
The Answer Is Transaction Costs (Michael Munger)
Explore every episode of The Answer Is Transaction Costs
Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
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09 May 2023 | TAITC: Episode 1 | 00:09:28 | |
The introductory episode for TAITC: "The Answer is Transaction Costs!" The new weekly podcast from Duke University's Mike Munger (http://michaelmunger.com) If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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16 May 2023 | Exchange Takes "Place," and the Strange Case of Lettuce | 00:15:05 | |
Why would sellers go to a "place" where many others are also selling the same product? Wouldn't it better to go someplace off by yourself, so you can get the monopoly price? Well, the answer is that transactions"take place," meaning they require a context. Amazingly, it's better to go where all the other sellers are going, because of the problems of triangulation, transfer, and trust. The Sears catalog was a "virtual" (paper) place, and Amazon is another "virtual" (online) place. But the answer to why we do that is "transaction costs." If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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23 May 2023 | Propriety, Norms, and Traffic Congestion: Episode 3 | 00:17:40 | |
The third episode for TAITC: First, we take up the question of traffic congestion. Then, does the transaction cost approach have a relationship with moral and ethical theory? If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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30 May 2023 | Middlemen: From Mancgere to Amazon | 00:20:36 | |
Does Starbucks have surge pricing? If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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06 Jun 2023 | Roads, Public Goods, and Focal Points | 00:26:04 | |
Episode 5: Notes and Sources Bruce Benson, "Are Roads Public Goods?" Thomas Schelling, THE STRATEGY OF CONFLICT. http://elcenia.com/iamapirate/schelling.pdf "Are Roads Really Public Goods?" https://fee.org/articles/are-roads-really-public-goods/ "The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion." https://cityobservatory.org/the-fundamental-global-law-of-road-congestion/ "Tolls on the Connecticut Turnpike." https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-10-mn-15553-story.html If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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13 Jun 2023 | Dating, Marriage, and the Costs of Search | 00:21:44 | |
Episode 6 takes up the question of "matching," and the transaction costs of dating and marriage. Some resources: Background on search cost and optimal stopping: If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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20 Jun 2023 | Women in Prison, and ALL Costs are Transaction Costs | 00:19:27 | |
Last week's letter asked if charging prices below the "market" price might be rational, but might be an antitrust violation. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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27 Jun 2023 | Dollar Hot Dogs, Coupons, and Bidding for Wallets | 00:19:41 | |
Last week's letter asked about the role of transaction costs in rationing discounted products, or "sales," like "Dollar Hotdog Night!" at the ballpark. As the listener correctly pointed out, this relates to price discrimination, which is a great topic.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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04 Jul 2023 | Conventional Wisdom, Chesterton Fences, and "Excuse me" | 00:19:37 | |
(NOTE: SORRY for audio glitch earlier. Fixed now!)
Lagniappe: If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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11 Jul 2023 | Lettuce Again, and Lumber | 00:13:42 | |
How is buying lettuce like buying lumber? Each is idiosyncratic, and has to be sorted. Imposing the sorting costs on the buyer is actually a way of price discriminating.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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18 Jul 2023 | Faith and Loyalty through the TC Lens | 00:21:01 | |
Transaction costs can help institutions build loyalty and commitment among their members. Starting with the biblical story of Abraham, we delve into the delicate balance of setting transaction costs to neither alienate nor diminish values.
Lagniappe: A note from listener J: I was particularly interested in today's topic as I am a member of the "Mormon" faith. I remember growing up when caffeinated sodas were seen as a huge deal, you would never bring one to a church BBQ and I remember being kicked out of a friend's house for drinking a diet mountain dew. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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25 Jul 2023 | Academic Publishing, Talking Frogs, and Nailing Your Head to the Floor | 00:20:15 | |
What do Monty Python, George Akerlof, and the academic publishing industry have in common? They're all part of the explanation for the way academic publishing works. High transaction costs and the race for tenure often push scholars to prioritize quantity over quality. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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01 Aug 2023 | Packing Out Your Trash, Brown M&Ms, and $100 Bills on the Sidewalk | 00:20:05 | |
How do you trade off your own interests against the interests of others? And what role do transaction costs play? A discussion of our "interest" in the welfare of others, and the complexity that adds to economic indifference curves.
