Podcast
Let People Prosper
Hosted by Vance Ginn, Ph.D. · EN
What works best to let people prosper? Join leading free-market economist Vance Ginn, Ph.D., as he works to understand this question through weekly interviews with interesting people on Tuesdays and weekly economic updates on Fridays. His insights build on past lessons, including his presidency of Ginn Economic Consulting and contributions to more than 15 think tanks, while he formerly taught economics in academia and served as chief economist of the White House's OMB. Dr. Ginn is a Christian, husband, father of three kids, classical liberal, and rock drummer who resides near Austin, Texas.
76episodes
Episodes
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The Different Languages of Politics with Dr. Arnold Kling | Let People Prosper Ep. 186
Feb 1900:41:08Tap to summarizeIf politics feels angrier, dumber, and more tribal than ever, you’re not imagining it. Smart people are talking past each other. Good intentions collide. Every issue becomes a moral emergency. And somehow, even ideas that once united people—like trade, cooperation, and innovation—now trigger outrage.This episode gets to the why.My guest is Arnold Kling—one of the most original thinkers on how economics and politics actually work in the real world. Arnold doesn’t just analyze policy outcomes; he explains why we struggle to communicate, why persuasion fails, and why cooperation breaks down even when everyone claims to want prosperity.He’s the author of The Three Languages of Politics and Specialization and Trade, two books that help explain why debates feel impossible—and why decentralized cooperation still beats control every time.This conversation ranges from political psychology to trade, from tribalism to AI, and from economic ignorance to real reasons for optimism. If you want to understand why our politics feels broken—and how prosperity still emerges despite it—this one’s for you.
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Who Will Shape the AI Economy? | This Week's Economy Ep. 151
Feb 1600:14:54Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is no longer a future concept or a Silicon Valley experiment—it’s already shaping how we learn, work, and deliver care. From classrooms and hospitals to small businesses and local governments, AI is quietly changing how much we can do with the time and resources we have. While this progress has sparked excitement, it has also triggered a familiar political response: fear. Warnings about job loss, concentration, and runaway technology now dominate the conversation. But that misses the lessons history and basic economics can teach us.In this episode of This Week’s Economy, we examine AI through a clear policy and economic lens. We’ll talk about creative destruction, labor markets, and the enormous potential AI holds to expand opportunity and raise living standards, and we'll discuss the threats posed by poor regulatory policies. The question isn’t whether AI will transform our economy. It’s whether we’ll let markets, competition, and human ingenuity guide that transformation—or regulate it away.Tune in to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website vanceginn.com for more information about Ginn Economic Consulting and me.
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Fiscal Responsibility Isn’t Optional with Dr. Veronique DeRugy | Let People Prosper Ep. 185
Feb 1200:46:36Tap to summarizeWashington never runs out of ideas for spending money it doesn’t have.This episode of the Let People Prosper Show takes on one of the latest examples: so-called “Trump Accounts.” Marketed as a pro-family, pro-capitalism idea, they’re actually another case of federal social engineering through the tax code—layered on top of an already broken fiscal foundation.To unpack it all, I sat down with Veronique de Rugy, one of the sharpest and most honest fiscal minds in America. She’s the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy at the Mercatus Center and a nationally syndicated columnist who has spent her career calling out budget gimmicks, cronyism, and policies that trade long-term prosperity for short-term politics.She was last on the show in Episode 102, discussing immigration and American values. This time, we dive into deficits, tariffs, inflation, entitlement pressure, and why Washington’s obsession with using the tax code to “fix” social problems often makes things worse.🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting.
