The Economist Next Door

Tony Woodlief, Senior Executive VP at the State Policy Network, dives into the complexities of fiscal federalism. He discusses how nearly 37% of state revenues now come from federal sources, raising concerns about state autonomy. The conversation critiques the hidden costs of federal funding and emphasizes the need for transparency. They also tackle the challenges surrounding the U.S. jobs report, advocating for better methodologies. Lastly, Tony unpacks misconceptions about trade deficits and surpluses, revealing their nuanced impacts on the economy.

Are the economic doomers right? How does government policy influence which industries thrive in America? Can rich people who think their taxes are too low pay more to the government instead? Jeremy Horpedahl joins Econception to discuss these questions and more. Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl is the Director of ACRE and an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas.

What's the purpose of business? What's the purpose of government? Has 20 years of higher education spending led to better student performance? Dominic Pino is joined by David Bahnsen to explore these questions on the latest episode of Econception. David Bahnsen is the founder and managing partner of The Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm managing over $4 billion in client assets. Prior to launching The Bahnsen Group, he spent eight years as a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and six years as a Vice President at UBS. Bahnsen is also a contributor to several prominent outlets and a best-selling author.

What's going on with the market reforms in Argentina? What have other countries done to fix their social security programs? And how did FedEx change the world? Manhattan Institute Fellow Daniel DiMartino joins Econception to discuss.

What's going on with the Republican tax bill? How different can state budgets really be from one another? And how does Amtrak justify its barely used services? Adam Michel joins Econception to discuss. Adam N. Michel is director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, where he focuses on analyzing the economic and budgetary effects of taxation in the United States.

Dive into the legal landscape of Trump's tariffs, exploring a court ruling that branded them unconstitutional. Discover the tension between presidential emergency powers and Congress's authority in trade. Delve into how American universities rely on foreign students, revealing contradictions in policy. The discussion also touches on the surprising trade surplus in education amidst protectionist views. Finally, hear critiques of rent control, suggesting deregulation could benefit market dynamics and growth.

What's going on with the tariff deals? How free trade really is the United States? And what have the Popes taught about socialism? Dave Hebert joins Econception to discuss these questions and more with Dominic Pino. Dave Hebert, Ph.D, is a senior research fellow at AIER. Dr. Hebert's research has been published in academic journals such as Public Choice, Constitutional Political Economy, and The Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice and popular outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Investor's Business Daily, RealClearPolicy, RealClearMarkets, The Hill, and The Daily Caller.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Brian Blase, former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and Paul Winfree, founder of the Economic Policy Innovation Center, tackle the urgent need for Medicaid reform. They reveal how the program often supports wealthier entities despite its intentions. The duo contrasts Germany's manufacturing successes with U.S. growth patterns, while also critiquing fiscal irresponsibility, drawing lessons from Greece and Argentina. Insights from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment highlight unexpected outcomes of Medicaid expansion on health and financial security.

What's the case for free trade? What's the history of free trade in the United States? And is undoing free trade a sound grand strategy for the United States? Dominic Pino looks through these questions on the latest episode of Econception.

How can government policy be more family-friendly? Can socialism exist without coercion? How did bad monetary policy encourage DEI and ESG? Susannah Petitt joins Dominic to discuss. Susannah Petitt is a Social Mobility Fellow at Young Voices and Programs Manager at the Mercatus Center.