Podcast
Faith and Economics
Hosted by Gwartney Institute · EN
In Faith and Economics, economics professors Dr. Russ McCullough and Dr. Peter Jacobsen and philosophy professor Dr. Justin Clarke discuss big issues that impact economic freedom and human flourishing from a Christian perspective. This podcast is an initiative of the Gwartney Institute at Ottawa University.
For more information, contact us at gwartney.institute@gmail.com
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Property and Possession | #397
1w ago00:38:36Tap to summarize“Possession is 9/10ths of the law”, or so the saying goes. But in our contemporary lives and world, we often don’t have physical control or possession of the things that we think we own. And we do possess a lot of things that we don’t own, on some version of a subscription model. What’s going on here? Is this a good development? What does this mean for advocates of a private property based economic system, and why should we care? Join the Gwartney team for a fruitful discussion of our ever-more-intricate world.
Transcribe →LEGO Lawfare | #396
2w ago00:42:43Tap to summarizePeter leads a discussion about a labyrinthine lawsuit and property dispute, pointing out along the way the light that this case sheds on property rights and how they are interpreted and enforced. This case has it all: death, theft, AI, skullduggery, corporate restructuring, and at the heart of it all (of course!), LEGOs.Join us for a fascinating and elucidating discussion!
Transcribe →Shrinking Middle Class? | #395
3w ago00:36:15Tap to summarizeIs the American middle-class is shrinking like the media tells us it is? Russ and Peter examine various data points and perspectives. Listen in and think about how middle class definitions have evolved over time, considering factors like income, wealth, and lifestyle expectations. While statistical data shows the middle class has shrunk in relative terms, they debated whether this reflects genuine economic decline or simply greater economic polarization with more people moving to higher or lower income brackets. How do you feel about middle-class America?
Transcribe →Gerrymandering, not as a bad as you think | #394
May 2500:34:01Tap to summarizePeter and Russ explore gerrymandering and uncover that it may not be as bad as other options for representation. They explain the implications of the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding racial considerations in redistricting, the challenges of eliminating gerrymandering while maintaining geographic representation, and the economic concept of rent-seeking in the redistricting process. Listen in and learn what they have to say!
Transcribe →Tragedy | #393
May 1800:34:31Tap to summarizeIf what we all really want is to be happy, why do we line up and pay money to watch something that we know ahead of time is going to make us sad? Join Peter and Justin as they consider the paradox of tragedy, and try to make sense of the hold that tragic drama has maintained on humanity going all the way back to the Greeks. Don’t wanna listen to the episode? Why don’t you cry about it.
Transcribe →Button, Button…| #392
May 1100:33:11Tap to summarizeDescription: In a popular thought experiment, everyone must privately choose between pressing a red or blue button. If the majority of people press the blue button, everyone lives.If the majority of people press the red button, all those who pressed the blue button die.Join Peter and Justin as they puzzle through why people disagree so vehemently about which button to press.Choose wisely!
Transcribe →Rational Ignorance and Public Choice | #201
May 400:37:37Tap to summarizeSome conversations don’t expire.We are re-releasing this episode because its message is just as relevant today as when we first shared it.Take a listen as the Gwartney team discusses rational ignorance and how society engages in it. Further, we investigate public choice and the dangers of growing bureaucracies. We hope you enjoy this episode and see how it fits into your life!Timeline:Public Finance / 2:30Black Box (James Buchanan) / 5:00Sugar Policies / 11:00Poverty Reduction: Government vs. Church / 18:35Profit of Politics / 22:15Purchaser of Seats, Closed Market / 30:00Structure of Government Creates a Hockey Stick? / 33:05
Transcribe →In Defense of Fartin’ Around | #391
Apr 2700:31:01Tap to summarizeWe live in an age of incredible ease and efficiency: order products on Amazon and they appear on your doorstep that afternoon. While this may seem like a no-brainer gain for the American consumer, are there trade-offs that we are ignoring? Might there be some benefit to actually engaging with your fellow humans on face-to-fave commerce?Join in as the Gwartney team makes the case for getting out there and crop-dusting your own local communities!
Transcribe →Humanomics at Creighton University with Drs. Koyama, Haeffele, Thomas | #390
Apr 2000:45:54Tap to summarizeWhen do relationships matter with transactions? How did the world become rich? Dr. Stephanie Haeffele the describes the work of scholars like Eleanor Ostrom and Viviana Zelitzer, emphasizing how relationships and social interactions affect economic behavior and policy outcomes. Dr. Koyama explained elements of his book "How the World Became Rich," which examines various theories on economic growth including geography, institutions, and culture, while focusing on how economic innovation originated in Western Europe during the late 17th to early 19th centuries. Great Q&A from college students attending the conference wraps up the podcast.Link to Dr. Koyama's book:How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth: 9781509540235: Economics Books @ Amazon.com
Transcribe →Baseball, Literature, and Culture -Dr. Andy Hazucha | #389
Apr 1300:38:24Tap to summarizeJoin Peter and Russ with special guest, Dr. Andy Hazucha, professor of English at Ottawa University in a conversation about the evolution of the Baseball in Literature and Culture. Why does baseball generate more literary works than other sports? Listen in as Andy explains the contemplative nature and pastoral setting of baseball that creates a unique atmosphere for reflection and storytelling.
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