The Economist Next Door

Why does the money supply matter? Do most Americans hate their jobs? And how can it make sense to spend millions of dollars on an election you'll win anyway? Joining the show today is Patrick Horan to discuss.  Patrick Horan is a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he focuses on monetary policy and the Federal Reserve System. His writings have been published in...

What is the state pension fund crisis? Why are government subsidies for internet service a bad idea? Did tariffs cause the Great Depression? Dominic Pino and Thomas Savidge sit down to discuss these questions and more.  Thomas Savidge is a Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He earned his Master in Public Policy from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in Po...

How does the tax code screw up healthcare?  On the latest episode of Econception, Theo Merkel sits down with Dominic to discuss how healthcare and health insurance are closely tied to tax policy, and how the tax code can be changed to address some of our healthcare system's biggest problems. Theo Merkel is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on improving the sustainability of U.S....

Does worker pay track with worker productivity? Do bureaucrats represent the American people? What does smuggling alcohol have to do with supporting tariffs? Scott Winship sits down with Dominic Pino to discuss these questions and more on this episode of Econception. Scott Winship is the Director of the Center for Social Mobility and Opportunity at the American Enterprise Institute.  

Tariffs are one of those economic topics that never seem to go away. With new tariffs from the Biden Administration and a proposed 10% universal tariff for President Trump's potential second term, we have to ask: What's the real story behind them? Are they rightfully understood in our discourse today? What would the impact of more tariffs be? To discuss these questions, host Dominic Pino sat down...

Why is 2025 an important year for government spending? Does the rise of China mean free trade no longer applies? Is it a good idea to devalue the U.S. dollar? Paul Winfree sits down with host Dominic Pino to discuss these questions. Dr. Paul Winfree is an economist and a trusted public policy advisor. He has served in top management and policy roles in the White House, the US Senate, and in think...

What is industrial policy, and does it work? What really is the "China shock"? Do the rich pay their fair share? Dr. Samuel Gregg sits down with host Dominic Pino to discuss these questions. Samuel Gregg is the Friedrich Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic History at the American Institute for Economic Research. He has a Doctorate in moral philosophy and political economy from Oxford University,...

How does trade policy actually get made? Does steel need protectionism? And what is the planner mindset? Dominic Pino sits down with Ed Gresser to discuss these questions and more. Ed Gresser is Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets at the Progressive Policy Institute. Previously, he worked at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office during both the Barack Obama Administration and...

Do we live in a market economy? Why should politicians stay away from monetary policy? And why is the chicken a good mascot for free markets? Host Dominic Pino sits down with Daniel Hannan to discuss these questions and more. Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is an author and columnist, and is a member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. Lord Hannan also serves on the UK Board of Trade, one of th...

Are stadium subsidies worth it? How about steel and aluminum tariffs? And what even is a grocery store? On this episode of Econception, an AIER podcast, host Dominic Pino is joined by John Mozena to discuss why stadium subsidies fail to produce a return for taxpayers and rarely generate expected economic growth for communities. A leading critic of stadium subsidies, John Mozena is the President of...

Are two thirds of Americans living paycheck to paycheck? Is a proposed airline merger really a threat to competition? Why is the U.S. national debt a problem? In the first episode of Econception, a new production of the American Institute for Economic Research, host Dominic Pino looks through these questions and more.