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Words & Numbers — Education
Words & Numbers

Words & Numbers is one of the highest-rated economics podcasts in the world. Each episode, Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan dig into economics, political science, and current events to explain what’s actually happening and why it matters.

Copyright: © Creative Commons

Latest Episodes:

Episode 132: Words & Numbers Listener Special #4 Aug 21, 2019

Show notes

Which historical figures do you respect? Which economic concepts should be taught to children? How do you trust statistics? James Harrigan and Antony Davies take questions from the crowd on topics ranging from incentives to trade-offs to research data to US treasury bills and more in this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick hits

Birth rates dropping

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7312075/Birth-rate-England-Wales-hits-80-YEAR-low.html

Noam Chomsky

https://truthout.org/articles/noam-chomsky-life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-declining-for-a-reason

Foolishness of the week

Robot racism

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/tech/robot-racism-scn-trnd/index.html

Topic of the week: Listener questions

Milton Friedman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EwaLys3Zak

F.A. Hayek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnMd40dqBlQ

FRED: Federal Reserve data

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/

Bureau of Labor Statistics

https://www.bls.gov/

Pew Research

https://www.pewresearch.org/

Gallup

https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx

United Nations Development Programme

http://hdr.undp.org/en/data

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 131: Can Incentives Save the World? Aug 14, 2019

Show notes

When it comes to wildlife conservation and other environmental concerns, the ideas of free markets and private property are frequently laughed off as silly by the planet’s most strident defenders. However, the incentives—the motivations to behave in a certain way—that come along with private property are strong. After all, we never worry about cows going extinct. But can these insights on property and incentives be extended to other aspects of our lives and our world? Special guest Howard Baetjer, author of Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics, joins Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they explore this and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

Pickle ball

https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/07/26/pickleball-prison-cook-county

Air conditioned shirts

https://www.winknews.com/2019/08/01/sony-to-sell-air-conditioner-shirts-to-keep-you-cool-as-soon-as-next-year/

Foolishness of the week

Rudeness in the grocery stores

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/os-ne-2nd-walmart-urinator-20190802-uogo4be7mbhivezdystbc2rnvm-story.html

Topic of the week: Howard Baetjer and Economic Stories

Howard Baetjer

http://wp.towson.edu/baetjer/

Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics

https://www.amazon.com/Free-Our-Markets-Essential-Economics/dp/098442542X

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

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https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 130: Unschooling and Encouraging Self-Directed Children Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

For many children, compulsory education and authority figures tend to inadvertently turn off their sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. Additionally, assigned districts can limit school choice for many parents and mandatory curricula can put unnecessary stress on educators. Are there solutions to these problems within the current framework? Is there any evidence to support changing the way we approach schooling to benefit children, parents, and teachers? Where did all these mandates originate? Join Antony Davies, James Harrigan, and special guest Kerry McDonald, author of Unschooled, as they discuss the public school system and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon:

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Quick hits:

Beach umbrellas

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/menendez-urges-aggressive-action-protect-beachgoers-dangers-flying-beach-umbrellas/

https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/nsc-statement-on-new-cdc-data-showing-a-rise-in-accidental-death

Candidates reticent to mention Obama

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/democrats-want-have-it-both-ways-barack-obama/595270/

Foolishness of the week:

Soy sauce

https://www.9news.com.au/national/soy-sauce-could-be-banned-under-alcohol-sales-restrictions-in-the-northern-territory/71ef616f-778a-4c24-bf95-a63e2627b00f

Topic of the week: Unschooling:

Kerry McDonald

https://fee.org/people/kerry-mcdonald/

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641600632/

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 129: When Do We Reach Adulthood? Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

As we reach pivotal milestones, such as the legal driving age, we’re met with serious questions: Who decided I’m not old enough to vote? Why can I drive but not enter a bar? When do I have to buy health insurance? Am I ready for all this? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they weigh the pros and cons of transitioning from a minor to an adult live from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

Brim’s Snack Foods https://www.apr.org/post/life-so-delicious

Facts about small businesses https://sbecouncil.org/about-us/facts-and-data/

$20 an hour minimum wage https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/454212-rashida-tlaib-minimum-wage-should-be-20-an-hour-not-15

Foolishness of the week

Montgomery county, Maryland wants to require landlords to provide air conditioning

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/as-temperatures-rise-montgomery-asks-should-landlords-have-to-provide-ac-to-tenants/2019/07/16/4b5c7406-a7dc-11e9-86dd-d7f0e60391e9_story.html

Topic of the week: When does a person become an adult?

Ages of majority across the states

https://hrpo.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/5-Determining-Legal-Age-to-Consent.pdf

Bill calls for raising the smoking age to 21

https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/senate-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-introduces-bill-raise-federal-legal-smoking-age-21

Legal drinking ages across countries

https://drinkingage.procon.org/minimum-legal-drinking-age-in-190-countries/

Legal marriage ages across states

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/table_marriage

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Let us know what you think

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 128: Are Corporations People? Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

Citizens United, a conservative non-profit corporation, was once caught in the crosshairs of campaign finance law. The company violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act by broadcasting a political film within 30 days of a primary election. The Supreme Court split 5-4 on the issue. Did the court side with the free speech of a corporation? What happens when there are two different visions of the First Amendment? Are corporations people? Join James Harrigan, Antony Davies, and special guest Trevor Burrus as they recount the courtroom drama of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

The bystander effect

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31157529

The world is becoming a better place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP59tz2WreY

Advances toward a cancer cure

https://www.studyfinds.org/strategic-medicine-researchers-develop-trojan-horse-drug-that-tricks-then-kills-cancer-cells/

Foolishness of the week

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/17/health/beef-environment-resources-report/index.html

