Alex speaks with Monica Guzman about the need for curiosity as a remedy for the increasing polarization in American discourse and her recent book on the subject "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" Monica's book: https://a.co/d/j6xKME7
Alex and Nolan discuss a novel solution to many of the difficult issues surrounding housing in North America: the elimination of zoning laws. Further Reading and References: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/zoning-housing-affordability-nimby-parking-houston/661289/ https://reason.com/2022/06/21/abolish-zoning-all-of-it/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-04/how-houston-s-zoning-can-help-hurricane-harvey-recovery https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-26/man...
Alex and Mike Munger discuss two strains of thought within the liberty movement - one concerned with philosophical purity and cohesion, the other with advancement towards a common ideal of greater freedom for all. Episode Notes: Mike's article "The Right Kind of Nothing": https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-right-kind-of-nothing/ An introduction to Coasian bargaining: http://www.ejolt.org/2015/09/coasian-bargaining-2/ The Piece commissioned by Leonard Read by Milton Friedman and George Stigler...
Alex and Dennis discuss the very colorful character who, unbeknownst to many, wrote the American Constitution. Episode Notes: Dennis' book "The Constitution's Penman" https://a.co/d/iKnulei The American Constitution https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript The Federalist Papers https://www.congress.gov/resources/display/content/The+Federalist+Papers Roosevelt's biography of Morris bit.ly/3zEEVlU Gouverneur Morris' speech on the franchise for slaves: https://www.blackpast.or...
Alex and Sabine speak about the state of classical liberalism in terms of individual rights and economic freedom in Canada today. Works referenced: Hayek's "Why I Am Not A Conservative": https://press.uchicago.edu/books/excerpt/2011/hayek_constitution.html
Alex speaks with Noah Schwartz about gun control in Canada and how recent attempts to review firearms policy have failed to address root issues and the causes of violence and crime. References 1. “On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA” by Noah Schwartz Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Target-Gun-Culture-Storytelling-NRA/dp/1487548443/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 2. “Firearms Act, 1995” by Justice Laws Website Link: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-11.6/ 3...
Alex speaks with Liya Palagashvili about the state - and the meaning - of the gig economy and how history can show the not-so-novel nature of modern labour. References 1. Liya’s articles, The Mercatus Center Link: https://www.mercatus.org/scholars/liya-palagashvili?utm_source=ad_link&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=scholar_branding&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgJa6BhCOARIsAMiL7V_UHKSWyzs0ydt2lCaeIHXRbhZXVi_aQuJgZo1Wo_T-Ijxa6Esw8DEaAg-REALw_wcB 2. Liya’s Substack Link: https://liyapa...
Alex speaks with Jay Goldberg about Canada's Bill C-11 and the implications of the government's attempt to change what Canadians see on the internet. References 1. “Bill C-11: An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts” by the Government of Canada Link: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/charter-charte/c11_2.html 2. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Website Link: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/home-accueil.htm 3. “T...
As the university school year begins to wrap up, we're bringing back a classic episode of the Curious Task! Alex Aragona speaks with Bryan Caplan about the value of a formal education, and compares the alleged benefits against the reality. References from The Curious Task Special Episode 15 with Bryan Caplan You can purchase Bryan Caplan’s New York Times best-seller, The Myth of the Rational Voter from Amazon Canada at this link . His other publications include Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids ...
Alex speaks with Neil Boyd about the effects of drug decriminalization and legalization in Canada and around the world, and how regulation and criminalization can have positive or negative impacts on users of various substances and the communities around them. References 1. “Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, 1996” by the Justice Laws Website Link: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38.8/ 2. “Cannabis Act, 2018” by Justice Laws Website Link: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-2...
Alex speaks with Vincent Geloso about income mobility, distinguishing it from income inequality and the effects of markets and government regulations on each. References 1. Vincent’s Articles Link: https://vincentgeloso.com/publications/ 2. Vincent’s previous episode “Should We Care About Inequality?” on The Curious Task podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-28-vincent-geloso-%e2%80%94-should-we-care-about-inequality/ 3. “Growth is Good for the Poor” by David Dollar and Aart Kraa...
Alex speaks with David D'Amato about the modern concept of intellectual property and how such a thing could exist at all in a free society. References: Copying is not theft cartoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeTybKL1pM4
Alex speaks with Jeremy Horpedahl about the unusual political alliance between Baptists and Bootleggers - both figuratively and literally - and what these ties can tell us about public choice economics. Sources Referenced: Horpedahl, Jeremy. "Bootleggers and Baptists Revisited: A Reply to Critics." Journal of Law and Economics, vol. 62, no. 2, Oct. 2019, pp. 557-576. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26546700 . Regulation (Cato Institute Journal) Spring 2021 issue "Not So Unlikely Coalitions" article ...
