Happy Hour Econ

If you tried to describe Las Vegas, Nevada, to someone who’d never heard of it, the city would seem like a fever dream lifted straight out of a completely unhinged novel. In the middle of a desolate desert landscape, a glittering oasis rises as though from nowhere, filled with every form of entertainment and vice you could hope for, all cleverly designed to keep you there for as long as possible....

What happens when bold predictions of global catastrophe meet…reality? In this episode of  Happy Hour Econ , a comedian and an economist take a hilarious yet insightful deep dive into  The Population Bomb  and the legacy of Paul Ehrlich’s infamous overpopulation predictions. Lou and Phil dive into why humanity stubbornly refused to starve (thanks, innovation!), how government policies sometimes ma...

Why are gas prices so high—and why does it feel like they  never  come back down? In this episode of  Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness break down the real reasons behind rising gas prices, from global oil supply shocks to foreign policy chaos and everything in between. With humor and sharp economic insight, they explore how events like conflict in the Middle East, di...

This week on  Happy Hour Econ , the brackets are busted, the probabilities are brutal, and your leftover lasagna might actually have better odds than your Final Four picks. Why is it nearly impossible to pick a perfect March Madness bracket? How does the NCAA make billions—and who actually gets paid? And what do your fridge leftovers have to do with economic theory? In this episode of  Happy Hour...

In this episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness walk into a bar… and accidentally start a 25-minute debate about socialism. Oops. With the Democratic Socialists of America hitting 100,000 members and socialism suddenly trending with younger generations, Lou asks the obvious question: Why? The conversation also touches on socialism vs capitalism, the role of marke...

Why do Americans not choo-choo-choose trains? In this episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness climb aboard the great American train debate and ask a simple question: Why does everyone on the internet suddenly want bullet trains? From Lou’s beer-blurred European train adventures to Phil’s deep dive into railroad history, they explore why train travel works in Euro...

In this episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness swap Olympic highlights for tariff takedowns—and somehow make constitutional law feel like a bar bet you didn’t know you were placing. While the rest of America was celebrating gold medals, Phil was glued to a different showdown: the Supreme Court smacking down President Donald Trump ’s sweeping “Tariff Liberation D...

Are you boycotting us right now? From the Boston Tea Party to the Super Bowl halftime show heard ’round the internet (featuring global superstar Bad Bunny), the guys break down what boycotts are, how they work, and why simply changing the channel may not be the revolutionary act you think it is. The conversation dives into the real-world impact of boycotts in Puerto Rico, including how shipping re...

What’s the real cost of hosting the Winter Olympics ? Why do cities go billions into debt for two weeks of figure skating and curling? And are Olympic gold medals actually… plastic? In this laugh-out-loud episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness break down the economics of the Olympic Games , exposing the financial myths, political drama, and corruption scandals b...

Can artificial intelligence replace artists, comedians, or even George Carlin? 🤖🍸 In this episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magnus dive into the economics of AI, creativity, and art—while trying to figure out if robots are coming for Lou’s stand-up career. From AI-generated comedy specials and deepfake celebrity voices to copyright law, creative authenticity, and...

Is ChatGPT a productivity tool, a plagiarism machine, or the first step toward a robot apocalypse? On this episode of Happy Hour Econ , comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness dive into how machines still can’t think like humans (or write a good term paper), how creative destruction has always reshaped the economy, and why nuclear power is suddenly back in the conversation. AI is already imp...

WTF is the World Economic Forum—and why does it feel like every James Bond villain vacations there? From  global elites and technocrats  to  climate change policy ,  net zero , and the infamous “ you’ll own nothing and be happy ” slogan, we unpack the biggest ideas—and strangest headlines—coming out of Davos. Topics include  credit card interest rate caps ,  usury ,  central planning ,  AI-driven...

How much should you tip a bartender, waiter, delivery driver, or barista—and why does tipping feel so awkward now? In this episode of  Happy Hour Econ , comedian  Lou Perez  and economist  Phil Magness  break down the  economics of tipping , America’s tipping culture, why tip screens seem to be everywhere, and how that iPad that  definitely  judged you. Welcome to Happy Hour Econ from Free To Choo...

Cuddling in a warm blanket with your family…to prevent yourself from freezing in your rent controlled apartment. Is this the “Warmth of Collectivism” that everyone is talking about? Join your hosts as the break down the economic reality on NYC’s latest craze. Welcome to Happy Hour Econ from Free To Choose Network, where comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness serve up weekly shots of economi...

What are you REALLY buying with that gym membership to ring in the New Year? From limiting social media to working out, your New Year’s resolutions have both economic and social impacts. What are they? Find out on the latest episode of Happy Hour Econ. Welcome to Happy Hour Econ from Free To Choose Network, where comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness serve up weekly shots of economic reali...

No more Black Friday stampedes…humbug! Let Comedian Lou Perez, and Economist Phil Magness guide your sleigh though the surprising economics of the Christmas season. From the downfall of Black Friday madness to dealing with cheap gifts and the signals they send, pull up a stool, pour a drink, and have a shot of economic reality with the debut episode of Happy Hour Econ. Welcome to Happy Hour Econ f...