284. Is Income Inequality Inevitable? (Earth ...

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle. SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, c ...  Show more

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard ...  Show more

Over time it is almost taken as given that science and technology will evolve and improve over time. But does the same hold true for the field of economics? Will future generations achieve superior levels of wealth due to advancements in economics or have we already solved everyt ...  Show more

What do we mean when we talk about capitalism? Our economic system might seem inevitable, but it's a construction project hundreds of years in the making and no part of it is natural or left to chance. This week, we kick off our series on the past, present and future of capitalis ...  Show more

How can our families, businesses, cities, and even the global economy thrive — without destroying the planet? "Doughnut Economics" shows us the way. Listen now and learn the #1 factor that influences human behavior, why perpetual growth will destroy everything, and how "going ...

We live in a society dominated by the aspiration to greatness, where the ancient ethical ideal of "the good life" is often framed in terms of wealth, fame and power. The notion that we might settle for a "good-enough life" seems oddly countercultural - but this week we're explori ...  Show more