UChicago Economics Events and Conversations https://bfi.uchicago.edu/ en All rights reserved The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago (BFI) serves as a hub for cutting-edge analysis and research across the entire UChicago economics community to uncover new ways of thinking about the field. Featuring conversations and lectures from premier BFI events, this podcast explores the latest economic insights and trends from leading voices in policy, business, the media, and academia, revealing how rigorous thinking shapes our understanding of the world. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8ac9c426-4db9-11ea-b591-c386f52f04c1/image/uploads_2F1581529642928-mb9eb5bi8vr-2ed9e8669ced5bbbbdf74bdd82c3a971_2FBFI-Events-Podcast-Art.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress UChicago Economics Events and Conversations https://bfi.uchicago.edu/ no episodic Featuring conversations and lectures from premier BFI events, this podcast explores the latest economic insights and trends from leading voices in policy, business, the media, and academia, revealing how rigorous thinking shapes our understanding of the world. Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago (BFI) serves as a hub for cutting-edge analysis and research across the entire UChicago economics community to uncover new ways of thinking about the field. Featuring conversations and lectures from premier BFI events, this podcast explores the latest economic insights and trends from leading voices in policy, business, the media, and academia, revealing how rigorous thinking shapes our understanding of the world. The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago (BFI) serves as a hub for cutting-edge analysis and research across the entire UChicago economics community to uncover new ways of thinking about the field. Featuring conversations and lectures from premier BFI events, this podcast explores the latest economic insights and trends from leading voices in policy, business, the media, and academia, revealing how rigorous thinking shapes our understanding of the world.

]]> UChicago Economics Events and Conversations bficomm@uchicago.edu Lessons from Pandemic Unemployment Benefits: When Government Generosity Becomes Necessity http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ The U.S. government swung into action when the ranks of the pandemic unemployed swelled almost beyond recognition. Three years on, economists are continuing to study the effects of the largest increase in unemployment benefits in U.S. history. The Harris School of Public Policy’s Peter Ganong and Chicago Booth’s Joseph Vavra join The Pie to discuss the impacts on spending and job-finding. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Lessons from Pandemic Unemployment Benefits: When Government Generosity Becomes Necessity full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Three years following COVID-19, economists are continuing to study the effects of the largest increase in unemployment benefits in U.S. history. The U.S. government swung into action when the ranks of the pandemic unemployed swelled almost beyond recognition. Three years on, economists are continuing to study the effects of the largest increase in unemployment benefits in U.S. history. The Harris School of Public Policy’s Peter Ganong and Chicago Booth’s Joseph Vavra join The Pie to discuss the impacts on spending and job-finding. The U.S. government swung into action when the ranks of the pandemic unemployed swelled almost beyond recognition. Three years on, economists are continuing to study the effects of the largest increase in unemployment benefits in U.S. history. The Harris School of Public Policy’s Peter Ganong and Chicago Booth’s Joseph Vavra join The Pie to discuss the impacts on spending and job-finding.

]]> 1649 The Hidden Economic Forces That Determine How Much You Earn http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ How much effect do government policies have on doctors’ wages? And when those wages are high, does it drive inequality in other jobs? And how does Taylor Swift factor in? Or Beyoncé? Joshua D. Gottlieb of the Harris School of Public Policy joins The Pie to discuss his research using detailed data to study earnings and how they’re influenced by forces like public policy and rising inequality. Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000 The Hidden Economic Forces That Determine How Much You Earn full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago How much effect do government policies have on doctors’ wages? And when those wages are high, does it drive inequality in other jobs? And how does Taylor Swift factor in? Or Beyoncé? How much effect do government policies have on doctors’ wages? And when those wages are high, does it drive inequality in other jobs? And how does Taylor Swift factor in? Or Beyoncé? Joshua D. Gottlieb of the Harris School of Public Policy joins The Pie to discuss his research using detailed data to study earnings and how they’re influenced by forces like public policy and rising inequality. How much effect do government policies have on doctors’ wages? And when those wages are high, does it drive inequality in other jobs? And how does Taylor Swift factor in? Or Beyoncé? Joshua D. Gottlieb of the Harris School of Public Policy joins The Pie to discuss his research using detailed data to study earnings and how they’re influenced by forces like public policy and rising inequality.

