Words & Numbers

What happens if the dollar is no longer a world currency? Financial expert Pete Earle joins us to discuss his recent article on the end of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. Foolishness of the week: 05:42 Main episode: 07:39 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2023/04/09/a-loophole-to-outwit-airlines-no-name-change-policy https://www.bankrate.com/loans/auto-loans/rates/ Foolishness of the Week https://ktla.com/news/local-news/california-power-companies-roll-out-fixed-rate-bill-proposal/ Episode Topic https://www.aier.org/article/de-dollarization-has-begun/ Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

Bank runs, green investing, doctor shortage in Europe, are people getting dumber? Foolishness of the week: 09:07 Main episode: 11:32 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits www.goodnewsnetwork.org https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3917919-nyc-bill-would-ban-discrimination-based-on-weight/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/10/gop-bomb-mexico-fentanyl-00091132 Episode Topic https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/federal-reserve-meeting-interest-rate-march-2023/card/pacwest-stock-falls-premarket-after-reporting-deposit-fall-5iilc6yQ4WDh3QhQIvPm https://www.fdic.gov/bank/historical/bank/ https://reason.com/2023/03/21/bidens-first-veto-protects-and-pro

Episode 321: Space and Property As humans venture out into space - not just under the auspices of government, but now as private citizens - establishing and adjudicating property rights will become ever more important. The treaty under which countries operate was signed back in the 1960s. It says that government may not lay claim to anything beyond Earth, but is completely silent about private citizens. Foolishness of the week: 07:08 Main episode: 09:51 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://calmatters.org/transportation/2023/03/california-high-speed-rail/ https://youtu.be/iJOb9xHggS4?t=447 https://dnyuz.com/2023/03/09/with-its-future-at-stake-the-academy-tries-to-fix-

Episode 320: Politics, Anarchy, and Baseball   Economist, former mayor, self-professed anarchist, and baseball fan Randy Simmons joins us this week to talk about government and politics through the eyes of someone who is both a skeptic of government and who served in elected office. We recorded this episode in January, but saved it for the opening of baseball season. You’ll hear why in the episode.   Foolishness of the week: 10:18 Main episode: 14:21 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-buyers-big-ask-the-deal-is-off-if-i-lose-my-job-d9f30f45 Foolishness of the Week https://news.yahoo.com/cuba-holds-stacked-election-amid-120000306.html E

Many listeners have asked that we do an episode on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and its implications for the rest of the banking sector. Peter Earle, economist and former Wall Street trader, joins us to talk about what happened, how it might have been avoided, what comes next, and whether the rest of the banking system is in danger. Foolishness of the week: 04:10 Main episode: 05:50 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://news.yahoo.com/l-riders-bail-metro-trains-120007450.html Foolishness of the Week https://news.yahoo.com/l-riders-bail-metro-trains-120007450.html Episode Topic https://www.aier.org/people/peter-c-earle/ https://thestack.technology/silicon-

Foolishness of the week: 12:19 Main episode: 16:54   People’s view of the past is biased because we tend to forget the bad things. The (inexplicable to an economist) tendency of young people to think that like in the 1950s was better than life today is one example. This week, we talk about this tendency to nostalgia and how it shows up in pop-culture.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits Foolishness of the Week Episode Topic https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/12/balkanization-boutique-world-james-harrigan.html https://isi.org/intercollegiate-review/truth-justice-and-the-american-way/ https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-123-james-harrigan-what-does-pop

Words and Numbers is a weekly half-hour podcast that explores current events through the eyes of an economist and political scientist. The show is an alternative to the shouting heads that occupy most public discussions. We follow evidence and reason where they lead for a non-partisan  and entertaining approach to topics relating to politics, economics, and government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Foolishness of the week: 07:11 Main episode: 11:20 Economic historian Phil Magness joins us to talk about how the popular 1619 Project gets both the history and the relationship between slavery and capitalism wrong. This is the second of a two-part episode. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.cleveland.com/business/2016/05/its_shockingly_easy_for_a_thie.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-cuts-prices-of-model-x-and-model-s-1898bc5d https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=tesla+stock+quote&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Foolishness of the Week https://reason.com/2023/02/27/new-yorks-message-to-gun-owners-you-can-have-a-carry-permit-good-luck-us

Foolishness of the week: 04:55 Main episode: 07:34   Economic historian Phil Magness joins us to talk about how the popular 1619 Project gets both the history and the relationship between slavery and capitalism wrong. This is the first of a two-part episode.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://boingboing.net/2023/02/22/mom-asks-if-10-year-olds-first-composition-can-be-played-then-musicians-around-the-world-give-their-take.html https://www.wired.com/story/microsoft-removing-internet-explorer-from-pcs/   Foolishness of the Week https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/roald-dahl-controversy-changes-salman-rushdie-willy-wonka-1235333536/ https:/

Foolishness of the Week: 06:19 Main episode: 07:37 As recently as two months ago, many economists were concerned that significant inflation was here to stay. But last month’s data show that inflation is back near zero. Whether this is good news or simply a brief respite, we won’t know for another few months.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars James and Ant are at Basis Scottsdale this week https://nypost.com/2023/02/14/scientists-switch-off-autism-using-3-epilepsy-drug-study/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/born-in-2007-or-later-this-california-bill-would-bar-you-from-ever-buying-a-tobacco-product/ar-AA17D9gp Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.fa

