Episode description

What if there was a way to end poverty and solve climate change, that might actually work. Shouldn’t we try it? Our guest Erik Angner thinks economics holds the solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems but that economists have done a woeful job of PR! He’s on a mission to change that.

Erik Angner PhD is Professor of Practical Philosophy at Stockholm University. He holds, not one but two PhDs – in Economics and in History and Philosophy of Science – both from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Erik joins us on Behavioral Grooves to discuss his new book How Economics Can Save the World. He is also the author of two other books, Hayek and Natural Law and A Course in Behavioral Economics as well as multiple journal articles and book chapters on behavioral and experimental economics; the science and philosophy of happiness; and the history, philosophy, and methodology of contemporary economics. 

Please join us on Behavioral Grooves Twitter (@behavioralgroov) to take part in some poll questions around Erik’s episode and discuss this conversation.

(3:34) Welcome and speed round questions.

(7:12) What exactly is economics and how is it useful?

(11:15) How can economics save the world?

(13:10) How we can actually solve poverty.

(17:14) Scarcity and how it influences our behavior.

(21:08) The scarcity of healthcare.

(24:35) Why trust is the critical factor in vaccination take-up.

(28:55) What are the unintended consequences?

(31:30) How can economics solve climate change?

(36:36) How social norms influence our behavior.

(41:29) Does money make us happy?

(49:11) What music would Erik take on a desert island?

(51:40) Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim on saving the world.

© 2023 Behavioral Grooves

Erik Angner PhD: https://www.erikangner.com/

Erik’s book “How Economics Can Save the World: Simple Ideas to Solve Our Biggest Problems”: https://amzn.to/3YU49qN 

Episode 102, Christina Bicchieri, PhD: Social Norms are Bundles of Expectations: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/cristina-bicchieri-social-norms-are-bundles-of-expectations/ 

Friedrich Hayek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek 

Jeremy Bentham: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-010-9204-z#:~:text=Bentham%20defined%20happiness%20in%20terms,seen%20as%20contribution%20to%20happiness. 

Tom Waits “Hold On”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P5jV4lHHR0 

PJ Harvey “This Is Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxXS5lLunE