]]> 1249 no A Case for Public School Choice? Lessons from Los Angeles http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ When the Los Angeles Unified School District combined some neighborhood high schools into Zones of Choice, schools had to compete for students. The result? Achievement gaps narrowed, and more kids reported that they liked school. Chris Campos of Chicago Booth joins The Pie to discuss the results of a new study. Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000 A Case for Public School Choice? Lessons from Los Angeles full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago When the Los Angeles Unified School District combined some neighborhood high schools into Zones of Choice, schools had to compete for students. The result? Achievement gaps narrowed, and more kids reported that they liked school. Chris Campos of Chicago Booth joins The Pie to discuss the results of a new study. When the Los Angeles Unified School District combined some neighborhood high schools into Zones of Choice, schools had to compete for students. The result? Achievement gaps narrowed, and more kids reported that they liked school. Chris Campos of Chicago Booth joins The Pie to discuss the results of a new study.

]]> 1389 no Do You Even Crypto, Bro? http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ The use of cryptocurrency is on the rise, but who exactly is on the bandwagon? Chicago Booth’s Michael Weber has examined the crypto market – who’s in it, why they believe in it, and what it might mean for the future. He joins The Pie to share the surprising (and also unsurprising) findings. Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Do You Even Crypto, Bro? full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago The use of cryptocurrency is on the rise, but who exactly is on the bandwagon? The use of cryptocurrency is on the rise, but who exactly is on the bandwagon? Chicago Booth’s Michael Weber has examined the crypto market – who’s in it, why they believe in it, and what it might mean for the future. He joins The Pie to share the surprising (and also unsurprising) findings. The use of cryptocurrency is on the rise, but who exactly is on the bandwagon? Chicago Booth’s Michael Weber has examined the crypto market – who’s in it, why they believe in it, and what it might mean for the future. He joins The Pie to share the surprising (and also unsurprising) findings.

]]> 1415 no Social Distancing in 2023: The Economic Costs of Lingering COVID Fears http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Many, if not most, citizens of working age have gone back to their jobs in the three-plus years since the start of the pandemic – but not everybody has. Part of the reason is a lingering fear about workplace safety. Chicago Booth’s Steven Davis has new research showing the effect of these fears on the overall economy. Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Social Distancing in 2023: The Economic Costs of Lingering COVID Fears full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Many, if not most, citizens of working age have gone back to their jobs in the three-plus years since the start of the pandemic – but not everybody has. Part of the reason is a lingering fear about workplace safety. Chicago Booth’s Steven Davis has new research showing the effect of these fears on the overall economy. Many, if not most, citizens of working age have gone back to their jobs in the three-plus years since the start of the pandemic – but not everybody has. Part of the reason is a lingering fear about workplace safety. Chicago Booth’s Steven Davis has new research showing the effect of these fears on the overall economy.

]]> 1192 no Harvesting Green Investments: The Promise and Perils of ESG http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ In the stock market, we all want to do well, but for some investors it’s also important to do good. In this episode, Chicago Booth’s Lubos Pastor joins to discuss his research on sustainable investing and what two recent studies tell us about the returns on “green” vs “brown” assets. Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Harvesting Green Investments: The Promise and Perils of ESG full 2 20 Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In the stock market, we all want to do well, but for some investors it’s also important to do good. In this episode, Chicago Booth’s Lubos Pastor joins to discuss his research on sustainable investing and what two recent studies tell us about the returns on sustainable investments. In the stock market, we all want to do well, but for some investors it’s also important to do good. In this episode, Chicago Booth’s Lubos Pastor joins to discuss his research on sustainable investing and what two recent studies tell us about the returns on “green” vs “brown” assets. In the stock market, we all want to do well, but for some investors it’s also important to do good. In this episode, Chicago Booth’s Lubos Pastor joins to discuss his research on sustainable investing and what two recent studies tell us about the returns on “green” vs “brown” assets.



