The Cause and Effect Podcast

Does economic freedom make the rich richer and the poor poorer? I had the pleasure of talking with Justin Callais about his research — the first causal investigation of this important question. In episode 6 of The Cause and Effect, we dive into Justin’s research on how economic freedom affects both economic growth and inequality — and what this means for ordinary people, not just for GDP statistic...

Guest: Rohen Shah We've all heard it: “If you want to truly learn something, teach it.” But does the research support this idea? In this episode, economist and educator Rohen Shah shares his insights on why teaching others may be the most effective learning strategy —especially for students and self-learners. Based on evidence from real-world applications, including platforms like Khan Academy , w...

How fair is the college admissions process? In this episode, economist Tyler Ransom joins host Vitor Melo to explore one of the most controversial and impactful issues in U.S. education: racial discrimination in college admissions . Together, they examine the data behind who gets into college—and who doesn’t. Does race play a role? What about class? And how do policies like affirmative action shap...

In this episode, economist Edward Timmons joins host Vitor Melo to discuss the real impact of occupational licensing laws on workers, consumers, and the economy. 🎯 Over 1 in 5 American workers must obtain a government license to do their job—barbers, teachers, massage therapists, even florists. But does licensing actually protect the public? Or is it a barrier that drives up costs and keeps peopl...

Welcome to the second episode of The Cause and Effect! 🎙️✨In this episode, Riley League, assistant professor of finance at the University of Illinois, joins us to discuss a critical issue in the U.S. healthcare system: waste and fraud. 💰🏥The healthcare sector is worth trillions, but how much of that spending is wasted? We explore:✔️ The true cost of fraud and inefficiencies in healthcare✔️ How...

🎙️ Welcome to the first episode of The Cause and Effect Podcast! ✨ Today, we’re joined by Liam Sigaud, researcher and economist, to dive into a critical topic: Certificate of Need Laws (CON Laws). These regulations were designed to control healthcare costs, but are they actually restricting access to quality medical services? 🤔 🔎 In this episode, we explore: ✔️ What Certificate of Need Laws are...