. The conversation covers a plethora of topics such as Socialism, education reform, poverty, data privacy, property rights, and intellectual bias elite academia.

Is God dead in America? Can a free society be a secular one? Why does religion still play a powerful role in daily life despite the advent of the modern state? To answer these questions and more, Ethan Yang sits down with AIER Visiting Scholar and Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, Tony Gill. Tony is the author of numerous academic papers exploring the resilience and role of religion in political and economic life. The discussion explores the technical functions of faith in society and how it plays into solving collective action problems. This conversation is especially timely today as religiosity declines in many Western countries, and critical discussions on longstanding institutions, such as religion, are widespread. For an audio version, subscribe to the AIER Standard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and wherever you get your podcasts. https://open.spotify.com/show/25DwI0i...** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and his guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. **1:52 Why is Religion Still Relevant 7:15 What Services Do Religions Provide 10:00 Religion and Economic Growth12:30 Religion as Local Governance 18:39 Buchanan, the Role of the Supernatural, and the State23:40 Why Religion Lasts Longer than the State27:00 The Importance of the Separation of Church and State29:10 Is Society Too Godless35:30 Does Modernity Lead to Secularism37:09 Religion and a Free Society

On this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan sits down with Pete Earle to speak about dedollarization, a global trend of reducing usage of the US Dollar. As American currency declines, rival countries like China rise to take its place. Pete explains the reasons for the US Dollar's decline and comments on where he thinks trends are headed. Finally, Pete offers important insight on how the US government can maintain its financial reliability in a world that is growing increasingly skeptical.*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***1:21 China and Brazil Get Off the Dollar7:20 Why Was the US Dollar Made the Dominant Global Currency12:00 Can China's Yuan or Another Currency Replace the Dollar?15:40 Why Can't the EU or BRICS Replace the US Dollar20:00 What Happens if the US Dollar Falls From Grace28:00 Bretton Woods III and the New Order33:00 Cryptocurrency and the Dollar37:30 Can We Save the Dollar?

In this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan Yang sits down with the incoming president of the Public Choice Society, Christian Bjørnskov, who is the author of an award-winning paper on the use of emergency powers. The conversation explores why and how emergency powers paradoxically cause greater problems during periods of crisis, the most recent being the Covid-19 Pandemic. Furthermore, Chris offers insight into how Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden keep their political leaders accountable beyond legal limitations, which are ultimately just words on paper. Chris is a professor at Aarhus University and a researcher at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics in Stockholm.*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***

In this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan Yang sits down with AIER Senior Faculty and Former Senate Banking Committee Economist Tom Hogan to discuss the future of central banking. Their discussion gets to the root of today's pressing monetary issues, inflation, runaway spending, politicized Federal Reserve policy, and faltering confidence in money. They touch on the incentives and limitations that have driven central banking to where it is today from the prior status quo inspired by Milton Friedman and the gold standard. Finally, the conversation explores emerging ideas to reform the global monetary system, such as the idea of a Bretton Woods III based on commodity standards and the use of cryptocurrency.

The decline of American higher education is a common yet existential conversation.Every persuasion has its critique: college is getting too expensive yet increasingly unproductive. Elite academia is overtaken by radical Leftists. Elite academia is inaccessible to minorities. American colleges continue to bow to extreme student activists. American colleges refuse to make substantive changes to serve the demands of students.Ultimately, we are presented with a problem that must be confronted. Higher education is essential for fostering bright minds to lead society into the future, providing the necessary skills to power an advanced economy, and teaching the core values of our civilization. However, academia, like any institution, is filled with self-interested stakeholders and conflicting incentives that lead to mission drift and corruption. This begs the question of whether American higher ed can be reformed or is it drastic action needed.Phil Magness is a coauthor of the book Cracks in the Ivory Tower, where he applies a public choice analysis to American higher education to highlight its critical, self-destructive tendencies. He explains from a realist, analytical perspective the incentives powering certain trends, such as skyrocketing tuition, falling academic rigor, and ideological uniformity.aier.orgIf you enjoy the AIER Standard with Ethan Yang, make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

Get an in-depth look at American democracy with Dr. Ryan Yonk and Ethan Yang. Ditch the idealized views and join us for a political-economic analysis of our political institutions. From the meaning of elections to the power allocation of democracy and the American two-party system, Dr. Yonk explores the essential economic and political principles that shape our politics. Learn why politicians act the way they do, the impact of political culture vs institutions, and the role of political entrepreneurs, lobbying, and partisanship. Discover the incentives of elected officials and the influence of the American founding on today's politics. Finally, we delve into why people turn to government for everything and the perspectives of Democrats, Republicans, and American voters. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on how to make democracy work long-term. Time stamps in description box. Don't miss it!