]]> 1471 no How Debt Relief Raised Debts: The Untold Story of the Student Loan Moratorium http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Did borrowers and the American economy benefit from the federal government’s 2020 student debt moratorium? The picture is complicated according to new research from UChicago Economics’ Michael Dinerstein and Chicago Booth’s Constantine Yannelis. They join this week to share their surprising findings. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0000 How Debt Relief Raised Debts: The Untold Story of the Student Loan Moratorium full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Did borrowers and the American economy benefit from the federal government’s 2020 student debt moratorium? The picture is complicated. Did borrowers and the American economy benefit from the federal government’s 2020 student debt moratorium? The picture is complicated according to new research from UChicago Economics’ Michael Dinerstein and Chicago Booth’s Constantine Yannelis. They join this week to share their surprising findings. Did borrowers and the American economy benefit from the federal government’s 2020 student debt moratorium? The picture is complicated according to new research from UChicago Economics’ Michael Dinerstein and Chicago Booth’s Constantine Yannelis. They join this week to share their surprising findings.

]]> 1430 no Quid Pro Vote: The Politics and Economics of Vote-Buying http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Vote-buying, or influencing voters’ decisions through favors or gifts, is pervasive in areas such as Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. UC Berkeley’s Frederico Finan, the TC Liu Distinguished Visitor at BFI, discusses his work studying how vote-buying unfolds on the ground in Paraguay. Finan describes how norms of reciprocity drive voters to opt for politicians who have treated them favorably in the past, and offers advice for how policymakers might disrupt this process to combat election fraud. Tue, 30 May 2023 14:38:08 -0000 Quid Pro Vote: The Politics and Economics of Vote-Buying full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Vote-buying, or influencing voters’ decisions through favors or gifts, is pervasive in areas such as Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. UC Berkeley’s Frederico Finan, the TC Liu Distinguished Visitor at BFI, discusses his work studying how vote-buying unfolds on the ground in Paraguay. Finan describes how norms of reciprocity drive voters to opt for politicians who have treated them favorably in the past, and offers advice for how policymakers might disrupt this process to combat election fraud. Vote-buying, or influencing voters’ decisions through favors or gifts, is pervasive in areas such as Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. UC Berkeley’s Frederico Finan, the TC Liu Distinguished Visitor at BFI, discusses his work studying how vote-buying unfolds on the ground in Paraguay. Finan describes how norms of reciprocity drive voters to opt for politicians who have treated them favorably in the past, and offers advice for how policymakers might disrupt this process to combat election fraud.

]]> 1136 no Misperceived Truths: Global Support for Women in the Workplace is More Than You Might Think http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Around the world, people underestimate support for basic women's rights. In new research, UChicago Economics' Leonardo Bursztyn documents these misperceptions and shows how they restrict women's progress. Aligning people's perceived and actual views, he says, can help promote women's full participation in the labor force. Wed, 03 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Misperceived Truths: Global Support for Women in the Workplace is More Than You Might Think full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Around the world, people underestimate support for basic women's rights. These misperceptions can restrict women's progress. Around the world, people underestimate support for basic women's rights. In new research, UChicago Economics' Leonardo Bursztyn documents these misperceptions and shows how they restrict women's progress. Aligning people's perceived and actual views, he says, can help promote women's full participation in the labor force. Around the world, people underestimate support for basic women's rights. In new research, UChicago Economics' Leonardo Bursztyn documents these misperceptions and shows how they restrict women's progress. Aligning people's perceived and actual views, he says, can help promote women's full participation in the labor force.