On Brown M&Ms:
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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08 Aug 2023 | The Red Dots Three, Parsley, and Counting Sheep | 00:18:00 | |
The listener letter last week asked about the the three "red dots" that are used to identify liquor stores in South Carolina.
Shibboleth
The Stone Signposts of Pompeii Appropriate Measures of Inflation If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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15 Aug 2023 | The Devil Went Down to Grievance: Tuh, Taxes, and HOAs | 00:17:33 | |
Are HOAs an argument for anarchy, or an example of it?
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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22 Aug 2023 | All You Can Eat, or By the Ounce? | 00:21:17 | |
There are many different pricing and packaging schemes for serving food in restaurants, and they all seem to coexist. But there are some significant differences, and thinking in terms of transaction costs and adverse selection can help us understand why.
Buffets, pricing, and management, seller's perspective
Consumer's perspective
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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29 Aug 2023 | Motives and Morals of Taxes, and an Homage to Bob Barker | 00:22:45 | |
There are three reasons to impose taxes, it seems:
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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26 Sep 2023 | Effective Altruism and the Transaction Costs of Maximizing Expected Value | 00:45:34 | |
A thought-provoking conversation about Effective Altruism (EA) with technologist Ben Goldhaber, as we explore its intersections with utilitarianism and transaction costs. We'll try to navigate the tricky terrains of libertarianism and the more "directed" world of EA, balancing directional and destinationist solutions, and the role of strong leadership and community dynamics in maintaining this equilibrium.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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31 Oct 2023 | Neutrality, Security, and Ethereum: the Future of Global Transaction Costs | 00:45:45 | |
Are you intrigued by the transformative potential of blockchain and Ethereum? This conversation with Ryan Berckmans, an Ethereum enthusiast and savvy investor, will unravel world that remains mysterious to most.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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21 Nov 2023 | Permissionless Innovation: Unshackling Potential or Unleashing Chaos? | 00:50:54 | |
What limits innovation? Is that good? I talk to Adam Thierer, senior fellow at the R Street Institute, exploring the concept of permissionless innovation and its far-reaching implications. From ancient Mesopotamia to the digital revolution, we unpack how policy context shape the trajectory of innovation and, consequently, our society.
Money Pump:
Aaron Wildavsky, SEARCHING FOR SAFETY, https://www.routledge.com/Searching-for-Safety/Wildavsky/p/book/9780912051185 Calestous Juma, INNOVATION AND ITS ENEMIES https://academic.oup.com/book/25649 William Baumol, ENTREPRENEURSHIP (article) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/088390269400014X Epstein and Munger on Capitalism and Stagnation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o-s541UKgI Munger on “Permissionless Innovation” on Econtalk https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-permissionless-innovation/ If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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19 Dec 2023 | The 5G Revolution, Huawei Controversy, and Global Trade Dynamics | 00:54:27 | |
TAITC tries to navigate the complex world of 5G, Huawei, and the telecom revolution with special guest John Pelson, author of the thought-provoking book, Wireless Wars. With Pelson's unique insights from his time as a corporate executive in the wireless tech industry, we explore the pivotal role of rapid, reliable communication in promoting cooperation and exchange. We'll take up some of the intricacies of switching technology, capacity increases, and how institutions and transaction costs influence the wireless business competition.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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30 Jan 2024 | Current Event: Smart Grids, DERs, and the Economics of Energy | 01:12:06 | |
Unlock the secrets of the energy market evolution with economist Professor Lynn Kiesling, who brings her expertise on transaction costs and the digital transformation of the electricity industry to our table. Our energized discussion orbits around the innovative world of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), where we explore the shift from consumers to proactive producers, thanks to technologies like rooftop solar panels and home energy storage. Professor Kiesling, drawing from her academic journey and reverence for Ronald Coase's work, delves into the institutional structure of production within firms and imparts her wisdom on navigating the complex regulatory frameworks that shape our smart grid technologies.
