Economic Growth - Improving our Lives

In this follow-up to an episode diving in to the federal deficit, Justin Wolfers responds to audience comments and questions including: where are interest payments going? Why can’t the government just print more money? And how do changes in immigration impact our ability to pay b ...  Show more

The Pentagon said the war with Iran has cost Americans $25 billion. But that number only accounts for missiles fired and equipment destroyed. The true cost of war is measured by the future we’ve given up. In this video — my Director’s Cut of an Op-Ed I wrote last week for the New ...  Show more

When the "sharing economy" launched a decade ago, proponents claimed that it would transform the experience of work--giving earners flexibility, autonomy, and a decent income. It was touted as a cure for social isolation and rampant ecological degradation. But this novel form of ...  Show more

Why do some nations flourish while others remain trapped in poverty? This year’s Nobel Prize in Economics goes to three economists whose groundbreaking work explores this question. Join us as we dive into the theories and insights of Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Ro ...  Show more

Discover what drives lasting prosperity. This year, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Mokyr, Aghion, and Howitt for demonstrating how technological innovation drove the surge in wealth during the Industrial Revolution. From steam engines to AI, learn why a lack of under ...  Show more

In his new book, "Power and Progress: Our 1000-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity", renowned MIT Professor of Economics Daron Acemoglu (with co-author Simon Johnson) argues that the benefits from technological progress are shaped by the distribution of power i ...