]]> 1428 no Inflation: The Good, The Bad, and the Baffling http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Nobody ever wants to pay more for anything, especially when prices rise drastically – but can inflationary episodes be good for the economy? Harris Policy’s Carolin Pflueger joins The Pie to discuss different types of inflation, how they affect the economy, and what her research tells us about monetary policy in the world of newly rising prices. Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Inflation: The Good, The Bad, and the Baffling full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Nobody ever wants to pay more for anything, especially when prices rise drastically – but can inflationary episodes be good for the economy? Nobody ever wants to pay more for anything, especially when prices rise drastically – but can inflationary episodes be good for the economy? Harris Policy’s Carolin Pflueger joins The Pie to discuss different types of inflation, how they affect the economy, and what her research tells us about monetary policy in the world of newly rising prices. Nobody ever wants to pay more for anything, especially when prices rise drastically – but can inflationary episodes be good for the economy? Harris Policy’s Carolin Pflueger joins The Pie to discuss different types of inflation, how they affect the economy, and what her research tells us about monetary policy in the world of newly rising prices.

]]> 1171 no Sometimes Bigger IS Better: The Case for Bringing Rural Healthcare to Urban Hospitals http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ When rural patients need care that local medical facilities can’t provide, what’s the best way to ensure they get the care they need? Economists Jonathan Dingel and Joshua Gottlieb, Co-Director of BFI’s Health Economics Initiative, explore how larger cities and rural areas trade medical services, and challenge assumptions about the best ways to improve both access and care. Tue, 04 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Sometimes Bigger IS Better: The Case for Bringing Rural Healthcare to Urban Hospitals full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago When rural patients need care that local medical facilities can’t provide, what’s the best way to ensure they get the care they need? When rural patients need care that local medical facilities can’t provide, what’s the best way to ensure they get the care they need? Economists Jonathan Dingel and Joshua Gottlieb, Co-Director of BFI’s Health Economics Initiative, explore how larger cities and rural areas trade medical services, and challenge assumptions about the best ways to improve both access and care. When rural patients need care that local medical facilities can’t provide, what’s the best way to ensure they get the care they need? Economists Jonathan Dingel and Joshua Gottlieb, Co-Director of BFI’s Health Economics Initiative, explore how larger cities and rural areas trade medical services, and challenge assumptions about the best ways to improve both access and care.

]]> 1634 no Social Media Algorithms: How You’re Curating a Biased News Feed http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Social media behaviors, moving at an ever faster pace, may not reflect what users really want, according to new research from economists Sendhil Mullainathan (Chicago Booth) and Amanda Agan (Rutgers University). They join The Pie to discuss how algorithms feed off our lizard brains to magnify biases. Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Social Media Algorithms: How You’re Curating a Biased News Feed full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Here's how algorithms feed off our lizard brains to magnify biases. Social media behaviors, moving at an ever faster pace, may not reflect what users really want, according to new research from economists Sendhil Mullainathan (Chicago Booth) and Amanda Agan (Rutgers University). They join The Pie to discuss how algorithms feed off our lizard brains to magnify biases. Social media behaviors, moving at an ever faster pace, may not reflect what users really want, according to new research from economists Sendhil Mullainathan (Chicago Booth) and Amanda Agan (Rutgers University). They join The Pie to discuss how algorithms feed off our lizard brains to magnify biases.

]]> 1736 no Evaluating US Healthcare 3 Years after Lockdown http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ At the third anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, this episode takes a look at ongoing healthcare market failures and the pandemic’s role in making them plain. Katherine Baicker, healthcare economist and newly appointed Provost of the University of Chicago, joins to take stock of the US healthcare system and discuss the challenges that remain. Tue, 07 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000 Evaluating US Healthcare 3 Years after Lockdown full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago At the third anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, this episode takes a look at ongoing healthcare market failures and the pandemic’s role in making them plain. At the third anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, this episode takes a look at ongoing healthcare market failures and the pandemic’s role in making them plain. Katherine Baicker, healthcare economist and newly appointed Provost of the University of Chicago, joins to take stock of the US healthcare system and discuss the challenges that remain. At the third anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, this episode takes a look at ongoing healthcare market failures and the pandemic’s role in making them plain. Katherine Baicker, healthcare economist and newly appointed Provost of the University of Chicago, joins to take stock of the US healthcare system and discuss the challenges that remain.

