December 4, 2019
Smart Talk with Dr. Robin Gaster
Amazon’s stunning rise from a garage-based operation to retail and technology colossus is by now well-known. Much less known however, is the fact that Amazon is on the verge of extending its dominion over the entire American book industry – including publishing. In this edition of Smart Talk, Alan and his guest, Economist Robin Gaster discuss the epic story of Amazon’s momentous rise and its wide-ranging implications.
July 22, 2019
Smart Talk with Fred Foldvary
In this edition of Smart Talk, Ed Dodson speaks with Professor Fred Foldvary, one of the few economists who predicted the 2007 financial crisis, on the state of the US Economy. This interesting exchange reveals the main flaws of policy responses offered by Progressives, which are well-intended but fundamentally misguided for they treat the effect of bad outcomes rather than eliminating their cause.
May 15, 2019
Smart Talk with Marie Mora
This episode of Smart Talk features Marie Mora, Professor of Economics at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. Pr. Mora shares the findings of her research on economic conditions and the general outlook for Puerto Rico before and after hurricane Maria. She argues that the island’s economic woes date back from 2006 when businesses began scaling back and moving out following the expiration of the 1976 tax credits….
March 19, 2019
Smart Talk with Rick Rybeck
In this edition of Smart Talk, Joshua Vincent speaks with Rick Rybeck, Director of Just Economics LLC about Land Value Return and Recycling, a policy tool that helps communities recover and reinvest increases in land values resulting from publicly funded infrastructure. The lively conversation reveals the dysfunctions and inefficiencies in our existing funding mechanisms, and stresses the case for LVRR, a proven device for sustainable urban growth and financially self-sustaining infrastructure.
February 8, 2019
Smart Talk with Jorge Castañeda
A new trade deal is in place, a disruptor is in the White House, and Mexico has just sworn in a new leftist president.
In this edition of Smart Talk, Alan Tonelson of the Henry George School and Dr. Jorge Castañeda, former Foreign Minister of Mexico and renowned expert on Western Hemisphere affairs; discuss the future of the continent’s highly integrated economy on trade, immigration, and other thorny issues.
December 21, 2018
Smart Talk with Colleen Woodell
In this episode of Smart Talk, Jeffrey Previdi of the Henry George School speaks with Colleen Woodell, former Chair of the MSRB about the role and importance of Municipal Bonds, a primary source of funding for state and local infrastructure and an investment vehicle of choice for American households. Jeff and Colleen also highlight the theoretical plausibility of an LVT linked muni bond market, but stress the heavy reliance of our existing revenue system on the property tax as the single most important obstacle to its implementation.
August 17, 2018
Smart Talk with Edward Nell
In this special edition of Smart Talk, Ed Dodson speaks with Professor Emeritus Edward J. Nell, Vice President of the Henry George School about his new book, Progress and Poverty in Economics – How Real Estate and Rents cause Financial Instability.
Professor Nell warns against the dangers of bloated finance and calls for its reconceptualization as a public good that supports the real economy rather than draining it. He argues that an over-sized financial sector not only causes systemic fragility, it also undermines growth prospects by diverting resources and talent away from the productive economy toward rent seeking activities.