There is much evidence pointing to a relationship between increased trade and improved socio-economic factors like income, poverty, equality, and the environment. But there’s a disturbing trend afoot. World trade (measured as exports and imports as a fraction of world GDP) is down 5% since 2011, and US trade is down 20% over the same period. Worse, prior to 2011, US trade was on a solid upward trajectory for a couple of decades. From 2011 on, had US trade continued to grow at its historical rate, it would be 30% more today than it is.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars James and Ant are at Basis Scottsdale this week https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS?locations=US h

Foolishness of the week: 10:57 Main episode: 11:17 The USDA is experimenting with paying people to eat fruits and vegetables. That sounds like a good idea, but it opens the door to regulatory capture wherein companies lobby the USDA to have their products included in the program, and where manufacturers add just enough ingredients to call their formerly-fruit-and-vegetable-free product a “fruit” or “vegetable” and so qualify for the USDA subsidy.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/google-unveils-bard-its-chatgpt-rival-for-ai-powered-conversation/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/biden-will-call-for-b

Dr. Samuel Gregg joins us to talk about his latest book, The Next American Economy, in which he describes emerging problems and potential solutions to America’s slow movement away from freedom.   Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/artificial-intelligence-identifies-long-overlooked-raphael-masterpiece-180981528/ https://news.gallup.com/poll/468983/cite-gov-top-problem-inflation-ranks-second.aspx Foolishness of the Week https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgyb4k/ohio-nazi-dissident-homeschool This Week’s TopicSamuel Gregg on Twitter: @drsamuelgregg The Next American Economyhttps://www.amazon.com/Next-American-Economy-Markets-Unc

A year ago, Mikhail Rasner joined us to talk about shortages and supply chains. A year later, he’s back to talk about what’s happened, both expected and unexpected, and where he sees the economy going in the near future. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/once-biologically-dead-the-river-mersey-in-england-is-best-environmental-story-in-europe/ https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/earth-talk-how-effective-is-endangered-species-act/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgyje7/earths-core-has-stopped-and-may-be-reversing-direction-study-says Foolishness of the Week https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/21/china-says-covid-outbreak-has-infected-80percent-o

This week, we answer listener questions about the ratchet effect, how to disagree civilly, and who our dream guest would be. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/supreme-court-justices-public-conflict/672494/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/washington/2023/01/15/classified-document-snafus-predate-biden-presidency/69809187007/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.semafor.com/article/01/15/2023/cnn-is-serious-about-getting-into-comedy Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4

This week, we answer listener questions about unfunded liabilities, different types of rights, what would happen if the Supreme Court overturned the broad interpretation of the commerce clause, and statistical versus practical significance Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James!http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practicehttps://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/09/us-safety-agency-to-consider-ban-on-gas-stoves-amid-health-fears/ https://www.enerdynamics.com/Energy-Currents_Blog/How-Much-Primary-Energy-Is-Wasted-Before-Consumers-See-Value-from-Electricity.aspx https://dailycaller.com/2023/01/06/university-michigan-diversicrats-year-diversity-equity-inclusion/ Foolishness of the Week https://thepostmillennial.com/historically-d

Pope Francis devoted his Christmas homily to speaking out about the evils of pursuing wealth. This week, James and Ant share their different takes on the topic. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://finance.yahoo.com/news/people-skipped-covid-vaccine-higher-183148392.html https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/weight-loss-drug-affordability-rcna60422 Foolishness of the Week https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1146377342/5-things-to-know-about-southwests-disastrous-meltdown Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vC

Listener questions this week include: What are the benefits of central banking? Is it time for the states to have an amicable divorce? What would it take to reduce the size of the federal government? What’s the difference between private and public companies? Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb040.html https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tx.htm#35-0000 https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/2022-12-22-fully-automated-mcdonalds-here-in-texas-sparks-debate/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/p

This week, listeners ask whether it’s right to think of contagion as pollution, and if so, whether government has a role in containing contagion, why are we so litigious, and how we can say anything about socialism or capitalism if neither one has ever existed in a pure form. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Apply for the Seminar on Classical Liberalism: Theory and Practice https://www.wabash.edu/stephenson-institute/summer-seminars Quick Hits https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/spain-digital-nomad-visa-37201509 Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let Us Know What You Think mailto:words

Over the past century, three constraints on the federal government have failed. When we started ignoring Constitutional constraints, we opened the door to massive increases in federal spending. When voters started asking politicians for more “free” stuff, we walked through the door. And when we went off the gold standard politicians were able to strong-arm the Federal Reserve into funding the massive spending. What transpired was unsustainable spending, which created unsustainable debt, which required money printing, which is causing inflation. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.creativebloq.com/news/kia-logo https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/trade/article/21949510/bite-the-wax-tadpole https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/u-s-to-announce-fusion-energy-breakthrough/ar-AA15ahiG Fo