The Curious Task

Alex Aragona speaks with Bart Wilson as he explores the natural tendencies of humans in relation to their views and attitudes on property. References from Episode 64 with Bart Wilson You can purchase Bart Wilson’s book, The Property Species: Mine, Yours, and The Human Mind  on Amazon Canada . Bart referenced a study by linguists Cliff Goddard and Anna Wierzbicka on the conceptual semantics of poss...

Alex Aragona speaks with Michael Strong as he explores how entrepreneurship improves the lives of people all over the world.  References 1. “Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems” by Michael Strong and John Mackey Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Be-Solution-Entrepreneurs-Conscious-Capitalists/dp/0470450037 2. “The Magic Washing Machine” video b...

Alex Aragona speaks with Cara Zwibel as she offers her thoughts on whether we can maintain our civil liberties during an emergency like a pandemic, and how we can do so. References from Episode 62 with Cara Zwibel This is the  website  for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The Government of Canada has sector and industry-specific guidelines in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be...

Alex Aragona speaks with Bryan Caplan about the value of a formal education, and compares the alleged benefits against the reality. References from Episode 61 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  (book),  The Case Against Educ...

Alex Aragona speaks with Eric Schliesser as he explores the history of the term "neoliberalism," its eventual evolution, and what neoliberalism means today. References from episode 60 with Eric Schliesser Here is a list of  Eric Schliesser’s publications . Dr. Karen Horn and Dr. Stefan Kolev’s joint work, entitled Economic Thinking, has a German version available for purchase on Amazon Canada at t...

Alex Aragona speaks with Lynne Kiesling as she explores the current structure of energy systems and delivery, and how they can be restructured in more market-oriented ways. References from Episode 59 with Lynne Kiesling You can buy Lynne Kiesling’s book, Deregulation, Innovation and Market Liberalization: Electricity Regulation in a Continually Evolving Environment, on Amazon Canada at this  link...

Alex Aragona speaks with Matt Ridley as he explores the nature of innovation and the conditions that enable it to flourish. References 1. Mind & Matter Column, Wall Street Journal Link: https://www.wsj.com/news/types/mind-matter   2. “How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom by Matt Ridley Link: https://www.amazon.ca/How-Innovation-Works-Flourishes-Freedom/dp/0062916599   3. “Nor...

Alex Aragona speaks with Terry Anderson as he explores the external forces that have restrained the wealth and well-being of Indigenous peoples in the West, and how that wealth can be unlocked.  References 1. “Free Market Environmentalism for the Next Generation” by Terry L. Anderson and Donald R. Leal Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Market-Environmentalism-Generation-Anderson-Paperback/dp/B010CKSG1M...

Alex Aragona speaks with Diana Thomas as she explores the factors that play into increasing childcare costs, and some potential solutions to the problem. References 1. “Regulation and the Cost of Childcare” by Diana Thomas and Devon Gorry Link: https://www.mercatus.org/students/research/working-papers/regulation-and-cost-child-care   2. Child Care Aware of America Link: https://www.childcareaware....

Alex Aragona speaks with Vincent Geloso as he explores anarcho-capitalist economic concepts and whether there are real life examples to back them up. References 1. Vincent’s Previous Episode “Should We Care About Equality” on The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-28-vincent-geloso-%e2%80%94-should-we-care-about-inequality/   2. “Private Creation and Enforcement of...

Alex Aragona speaks with Dan Griswold as he explores the benefits of open markets and free trade, and whether you can "win" a trade war. References 1. “Mad About Trade: Why Main Street America Should Embrace Globalization” by Daniel Griswold Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Mad-About-Trade-America-Globalization/dp/193530819X   2. “Section 232 Investigation on the Effect of Imports of Steel on U.S. Nati...

Author of 'Unschooled' Kerry McDonald joins Alex Aragona to talk about how choice in education can allow children to lead happier and more fulfilled lives, and the positive impacts of taking education outside the conventional classroom.  References from Episode 53 with Kerry McDonald: You can buy Kerry McDonald’s book, Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Cl...