Links:
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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27 Feb 2024 | Making Deals With Shadows: The Economics of Ransomware and Cybersecurity | 00:44:53 | |
The digital realm is rife with invisible threats, and this episode doesn't shy away from the gritty realities of ransomware and the burgeoning industry of cyber insurance. We tackle the conundrum: How do these defensive expenditures impact our economy when they don't actually produce anything tangible? From the early days of cyber insurance to the ongoing battle against hackers, learn how organizations across the board—from the halls of government to the frontlines of business—are fortifying their defenses against a barrage of cyber threats, each with their own unique strategies and vulnerabilities. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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26 Mar 2024 | Caldwell: Hayek's Intellectual Journey | 01:08:32 | |
Come along on a journey through the corridors of economic history and methodology with our esteemed guest, Bruce Caldwell from the Center for History of Political Economy at Duke University. Caldwell's personal voyage, from the nuances of economic methodology to his deep dive into Austrian economics, sets the stage for an enthralling discussion on the workings of institutions, transaction costs, and the profound impact of Friedrich Hayek's theories on modern economics. Get ready to unlock the secret meaning behind the unique TIPS acronym within Austrian economics. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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30 Apr 2024 | Desert Town Dilemmas and the Problem of Property Rights | 01:01:55 | |
We embark on a journey through the lenses of Hume, Smith, and Coase, piecing together the roles of observation and empirical study in shaping our understanding of societal conventions and moral philosophy. David Schmidtz recounts a defining moment from his academic path, sparking a robust discussion on the fusion of economics with moral considerations in the realm of ownership and resource distribution.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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28 May 2024 | From Commons to Coase and Beyond, With Steven Medema | 01:02:24 | |
What if understanding the hidden costs in every transaction could revolutionize how we see economics? Stephen Medema of Duke University opens up about his academic pivot from computational tax policy to the history of economic thought, weaving in tales of detective-like intrigue and the thrill of uncovering the makers and movers behind economic theories.
Books: If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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04 Jun 2024 | The Riddle is Transaction Costs: That's What the Money is For! | 00:17:15 | |
Can a single $100 bill solve an entire town's debt crisis? This riddle is a window into transaction costs. I rely on Jeffrey Rogers Hummel's insights, adding a few thoughts of my own.
Haggling: Book recommendation:
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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11 Jun 2024 | Corner Crossing Conundrum: Trespassing, Airspace, and Property Rights | 00:23:18 | |
What if crossing a mere corner of private land could land you in legal hot water? This episode tackles the thorny issue of corner crossing, where public and private lands meet at a single point, creating potential trespassing conflicts. We'll dissect Dave Schmitz's insights on the limits of property rights and the Roman law doctrine of ad coelum, which extends property rights from the heavens to the earth's core. Through landmark cases like Hinman v. Pacific Air Transport and Jacques v. Steenberg Homes, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how airspace and land use rights have evolved.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Pursuit-of-Happiness/Jeffrey-Rosen/9781668002476 If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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18 Jun 2024 | Dam Shame: It's not easy being government | 00:24:11 | |
I have been interested lately in a paper Bill Keech and I were working on a decade ago, If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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25 Jun 2024 | Baseball, Dollar Dogs, Apple Pie and Transaction Costs | 00:16:30 | |
Why would a baseball stadium limit the number of $1 hot dogs per customer on Dollar Hot Dog Night? Find out as we work on this intriguing question posed by a curious high school student named HJ. Through the lens of transaction costs, we reveal how these promotional events are less about selling hot dogs and more about enhancing the overall (cheap!) game experience to attract new fans. Using a real-life example from a recent Mets game, we explore how such promotions can change the crowd dynamics, boost attendance, and ensure a positive atmosphere for everyone, even when things get a bit rowdy. Samuel Bagg's book The Dispersion of Power (Oxford) If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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02 Jul 2024 | Monkey See, Monkey App! And IP Walks Into a Bar.... | 00:14:44 | |
The method of much of social science is "comparative statics." There's an amazing natura experiment going on, after Hurricane Maria changed the environment for the rhesus macaques of Cayo Santiago. Sometimes, you need a simulation to understand something is only obvious after the fact. These primates, known for their fierce competition and rigid hierarchies, expanded their social networks and reduced aggression to endure the island's new, harsh environment.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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09 Jul 2024 | Parking Lots, Transaction Costs of the Price Mechanism, and the Pork Pie Fedora Rogue | 00:20:10 | |
Two seemingly similar parking lots at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, couldn't be more different in the emergent behaviors they foster. From the orderly lines of the 85-space lot to the chaotic dynamics of the smaller 19-space circular lot, discover how price rationing, queue formation, and transaction costs play critical roles in these everyday systems.