“Is America exceptional or fundamentally flawed? Such abstract moral questions dominating much of modern politics often lead to highly inflammatory debates in what we would call the culture war. Some might say that culture wars distract us from important policy reforms; others might say that an argument about culture is an argument about civilization itself. Either way, it is essential that we understand why and how culture drives our political discourse. To help me dissect this phenomenon, I was joined by Robin Koerner, visiting fellow at AIER and an academic dean at the John Locke Institute located in Oxford. He received his graduate degrees from Cambridge University in physics and philosophy, and he is written on cultural issues ranging from ideological possession during the Covid era, to the virtues of living truthfully at all costs. Listen to the AIER Standard with Ethan Yang here:https://www.aier.org/podcasts/00:00: The Culture Wars2:48: The Commanding Heights of Culture 5:12: Why Does American Culture Matter8:20: What is Brand America 10:00 Is America Racist or Exceptional 16:20: Culture Precedes Politics 19:10: The Culture of the American Revolution 22:20: Establishing a Culture of Freedom27:40: School Curriculums and Politics 30:10: The Loud Minority of Politics 35:01 Lockdowns and American Culture 36:14: How to Deal With the Culture War 38:17: Defending the Truth 42:52: Lowering the Stakes of Politics 44:11: How Did Studying Physics Prepare You

For decades libertarian and conservative thought formed the basis of the American right. Free markets, limited government, rule of law, and morality summed up a fusion between two groups that shared skepticism of big government. Fusionism, as this coalition and ideology were to be called, came into popularity during the latter half of the 20th Century because of the looming threat of Communism. However, today, both sides are showing signs of disillusionment as the Conservatives drift toward nationalism and the Libertarians fight over what it means to be a Libertarian. In this episode, Stephanie Slade argues that the Fusionist tradition was and is a synthesis worth defending.

In this episode, Ethan speaks with Leslie Corbly, a visiting fellow at AIER and a researcher at the Libertas Institute. Leslie brings her specialty in law and data protection to discuss emergent online privacy issues. The discussion covers contemporary developments concerning government surveillance, corporate commodification of consumer behavior, and pitfalls in current regulatory frameworks. In particular, Leslie discusses the tension between government regulation and emergent consumer preferences.

In this episode, Ethan sit's down with Paul Schwennesen, AIER Graduate Fellow, to discuss his research on the Spanish empire and its unlikely liberal impulses. When people think of liberty in the Western World, they typically point to the English tradition and the Scottish Enlightenment. When people think of the Spanish, they might remember them as brutal conquerors with few philosophical insights. Schwennesen's research adds an important nuance to this historical narrative, pointing out that ideas such as the rule of law, human rights, and market exchange showed themselves throughout the empire's history. Although Paul does not claim that the Spanish empire was a liberal civilization, his insight provides important facts about the reality of Spanish rule and what that might say about human nature.

In this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan sits down with AIER Senior Faculty Ryan Yonk to discuss a plethora of topics relating to China. Ethan and Ryan have been deeply analyzing political and economic developments in US-China relations and within the Middle Kingdom itself. Throughout their research, they noticed a common theme that popular narratives often don't reflect reality and that the truth is often far more nuanced. The conversation touches on various important talking points ranging from the true extent of Beijing's geopolitical influence to the health of China's economy.

On this week in 1917, Communist revolutionaries overthrew the existing Russian government and changed the world forever. In this episode, Ethan sits down with AIER Senior Faculty, Phil Magness, to discuss the writings of Karl Marx, the famous or infamous German philosopher most commonly associated with Socialist ideology. Phil is the author of The Best of Karl Marx, a collection of the philosopher's original writings meant to present the reader with the original arguments straight from the source itself. The book is available for sale on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Karl-Marx/dp/1630691844.

In this episode, Ethan speaks with AIER Visiting Fellow Professor Malgorzata Runiewicz-Wardyn from Kozminski University in Poland. She is an expert on topics such as an emerging concept known as "open innovation," which she explains in the interview, business, and entrepreneurship. The conversation touches on waves of creative destruction in the economy, how they come about, and the effects of the Covid pandemic in spurring a new economic revolution. Her knowledge provides key insights on how to realize the potential benefits of technological innovation brought about by the emergence of advanced digital technology.

In this episode, Ethan speaks with Matt Clark, an attorney at the Alabama Center for Law and Liberty. Matt and his colleagues filed a lawsuit against Alabama's business closure policies enacted during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The conversation covers his client's story, a small wine-tasting shop closed forced to shutter its doors, the legal theories behind the case, and the importance of constitutional limits on power.

In this episode, Ethan speaks with AIER's Harwood Visiting Fellow, Marcos Falcone, about Friedrich Hayek's ideas on foreign relations. Falcone's notable research on the topic includes writing an award-winning paper on Hayek's vision for a liberal international community. Although the noble laureate is best known for his economic ideas, he also applied his insights toward imagining a framework for defending liberty on the world stage. Hayek fuses two important but competing ideas, the limitations of central planning and the need for a strong military, economic, and diplomatic capacity to contain autocratic actors. His vision hopes to create a new international institution that is more effective than the United Nations, less bureaucratic than the European Union, and more comprehensive than NATO. Falcone hails from Argentina, where he is deeply involved in advocating for classical liberal ideas in Latin America. He received his undergraduate degree from Torcuato Di Tella University and a Masters in Social Science from the University of Chicago.