Topic of the week: Political Speech and the Citizens United Decision

Trevor Burrus

https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus

Trevor Burrus on Twitter

https://twitter.com/tcburrus

McCain-Feingold, Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

https://ballotpedia.org/Bipartisan_Campaign_Reform_Act

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

https://ballotpedia.org/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission

https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/michael-moore-trumpland-might-have-been-illegal-citizens-united-its-all

Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce

https://ballotpedia.org/Austin_v._Michigan_Chamber_of_Commerce

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 127: What Is a Wealth of Data Worth? Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

As people like, share, and upload on social media platforms, data is generated by users and gathered by tech companies. It’s a bit unclear, however, how companies handle user data. Is selling or storing user data a problem? Does the Fourth Amendment protect internet privacy? Should the government get involved?Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies—live from the University of Arizona!—as they discuss End User License Agreements, copyright law, data breaches, and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

President Trump may not block critics from his Twitter feed

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-twitter-first-amendment.html

CBO estimates of the effect of a minimum wage hike

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/08/cbo-estimates-effects-of-house-democrats-15-minimum-wage-plan.html

Foolishness of the week

Google recorded then leaked conversations that Google Assistant overheard

https://mashable.com/article/google-assistant-recordings-leaked/

Topic of the week: Privacy

Expectation of privacy https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/expectation_of_privacy

Katz v. United States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katz_v._United_States

Olmstead v. United States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmstead_v._United_States

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Let us know what you think

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 126: Who Owns Outer Space? Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

When it comes to the final frontier, we must inevitably outline the government’s role in interplanetary colonization. Perhaps during the next century, there will be deliberation between cosmic pioneers, space entrepreneurs, and elected officials. Who owns the resources on asteroids and other celestial bodies? What might a galactic congress look like? And what’s maritime law got to do with it? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they mine that asteroid and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Show Notes:

$10 quintillion asteroid

https://www.foxnews.com/science/nasa-headed-towards-giant-golden-asteroid-that-could-make-everyone-on-earth-a-billionaire

Rep. Amash quits the Republican party

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-justin-amash-announces-quitting-republican-party-op/story

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/us/politics/justin-amash-trump.html

Foolishness of the week

Buttigieg calls for national service programs

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/03/us/politics/buttigieg-national-service.html

How to pronounce Buttigieg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT36PvjxbRA

Topic of the week: Who owns space?

Heinlein: The Man Who Sold the Moon

https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Sold-Moon/dp/0671578634

General Mining Act of 1872

https://legcounsel.house.gov/Comps/Act%20Of%20May%2010,%201872-(Mining%20Law%20Of%201872).pdf

Law of the Sea

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_sea

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Antony Davies on Twitter

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https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 125: Celebrating American Independence Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

This week’s guest, Robert McDonald, author of Confounding Father talks about the quintessential American philosopher: Thomas Jefferson. During the birth of America, innumerable obstacles stood in its way. What followed was the triumph of the first Americans, from a revolutionary war to purchasing Louisiana and everything in between. Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan for a cheerful, optimistic ode to the spirit of America on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

Disney heir calls for wealth tax

https://www.npr.org/2019/06/28/736993245/disney-heiress-calls-for-wealth-tax-we-have-to-draw-a-line

San Francisco bans vaping

https://fee.org/articles/san-francisco-becomes-first-us-city-to-ban-sale-of-e-cigarettes-a-healthier-alternative-to-smoking/

Foolishness of the week

Democratic debates and yoga games

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/450540-marianne-williamson-sends-out-healthy-alternative-to-debate

Topic of the week: Robert McDonald on Thomas Jefferson

Confounding Father

https://tinyurl.com/y39dpz5g

Thomas Jefferson’s Lives: Biographers and the Battle for History

https://tinyurl.com/yxtgkhng

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Antony Davies on Twitter

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James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 124: Arguing Outcomes Instead of Principles Puts the Cart Before the Horse Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

There appears to be a large problem in America with outcome-based thinking, particularly with regards to hot-button political issues. We skip straight to the ending we want and argue for it until we’re blue in the face, and everyone who doesn’t want the same must be evil, stupid, or both. But what if we started the conversation in a different place? What if we started it at the principles that lead to the desired outcome? Would the conversation change? James Harrigan and Antony Davies dig into the subject during their second live recording from FEEcon 2019 on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

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Quick hits

From janitor to Executive Vice-President

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/27/a-janitor-invented-flamin-hot-cheetos-and-became-a-pepsico-exec.html

Lost wallets experiment

https://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-people-are-honest-lost-wallets-experiment-20190620-story.html

Foolishness of the week

Manufacturing czar

https://triblive.com/opinion/donald-boudreaux-save-us-from-a-manufacturing-czar/

Topic of the week: Principle and Outcome

Federal receipts are 18% of GDP

https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2016-12-01/myths-and-facts-about-the-us-federal-debt

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Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 123: What Does Equality Even Mean? Jun 19, 2019

Show notes

The word “equality” is a tricky one. It means different things to different people in different contexts. Do we mean “income equality”? “Wealth equality”? “Equality before the law”? And how does that sync up with “fairness”? Why are so many fine with professional athletes and movie stars making hundreds of millions of dollars but not CEOs? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they delve into the subject live from FEEcon 2019 on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick hits:

Tulsi Gabbard

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/congresswoman-used-toffee-to-unite-republicans-and-democrats/

People spending more on the Internet than at restaurants

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-15/americans-now-spend-more-at-internet-stores-than-restaurants

Foolishness of the week:

O.J. Simpson “has a little getting even to do”

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/06/oj-simpson-twitter-has-a-little-getting-even-to-do

Topic of the week: Inequality:

The problem of inequality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCjWG8RqH4w

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Let us know what you think:

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Antony Davies on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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