Book o'da'week: Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. 2024, Penguin Press. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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16 Jul 2024 | Bees, Oranges, and Externalities: The Answer is Transaction Costs | 00:26:31 | |
Bees and Valencia oranges from my family's farm in rural central Florida provide a snapshot of externalities and transaction costs. A local beekeeper wasn't just a boon for our crops but also an illustration of Arthur Pigou's theories on the divergence between supply price and marginal supply price.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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23 Jul 2024 | Slavery, Indentured Servitude, and the Problem of Financing Education | 00:25:56 | |
Not everyone realizes that the modern financial system has enabled us to end historical practices such as indentured servitude and apprenticeship. This episode uncovers how financial systems tackled market failures and transaction costs, drawing on insights from Jeffrey Hodgson's "The Wealth of a Nation: Institutional Foundations of English Capitalism." We'll explore the evolution of borrowing against future earnings and how modern financial institutions have streamlined processes that once resembled slavery, fostering the growth of capitalism.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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30 Jul 2024 | Shibumi! Legit Idea, or Shady Dealings? | 00:23:17 | |
You can throw shade, but can you own the idea of shade? Shibumi's sunshade has become an essential part of the coastal landscape, but that has sparked some fierce legal battles. We'll talk patents, beginning with the evolution of shade solutions from caveman ingenuity to Shibumi's wind-powered marvel. Plus, you'll get the inside scoop on the recent lawsuit where Shibumi defended its designs against Beach Shade LLC, demonstrating the high stakes of protecting intellectual property in today's competitive markets.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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06 Aug 2024 | We Get Letters! | 00:20:31 | |
What is it that beach parking lots are actually selling? Why do beer bottles cost more than cans? And just what are costs of the thing, as opposed to the costs of selling or buying the thing? Can you really separate them out?
Book o'da'week: Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age Kindle Edition Michael A. Hiltzik, 2009, Harper-Collins. https://www.amazon.com/Dealers-Lightning-Xerox-PARC-Computer/dp/0887309895 If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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13 Aug 2024 | All Housing is Affordable Housing | 00:24:29 | |
Are housing regulations making affordable homes a pipe dream? We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of how transaction costs and regulatory hurdles impede new housing development, frustrating both market responses and the dreams of potential homeowners. We'll explore how the very laws intended to protect affordable housing often backfire, pushing developers toward luxury projects instead.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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20 Aug 2024 | Price Gouging or Price Information? | 00:18:17 | |
Can high prices during emergencies actually save lives? Using North Carolina as an example, we dissect the economic and legal implications of these laws, exploring the ambiguities in terms like "unreasonably excessive" and the chilling effect on commerce. Discover how artificially low prices can lead to resource misallocation, discourage stockpiling, and hinder the transportation of vital supplies during crises. Allowing higher prices is, perhaps surprisingly, the only way to get low prices soon. Articles:
Book o'da Week: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/What-Went-Wrong-with-Capitalism/Ruchir-Sharma/9781668008263 If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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27 Aug 2024 | Why Bosses Don't Wear Bunny Slippers: TAITC | 00:23:09 | |
Ever wondered why firms exist in a market-driven economy? This month's episode promises to unravel this question by diving deep into Ronald Coase's seminal 1937 paper, "The Nature of the Firm." Join me, Mike Munger, as I reflect on our first 16 months of podcasting and share the insights and wisdom that have shaped our journey. You'll gain a thorough understanding of how transaction costs influence economic behaviors and organizational structures, with fascinating examples from Richard Langlois' analysis of the American Midwest's agricultural sector before the railroad era.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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30 Sep 2024 | From Law to Legislation: A Natural Process | 00:54:31 | |