On this episode, Ethan speaks with AIER Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy, Samuel Gregg, about the National Conservative movement, a growing faction on the American Right that advocates for more government enforcement of conservative values. The conversation covers topics such as the history of the American Right, the emergence of National Conservatism, the dangers of nationalism, and a defense of free markets and limited government-style Conservatism. Gregg received his D.Phil in Moral Philosophy and Political Economy from Oxford University and is a thought leader in the Anglo-American Conservative-Classical Liberal establishment. His affiliations include the Royal Historical Society, the Acton Institute, the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University, and the Heritage Foundation. He also served as president of the Philadelphia Society and is widely regarded as an authoritative figure on American Conservative and Classical Liberal philosophy.

On this episode Ethan sits down with Dorothy Chan a former AIER intern and data analyst at SupChina, a startup dedicated to providing business data on China. After discussing the fallout of the recent Taiwan visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ethan and Dorothy discuss her paper on semiconductor industrial policy. Dorothy's research at AIER compared the state led efforts of Taiwan and China where she noted the superiority of Taipei's performance. The conversation then applies the lessons learned from this comparison to recent legislation by Congress to support domestic semiconductor production.

On this episode of the AIER Standard Ethan sits down with Pacific Legal Foundation's Todd Gaziano, who is their Chief of Legal Policy and Strategic Research, to discuss the recent landmark Supreme Court Decision, West Virginia v. EPA. Todd is a veteran legal mind in the free market and classical liberal movement having previously served as a director at the Heritage Foundation's legal studies center. Mr. Gaziano also held positions in the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the US Commission on Civil Rights. The conversation covers the implications of West Virginia v. EPA, which checked the administrative state's power to make rules and regulations without more explicit Congressional authorization. Ethan and Todd discuss the premise and history of the administrative state, its role today, and why limits on its power matter. Furthermore, Todd explains the legal constraints placed on the administrative state due to the decision and how they tie into a broader conversation about non-delegation, Chevron Deference, and the balance of federal power. Finally, Todd and Ethan discuss how the structural incentives before and after West Virginia v. EPA affect the way our democratic system of government functions.

On this episode, Ethan speaks with AIER Senior Research Faculty Phil Magness and Research Fellow Michael Makovi to discuss their academic paper on the efficacy of lockdown policies. The discussion covers the justifications behind non-pharmaceutical interventions, commonly referred to as lockdowns, their effects, and flaws in their implementation. Phil and Michael explain the methodology in their paper, how their study compares to other studies, and why they conclude that lockdowns had no significant role in preventing excess deaths. Finally, the conversation ends by discussing the dangers of combining politics with science and thoughts looking ahead.

On this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan Yang speaks with Law Professor David Bernstein about his work on racial classification in American law. Bernstein is the author of the forthcoming book Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America where he explores the origins and controversies surrounding the government's involvement in race relations. The conversation touches on the history and politics related to racial identity in this country while emphasizing the messy nature of state classification schemes. Bernstein outlines how the individuals that are included in certain categories often disagree or take issue with being lumped into certain ethnic and racial groups. In particular, he explains the disputes and frustrations that arise from attempting to lump diverse individuals into categories for the purposes of assigning benefits. Finally, he gives insight and predictions on the sustainability of the contemporary American obsession with race and its influence on the law. Professor Bernstein received his Juris Doctorate from Yale University and teaches law at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Law and Liberty Center and previously taught law at schools such as the University of Michigan, Georgetown, and William and Marry.

On this episode of the AIER Standard, Ethan Yang sits down with Will Ogilvie to discuss the threat of the tyranny of the majority and the upkeep of a free, democratic society as observed by the great Alexis de Tocqueville. Will is a Long Term Research Fellow at AIER and a professor at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. Ethan and Will discuss the benefits and dangers inherent to societies that uphold equality and collective governance. Will explains that although freedom and equality enable human flourishing, they also enable mob rule and despotism. The conversation covers a number of topics highlighted by Tocqueville's observations of 19th century America as well as the thoughts of political philosophers dating back to Ancient Greece. Throughout the conversation, Will explains how private associations help channel the forces of democracy toward productive ends and away from the tyranny of the majority.

On this episode of the newly rebranded AIER Standard, formerly the Authors Corner, Ethan Yang speaks with Will Luther on the hot topic of inflation. Will Luther is the Director of AIER's Sound Money Project and an economics professor at Florida Atlantic University. During this conversation, Will explains the causes and consequences of today's inflation. In particular, this interview outlines the role of the Federal Reserve in managing, in this case mismanaging, the money supply and how that leads to detrimental price increases. Next, he offers comments and criticism on the policy direction America's central bank took during the Covid-19 pandemic while responding to competing explanations about inflation today. Finally, he outlines what optimal monetary policy looks like and how instruments like the gold standard could aid in the maintenance of sound money. Throughout the conversation, Will offers insight into the lessons everyone can take from the otherwise troubling case of inflation today.