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We Can’t Pretend Bad Economic Policy Doesn’t Hurt Us | This Week's Economy Ep. 150
Feb 900:18:54Tap to summarizeEconomic policy affects more than just spreadsheets. When leaders fail to control spending, undermine markets, or delay hard decisions, families feel it through higher prices, fewer opportunities, and slower growth. With rising concerns about affordability, the consequences of poor economic policy aren’t abstract — they shape how people live, work, and plan for the future. Price controls, restrictive immigration policies, and higher taxes don’t solve these problems. They make them worse.In the episode of This Week’s Economy, we examine what happens when policymakers ignore first principles. I break down why recurring shutdowns expose deeper budgeting failures, how states are approaching tax relief and economic freedom, what a new pick for Fed chair could mean for inflation and stability, and why labor shortages and immigration policy matter for long-term growth. Across each issue, the lesson is the same: prosperity follows discipline, sound incentives, and trust in markets — not political shortcuts.Catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website at vanceginn.com for show notes and more information about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting.
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Empowering Workers in a Changing Economy with Vinnie Vernuccio | Let People Prosper Ep. 184
Feb 500:40:59Tap to summarizeIf you listen closely to today’s labor debates, you’ll hear a familiar refrain: workers need more protection from Washington. But scratch the surface, and what many politicians really mean is more power for unions, more mandates for employers, and fewer choices for workers themselves.That’s backward.In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Vinnie Vernuccio, one of the sharpest labor-policy minds in the country and a longtime advocate for actual worker freedom. We talk about what it really means to be pro-worker in a 21st-century economy—one defined by flexibility, technology, and individual choice, not 1930s labor law.This is a timely conversation. Between renewed pushes for the PRO Act, rising use of AI in the workplace, and growing attacks on independent contracting and right-to-work laws, the future of work is being shaped right now. And too often, workers are treated as political props rather than individuals with agency.This episode pushes back—hard.🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting.
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Defending Liberty with The Honorable Justin Amash | Let People Prosper Ep. 135 🎙️
Feb 13, 202500:46:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, former U.S. Congressman Justin Amash joins the conversation to share his journey from his parents' immigrant experience to becoming one of the most principled voices for limited government and individual liberty in Washington, D.C. Amash discusses the importance of free markets, fighting corporate welfare, and the dangers of unchecked government power.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
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Not Business As Usual in Washington | This Week's Economy Ep. 98
Feb 10, 202500:11:29Tap to summarizeEven more executive orders are coming out of the White House this week. The announcements have been significant, from cutting regulations to proposing a sovereign wealth fund. One of the most anticipated is an order to dismantle the Department of Education. This paves the way for a nationwide school choice movement, giving students and families more control over their education.Thanks for joining me in this episode of "This Week's Economy." For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a paid subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
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Navigating the AI Revolution with Dean Ball | Let People Prosper Ep. 134🎙️
Feb 6, 202500:47:35Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Dean Ball and I explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for society, economy, and governance. Dean is a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He shares his motivations for engaging with AI, his journey into the field, and the misconceptions surrounding it. We discuss the historical context of technological advancements, the impact of AI on labor markets, and the regulatory challenges that arise as states like Texas introduce new frameworks for AI governance. Dean emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to regulation that fosters innovation while addressing potential risks and the connection with energy abundance. For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
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Taxation Through Trump's Tariffs | This Week's Economy Ep. 97
Feb 3, 202500:16:47Tap to summarizeMajor changes are underway in the federal government with Trump in office. He's tackling the size and scope of government, which is a long overdue move. We’re also gaining more insight into President Trump’s plans to impose tariffs, which could raise American prices. Now is the time for bold reforms—whether it’s slashing government spending, championing free markets, or encouraging innovation to maintain our global competitiveness. In this episode, I also explore a Texas school choice bill, a new competitor in the AI sector, calls to abolish the CFPB and much more. Thanks for joining me in this episode of "This Week's Economy." For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a paid subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
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Reimagining American Healthcare with Joe Grogan | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 133 🎙️
Jan 30, 202500:45:48Tap to summarizeWelcome to this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, where we discuss critical issues in public policy, economics, and the future of prosperity. Today’s guest is Joe Grogan, founder of Fire Arrow Consulting and a leading healthcare policy expert with decades of private and government experience. Joe served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council under President Trump, where he played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare policy, including efforts to improve transparency and market competition. He is also the co-host of the DC EKG podcast, where I was recently on his show to dive into healthcare reform, economic policy, and the power of state-level innovation. For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
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