]]> 1506 no Scavenging for Answers: The Human Toll of Vulture Population Collapse http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ What can vultures and economics tell us about the cost of losing a keystone species? New research from environmental economist Eyal Frank of the Harris School of Public Policy explores the social and economic cost in India, where a plummeting population of vultures may serve as a warning for the future. Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000 Scavenging for Answers: The Human Toll of Vulture Population Collapse full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago What can vultures and economics tell us about the cost of losing a keystone species? What can vultures and economics tell us about the cost of losing a keystone species? New research from environmental economist Eyal Frank of the Harris School of Public Policy explores the social and economic cost in India, where a plummeting population of vultures may serve as a warning for the future. What can vultures and economics tell us about the cost of losing a keystone species? New research from environmental economist Eyal Frank of the Harris School of Public Policy explores the social and economic cost in India, where a plummeting population of vultures may serve as a warning for the future.

]]> 1678 no Law of Unintended Consequences: Welfare Reform and Crime http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Does welfare prevent crime — and offset its cost to taxpayers? UChicago economist Manasi Deshpande joins to discuss her novel research studying the criminal justice outcomes of youth removed from supplemental security income. Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000 Law of Unintended Consequences: Welfare Reform and Crime full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Does welfare prevent crime — and offset its cost to taxpayers? Does welfare prevent crime — and offset its cost to taxpayers? UChicago economist Manasi Deshpande joins to discuss her novel research studying the criminal justice outcomes of youth removed from supplemental security income. Does welfare prevent crime — and offset its cost to taxpayers? UChicago economist Manasi Deshpande joins to discuss her novel research studying the criminal justice outcomes of youth removed from supplemental security income.

]]> 1470 no Economics of Discrimination: How to Measure Systemic Injustices http://thepie.uchicago.edu How can discrimination by race, gender, or other factors be measured – especially when its causes may be systemic in nature? Chicago Booth’s Alex Imas studies behavioral science and economics, and is conducting research that is expanding the scope and ambition of discrimination research. He joined The Pie to discuss the creative new ways economists are capturing discrimination. Tue, 24 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0000 Economics of Discrimination: How to Measure Systemic Injustices full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago How can discrimination by race, gender, or other factors be measured – especially when its causes may be systemic in nature? How can discrimination by race, gender, or other factors be measured – especially when its causes may be systemic in nature? Chicago Booth’s Alex Imas studies behavioral science and economics, and is conducting research that is expanding the scope and ambition of discrimination research. He joined The Pie to discuss the creative new ways economists are capturing discrimination. How can discrimination by race, gender, or other factors be measured – especially when its causes may be systemic in nature? Chicago Booth’s Alex Imas studies behavioral science and economics, and is conducting research that is expanding the scope and ambition of discrimination research. He joined The Pie to discuss the creative new ways economists are capturing discrimination.

]]> 1301 no What Drives Racial Differences in Speeding Tickets and Fines? http://thepie.uchicago.edu New research finds minorities are 24-33% more likely to be stopped for speeding and will pay 23-34% more in fines, relative to a white driver traveling the exact same speed. UChicago economists John List and Justin Holz join The Pie to discuss how they designed research drawing on high-frequency Lyft data, and its broader implications for future research and policy. Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0000 What Drives Racial Differences in Speeding Tickets and Fines? full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Drawing on Lyft data, economists John List and Justin Holz discuss their new research on how race can affect the chances of getting stopped and fined. New research finds minorities are 24-33% more likely to be stopped for speeding and will pay 23-34% more in fines, relative to a white driver traveling the exact same speed. UChicago economists John List and Justin Holz join The Pie to discuss how they designed research drawing on high-frequency Lyft data, and its broader implications for future research and policy. New research finds minorities are 24-33% more likely to be stopped for speeding and will pay 23-34% more in fines, relative to a white driver traveling the exact same speed. UChicago economists John List and Justin Holz join The Pie to discuss how they designed research drawing on high-frequency Lyft data, and its broader implications for future research and policy.

