The Curious Task

Alex speaks with Geoff Kellow about the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin and whether they can help us better understand the connection between markets and virtue. References 1. “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin/dp/1508475091  2. “Benjamin Franklin and Adam Smith: Two Strangers and the Spirit of Capitalism” by Geoff Kellow Link: https://read.dukeupress.edu/hope/article-abstract/50/2/321/134723/Benjamin-Franklin-and-Adam-SmithTwo-Strangers-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext  3. “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960

Alex speaks with Dan Smith about the lack of accountability in the contemporary world of monetary policy and why greater discretion may not be the answer. References 1. “Money and the Rule of Law: Generality and Predictability in Monetary Institutions” by Peter Boettke, Alexander Salter, and Daniel Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Money-Rule-Law-Predictability-Institutions/dp/1108479847  2. “Who Is Ben Bernake? Why Is He Important?” by Julia Kagan Link: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/benbernanke.asp  3. “Federal Reserve Independence” by Peter Boettke and Daniel Smith Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2135232  4. “An Episodic History of Modern Fed Independence” by Daniel Smith and Peter Boettke Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2135233  5. “Everything You Need to Know About the Federal Reserve Scandal” by Better Markets Link: https://bettermarkets.org/newsroom/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-federal-reserve-trading-scandal-exposing-pandemic-profiteering-at-americans-central-bank-leadership-failures-cover-up/  6. “Sweep Accounts Definition: Types and How They Work” by Investopedia Link: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sweepaccount.asp  7. “What LawMicro Has to Teach LawMacro: An Exploration of the Rule of Law and Monetary Policy” by Peter Boettke, Alexander Salter, and Daniel Smith Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4721380

Alex speaks with Bruce Caldwell on the history of one of the world's most exclusive intellectual societies. References 1. “Hayek’s Challenge: An Intellectual Biography of F.A. Hayek” by Bruce Caldwell Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Hayeks-Challenge-Intellectual-Biography-F/dp/0226091937  2. “Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950” by Bruce Caldwell  Link: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo136253636.html  3. “Mont Pelerin 1947: Transcripts of the Founding Meeting of the Mont Pelerin Society” by Bruce Caldwell Link: https://www.amazon.com/Mont-P%C3%A8lerin-1947-Transcripts-Founding/dp/0817924841  4. “Cicely Veronica Wedgewood” by The British Academy  Link: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/1408/97p521.pdf  5. “Ludwig Von Mises” by EconLib Link: https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Mises.html  6. “Frank Hyneman Knight” by EconLib Link: https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Knight.html  7. “Lionel Robbins” by EconLib Link: https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Robbins.html  8. “Marshall Plan (1948)” by National Archives  Link: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/marshall-plan#:~:text=On%20April%203%2C%201948%2C%20President,economic%20infrastructure%20of%20postwar%20Europe.

Alex Aragona speaks with Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli about whether the monarchy might seem absurd, and whether a little absurdity can be a good thing.  References 1. “The Monarchy and the Constitution” by Vernon Bogdanor Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Monarchy-Constitution-Vernon-Bogdanor/dp/0198293348

Alex Aragona speaks with Maria Pia Paganelli as she sheds light on the historical context of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, and some of the surprising insights within it that make it more relevant than ever today.  References 1. “The Routledge Guidebook to Smith’s Wealth of Nations” by Maria Pia Paginelli Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Routledge-Guidebook-Smiths-Wealth-Nations/dp/1138686158  2. “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960  3. “The Adam Smith Problem in Reverse: Self-Interest in The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments” by Maria Pia Paginelli Link: https://read.dukeupress.edu/hope/article-abstract/40/2/365/38402/The-Adam-Smith-Problem-in-Reverse-Self-Interest-in?redirectedFrom=PDF

Alex Aragona speaks with Emily Nacol as she breaks down both the origins and contemporary puzzles of the concept of risk. References 1. "An Age of Risk: Politics and Economy in Early Britain" by Emily Nacol Link: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691165103/an-age-of-risk?srsltid=AfmBOoqPrhGB4AqvPOCalJPxFfkdI6iTXt5dkYsLvm5jCerE2A063rcP  2. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes  Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960  3. “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm  4. “A Treatise of Human Nature” by David Hume  Link: https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/bigge-a-treatise-of-human-nature  5. “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith  Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960  

Alex Aragona speaks with Andrew Sabl as he explores what he means by "realist liberalism" and how it works to curb some of the misguided tendencies of other liberalisms. References 1. Liberalism Beyond Markets by Andrew Stabl Link: https://www.niskanencenter.org/liberalism-beyond-markets/  2. Realist liberalism: an agenda by Andrew Stabl Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13698230.2017.1293916  3. A Look Back: Sedition, Free Speech and the President by Scott Bomboy Link: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/a-look-back-sedition-free-speech-and-the-president  4. Presidential Power and Modern Presidents by Richard E. Neustadt Link: http://ereserve.library.utah.edu/Annual/POLS/3150/Curry/neustadt.pdf   5. “The Meaning of the Welfare State” by F.A. Hayek Link: http://bev.berkeley.edu/ipe/Hayek%20The%20Meaning%20of%20the%20Welfare%20State.pdf

Alex Aragona speaks with Michelle Schwarze as she presents what she means by resentment, and whether there is a place for it in politics. References 1. "Recognizing Resentment: Sympathy, Injustice and Liberal Political Thought" by Michelle Schwarze Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Recognizing-Resentment-Michelle-Schwarze/dp/1108478662  2. Second Emancipation Proclamation letter from Martin Luther King to President Kennedy  Link: https://www.crmvet.org/info/emancip2.pdf

Alex Aragona speaks with Stefan Kolev as he tours through the origins of Ordoliberalism and some of its fundamental principles. References 1. When Liberty Presupposes Order: F. A. Hayek’s Contextual Ordoliberalism by Steven Kolev Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-history-of-economic-thought/article/when-liberty-presupposes-order-f-a-hayeks-contextual-ordoliberalism/E3B96673B94952167704B24FC3A91857  2. “Old Chicago” and Freiburg: Why Ordoliberalism Was No “German Oddity” by Steven Kolev Link: https://www.promarket.org/2021/07/25/chicago-freiburg-ordoliberalism-neoliberalism-germany/  3. The quote is from “Power Is Evil in Itself”: The Ordoliberal Quest for a Privilege-Free Order by Steven Kolev Link: https://www.promarket.org/2021/03/28/ordoliberal-privilege-free-order-walter-eucken-franz-bohm-germany/

Alex Aragona speaks with Travis Smith as he explores some key insights from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America. References 1. “Superhero Ethics” by Travis Smith  Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Superhero-Ethics-Comic-Heroes-World/dp/1599474549  2. “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Democracy-America-Tocqueville-Mansfield-Winthrop/dp/0226805360  3. “Democracy in America, Volume 2” by Alexis de Tocqueville Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Democracy-America-Vol-Alexis-Tocqueville/dp/0679728260