Alex Aragona speaks with Nimish Adhia as he explores how Bollywood films traced cultural changes in India, and how the films themselves directly affect social attitudes. References from Episode 52 with Nimish Adhia: You can read Nimish Adhia’s paper “The role of ideological change in India’s economic liberalization”, which is referenced throughout the podcast, at this  link You can read more about...

Alex Aragona speaks with Malcolm Lavoie about the importance of property rights to decentralization and the use of resources, and discusses how FA Hayek's work plays a part in understanding this connection.  References from Episode 51 with Malcolm Lavoie: You can read Malcolm Lavoie’s paper “Property and Local Knowledge”, which is referenced throughout the podcast, at this  link . You can read FA...

Alex Aragona speaks with Linda Kavuka as she explores why it's so important to rediscover Africa's free-market past, and how the ideas surrounding free markets can help remedy the problems facing many African countries.   References from Episode 50 with Linda Kavuka: You can read Linda Kavuka’s Telegraph article on Africa and access to the free market referenced in the podcast  here You can watch...

Alex Aragona speaks with Fabio Rojas as he traces the history of the post 9/11 anti-war movement and what caused it to lose momentum. References from Episode 49 with Fabio Rojas: You can purchase Fabio Rojas’ book, From Black Power to Black Studies: How a Radical Social Movement Became an Academic Discipline, on Amazon Canada at this  link. You can buy Fabio Rojas’ book, Party in the Street: The A...

Alex Aragona nerds out with Travis Smith as they discuss his book 'Superhero Ethics', why superheroes are so popular, and the ten ways superheros save the world.  References from Episode 48 with Travis Smith: You can purchase Travis Smith’s book Superhero Ethics: 10 Comic Book Heroes; 10 Ways to Save the World; Which One Do We Need Most Now? on Amazon Canada at this  link You can watch the trailer...

Alex Aragona speaks with Ilya Somin as he explores how you can vote with your feet and if it is effective. References from Episode 47 with Ilya Somin: You can purchase Illya Somin’s book, Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter, on Amazon Canada at this  link You can purchase Illya Somin’s book, The Grasping Hand: “Kelo V. City of New London” and the Limits of Eminent...

Alex Aragona speaks with Dennis Rasmussen as he traces the friendship between Adam Smith and David Hume, and how it helped shaped modern thought. References from Episode 46 with Dennis Rasmussen: You can purchase Dennis Rasmussen’s book, The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought, on Amazon Canada at this  link. You can purchase David Hume’...

Alex Aragona speaks with Steve Davies as he explores what he thinks life after the pandemic will look like, including our relationship with the welfare state. References from Episode 45 with Steve Davies: You can purchase Steve Davies’ book, Empiricism and History, at Amazon at this  link You can purchase Steve Davies’ book, The Wealth Explosion: The Nature and Origins of Modernity, at Amazon at t...

Alex Aragona talks with Shikha Sood Dalmia as she explores the story of a Sikh-Canadian broadcaster's rise to fame, and what stories like these mean for the broader immigrant community when it comes to joining, and changing, the world around them. References from Episode 44 with Shikha Dalmia: You can read Shikha Dalmia’s original Reason article about this topic  at this link

Alex Aragona speaks with Ben Perrin as he explores the causes of, and solutions to, the opioid crisis in Canada and the United States. References from Episode 43 with Ben Perrin: You can purchase Ben Perrin’s new book Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis at Amazon Canada  at this link You can listen to the episode of The Curious Task that Alex mentioned that features Trevor Burr...

Everyone should care about economic freedom. But why is economic freedom especially relevant for women? Alex Aragona chats with Sarah Skwire as she explores why economic freedom has been, and is, important for women to cherish and defend. References from Episode 42 with Sarah Skwire: You can check out Adam Smith Works  here You can purchase Sarah’s article on Margaret Fell  here You can read Sarah...

Alex Aragona speaks with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can change your life, even so many years later.   References from Episode 41 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 Aragona chats with Pete Boettke as he dives into what the curious task of economics is and relates it back to the work of Friedrich Hayek. References from Episode 40 with Pete Boettke You can purchase Pete Boettke’s book on F.A. Hayek on Amazon Canada  here Check out Pete Boettke’s economics blog  here