]]> 1514 no 2023: An Economic Nudge for the New Year http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Can ‘nudges’ improve your New Year’s resolutions? Today we’re looking back at one of our most popular episodes. Host Tess Vigeland sat down with Nobel laureate Richard Thaler in 2021 to discuss new material from his book, Nudge: The Final Edition – including home mortgages, retirement savings, credit card debt, climate change, organ donation, COVID-19, healthcare, and even “sludge.” Tue, 27 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0000 2023: An Economic Nudge for the New Year full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Can ‘nudges’ improve your New Year’s resolutions? Today we look back at one of our most popular episodes. Can ‘nudges’ improve your New Year’s resolutions? Today we’re looking back at one of our most popular episodes. Host Tess Vigeland sat down with Nobel laureate Richard Thaler in 2021 to discuss new material from his book, Nudge: The Final Edition – including home mortgages, retirement savings, credit card debt, climate change, organ donation, COVID-19, healthcare, and even “sludge.” Can ‘nudges’ improve your New Year’s resolutions? Today we’re looking back at one of our most popular episodes. Host Tess Vigeland sat down with Nobel laureate Richard Thaler in 2021 to discuss new material from his book, Nudge: The Final Edition – including home mortgages, retirement savings, credit card debt, climate change, organ donation, COVID-19, healthcare, and even “sludge.”

]]> 2182 China Faltering? Why the End of Zero Covid Won’t Fix Its Economic Problems http://thepie.uchicago.edu Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. How will China’s economy respond after the lifting of ‘Zero Covid’ policy? UChicago economist Chang-Tai Hsieh joins The Pie to discuss the surprising party response to political protests, emerging dynamics affecting the Chinese economy today, and what the future may hold. Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0000 China Faltering? Why the End of Zero Covid Won’t Fix Its Economic Problems full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago UChicago economist Chang-Tai Hsieh joins us to discuss why COVID is not China's biggest economic problem. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. How will China’s economy respond after the lifting of ‘Zero Covid’ policy? UChicago economist Chang-Tai Hsieh joins The Pie to discuss the surprising party response to political protests, emerging dynamics affecting the Chinese economy today, and what the future may hold. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.


How will China’s economy respond after the lifting of ‘Zero Covid’ policy? UChicago economist Chang-Tai Hsieh joins The Pie to discuss the surprising party response to political protests, emerging dynamics affecting the Chinese economy today, and what the future may hold.

]]> 1355 no Economic Warfare: Are Russian Sanctions Working? http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. Ten months into a devastating war, the Russian and Ukrainian economies are struggling yet resilient. Russian-born economist Konstantin Sonin joins The Pie to provide an update on the economic impacts of the ongoing conflict, including the massive long-term toll not yet captured in available data. Wed, 30 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000 Economic Warfare: Are Russian Sanctions Working? full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Russian-born economist Konstantin Sonin gives an update on the economic impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. Ten months into a devastating war, the Russian and Ukrainian economies are struggling yet resilient. Russian-born economist Konstantin Sonin joins The Pie to provide an update on the economic impacts of the ongoing conflict, including the massive long-term toll not yet captured in available data. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.


Ten months into a devastating war, the Russian and Ukrainian economies are struggling yet resilient. Russian-born economist Konstantin Sonin joins The Pie to provide an update on the economic impacts of the ongoing conflict, including the massive long-term toll not yet captured in available data.

]]> 1507 no Fighting Inflation: Is the Fed’s Work Just Beginning? http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. The Federal Reserve’s latest 75 basis point rate hike brought interest rates up again on everything from mortgages to car loans and credit cards. Will it be enough to halt inflation? How is the Fed thinking about the US economy, unemployment, and its global impact? University of Chicago economist Anil Kashyap joins to discuss the campaign to bring inflation down and mounting pressure on the central bank. Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000 Fighting Inflation: Is the Fed’s Work Just Beginning? full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, we hear about the campaign to bring inflation down and the mounting pressure on the central bank. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. The Federal Reserve’s latest 75 basis point rate hike brought interest rates up again on everything from mortgages to car loans and credit cards. Will it be enough to halt inflation? How is the Fed thinking about the US economy, unemployment, and its global impact? University of Chicago economist Anil Kashyap joins to discuss the campaign to bring inflation down and mounting pressure on the central bank. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.