Have you ever wondered how common law rules and market prices both "emerge"? Inspired by the works of James Buchanan, F.A. Hayek, and Bruno Leoni, Donald Boudreaux explains how decentralized processes can lead to the emergence of effective norms, such as queuing and speeding rules, without the need for top-down legislation. We discuss the significance of individuals spending their own money versus others' and how these incentives impact societal outcomes, highlighting the deep wisdom embedded in traditionally evolved rules. Some Links:
Book o’da’month: Bruno Leoni, FREEDOM AND THE LAW If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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22 Oct 2024 | Certainty, Common Law, and Statutory Law: Todd Zywicki of Scalia Law | 00:53:20 | |
Todd Zywicky, professor at George Mason's Scalia Law School, challenges some conventional legal doctrine, taking up the views of Bruno Leone and Friedrich Hayek. What if the legal world has underestimated the power of spontaneous order? Todd's intellectual journey sheds light on how these groundbreaking ideas contrast sharply with the dominant constructivist views shaping contemporary legal thought.
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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19 Nov 2024 | Prison Gangs and Governance: David Skarbek | 01:01:27 | |
Curious about how the world of prison economics operates? Get ready to uncover a hidden universe with our guest, David Skarbek, a leading voice in political economy. David takes us on a captivating journey from his early days in construction to his groundbreaking research at George Mason University, where he was inspired to explore the economics of unconventional spaces. His insights reveal the sophisticated systems of governance designed by prison gangs to maintain order and manage illicit economies. Whether you're fascinated by how these groups mimic pirate crews or intrigued by their ability to regulate harm in a high-stakes environment, this episode promises to reshape your understanding of extra-legal cooperation. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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24 Dec 2024 | Political Capitalism and the Power of Elites: Randall Holcombe | 01:02:16 | |
This episode explores the intersection of democracy and capitalism, focusing on the concept of political capitalism and its relation to cronyism. Randall Holcomb discusses transaction costs, charismatic leadership, and critiques the idea that democracy and separation of powers inherently checks coercion, stressing the need for competing elites to foster accountability. Michael Giberson blog post at Knowledge Problem, on Price Gouging. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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28 Jan 2025 | Transaction Costs and Constitutions: India's Balancing Act, with Shruti Rajagopalan | 01:03:51 | |
What if transaction costs could shape entire political and economic systems? Join us for an insightful discussion with Shruti Rajagopalan, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, as she takes us through her fascinating journey from the University of Delhi to George Mason University. Her research on India's economic liberalization shaped her understanding of economics and public choice theory, and now she is looking at the Indian Constitution as a subject of study. She shares how India's socialist elements and frequent amendments navigate the balance between democracy and central planning. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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25 Feb 2025 | The Socialist Generation Debate: Boettke | 01:05:12 | |
Join economist Peter Boettke as he discusses how transaction costs impact market efficiency and our everyday decisions. We delve deep into historical examples, particularly the Soviet Union, to highlight the consequences of centralized planning versus individual market actions. Peter Boettke:
Munger papers on “Status Quo” and James Buchanan:
Munger on information and "generation": The "Socialist Generation Debate," at AIER Mainline Economics Resources: Book'o'da'month: Bill Mauldin, BRASS RING: A SORT OF MEMOIR. 1973, WW Norton. If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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26 Mar 2025 | Curation Bubbles, Verification, and the Splintering of Ideology | 00:56:55 | |
What happens when we no longer consume scarce information through trusted, verified institutions, but instead through an abundance of unbundled content without context or curation? John Green, rising star in political science from Duke University, takes us on a tour of the rapidly evolving landscape of political information. Munger on "Direction of Causation" Letter Response: Sweden is NOT socialist! (If you don't believe me, believe Andreas Bergh...) Book’o’da Month:
If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com !
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