Alex speaks with Scott Beyer about the insights he's gleaned from travelling the world in search of the most market-friendly urban centers and what other countries can teach us about central planning, solutions to homelessness, and more. References 1. The Market Urbanist Website Link: https://www.marketurbanist.com/ 2. Scott’s previous episode “What Is Market Urbanism?” on The Curious Task podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-33-scott-beyer-%e2%80%94-what-is-market-urbanism/ 3. ...
Alex speaks with Brandon Turner about the nature of conservatism and whether or not it constitutes an ideology, the rate of change within conservative thought, and the relationship between conservatism and liberalism. References 1. “Conservatism, Ideology, Skepticism” by Brandon Turner Link: https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=jcli 2. “The Conservative Sensibility” by George F. Will Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Conservative-Sensibility-George-F-Will/dp/031648...
Alex speaks with Rachel Lomasky about hot-button issues surrounding machine learning and artificial intelligence and the limitations and definitions of each, especially when it comes to ethical decision-making. References 1. Rachel’s Articles, Law&Liberty Link: https://lawliberty.org/author/rachel-lomasky/ 2. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Machine Learning” by Columbia Engineering Link: https://ai.engineering.columbia.edu/ai-vs-machine-learning/ 3. “Transcending Technopessimism” by Rachel...
Alex speaks with Geoff Sigalet about Western Alienation and the events that led to the Alberta Sovereignty Act becoming law in Canada in December of 2022. References 1. “Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act” by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Link: https://www.assembly.ab.ca/assembly-business/bills/bill?billinfoid=11984&from=bills 2. “Opinion: Alberta’s Sovereignty Act is constitutional but it needs nuance” by Jesse Hartery and Geoffrey Sigalet Link: https://nationalpost.com/op...
As you think about your New Year's resolutions, take another listen to Alex's conversation from May 2020 with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can still change your life, even so many years later. References from The Curious Task Special Episode 14 with Russ Roberts You can purchase Russ Roberts’ book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life at Amazon Canada here You can read the Theory of Moral Sentiments for free on the Online Library of Liberty here...
Alex, Sabine and Matt reflect on the year that was 2022. References 1. Christy Horpedahl’s episode “How Can Books Advance Liberal Society” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-163-christy-horpedahl-how-can-books-advance-liberal-society/ 2. Russ Robert’s episode “What’s Wrong With Education?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-136-russ-roberts-what-s-wrong-with-education/ 3. Lauren Hall’s episode “What’s Wrong with Modern...
In their conversation from December 2019, Alex Aragona talks with Lauren Hall as she explores the problems with modern healthcare systems and some of the possible remedies. References 1. “The Medicalization of Birth and Death” by Lauren K. Hall Link: https://www.amazon.com/Medicalization-Birth-Death-Lauren-Hall/dp/1421433338 2. “Midwifery Licensing: Medicalization of Birth and Special Interests” by Steven Horowitz and Lauren Hall Link: https://www.mercatus.org/research/working-papers/midwifery-l...
Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about Canada's unique approach to power, monarchy, and government and how happy accidents have led to one of the best-governed and most free countries on earth being ruled by a King - at least symbolically. References 1. “The Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament: Parliamentary Democracy Defended or Endangered?” by Andrew Heard Link: https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Governor-Generals-Decision-to-Prorogue-Parliament.pdf ...
Alex speaks with frequent guest Peter Jaworski about the gap between a moral obligation and the expectation that some specific institution ought to be the one to realize that moral obligation - especially an institution like the state.
Sabine speaks with Christy Horpedahl about the entrepreneurial spirit that imbues Penelope Fitzgerald's "The Bookshop".
Sabine speaks with the host of the Curious Task Alex Aragona to find out more about him, especially what he considers classical liberalism to be in its essence.
Alex speaks with Jayme Lemke about the life, work, and legacy of American Nobel Prize-winning political economist Elinor Ostrom. References 1. “Elinor Ostrum and the Bloomington School: Building a New Approach to Policy and Social Sciences” by Jayme Lemke and Vlad Tarko Link: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Bloomington-School-Building/dp/0228004152 2. Elinor Ostrum Publications Link: https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/library/bibliographies/ostrom-elinor.html 3. Elinor Ostrum Fellowship, Me...
Alex speaks with Thomas Bunting about politics, democracy, social progress and more as they relate to baseball and athletics more broadly.
Alex speaks with Edward Slingerland about the dance that most civilizations have done with alcohol and the delicate balance between worshipping its creative effects and fearing its dangerous consequences.
Alex speaks with Scott Scheall about the importance of spontaneity for liberalism.
Alex speaks with Claudia Williamson about what economists mean by culture and how individualism and other elements of culture can effect the economic progress of nations, peoples and groups.
Sabine speaks with Rosemarie Fike about the relationship between women's rights and economic freedom and the disparities that persist in contemporary economies around the world.