The Federal Reserve’s latest 75 basis point rate hike brought interest rates up again on everything from mortgages to car loans and credit cards. Will it be enough to halt inflation? How is the Fed thinking about the US economy, unemployment, and its global impact? University of Chicago economist Anil Kashyap joins to discuss the campaign to bring inflation down and mounting pressure on the central bank.

]]> 1350 no Tax vs Ban: The Unexpected Results on Gun Sales http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. In this episode, we’re talking about guns. Chicago Booth economist Brad Shapiro has quantified—for the first time—American consumer demand for guns, and how that demand shifts in response to different regulations, including bans and taxes. He was surprised by some of the findings, which offer new and important insights for ongoing gun policy debates. Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000 Tax vs Ban: The Unexpected Results on Gun Sales full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, we’re looking at America’s demand for guns and how that demand shifts in response to bans and taxes. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. In this episode, we’re talking about guns. Chicago Booth economist Brad Shapiro has quantified—for the first time—American consumer demand for guns, and how that demand shifts in response to different regulations, including bans and taxes. He was surprised by some of the findings, which offer new and important insights for ongoing gun policy debates. Podcast note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.


In this episode, we’re talking about guns. Chicago Booth economist Brad Shapiro has quantified—for the first time—American consumer demand for guns, and how that demand shifts in response to different regulations, including bans and taxes. He was surprised by some of the findings, which offer new and important insights for ongoing gun policy debates.


]]> 1035 no COVID and Schools: Elementary Lessons http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Podcast Note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. Did closing schools during the COVID-19 pandemic serve students and society at-large? As part of a World Bank Advisory Panel, University of Chicago economist Rachel Glennerster is taking a closer look at the long-term economic cost of learning losses. Addressing these costs, estimated at greater than $10 trillion, will be crucial to future education policy and pandemic response. Thu, 27 Oct 2022 19:32:47 -0000 COVID and Schools: Elementary Lessons full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Did closing schools during the COVID-19 pandemic serve students and society at-large? Podcast Note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. Did closing schools during the COVID-19 pandemic serve students and society at-large? As part of a World Bank Advisory Panel, University of Chicago economist Rachel Glennerster is taking a closer look at the long-term economic cost of learning losses. Addressing these costs, estimated at greater than $10 trillion, will be crucial to future education policy and pandemic response. Podcast Note: Please enjoy this episode from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.

Did closing schools during the COVID-19 pandemic serve students and society at-large? As part of a World Bank Advisory Panel, University of Chicago economist Rachel Glennerster is taking a closer look at the long-term economic cost of learning losses. Addressing these costs, estimated at greater than $10 trillion, will be crucial to future education policy and pandemic response.

]]> 984 no WFH… Gone Global http://thepie.uchicago.edu/ Podcast Note: Please enjoy episode one from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. In this episode, we talk about the remote work revolution. It is now more than two years old, and it’s a worldwide phenomenon, at least in wealthier countries. Economist Steve Davis has been studying the staying power of work from home around the globe, and finds that not only is it here to stay, but it’s prompting larger societal questions about everything from worker power to the viability of urban city centers. Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:14:47 -0000 WFH… Gone Global full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago The remote work revolution is now more than two years old, and it’s a worldwide phenomenon, at least in wealthier countries. Podcast Note: Please enjoy episode one from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu. In this episode, we talk about the remote work revolution. It is now more than two years old, and it’s a worldwide phenomenon, at least in wealthier countries. Economist Steve Davis has been studying the staying power of work from home around the globe, and finds that not only is it here to stay, but it’s prompting larger societal questions about everything from worker power to the viability of urban city centers. Podcast Note: Please enjoy episode one from season two of The Pie, an economics podcast from the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Subscribe where you get your podcasts, or at thepie.uchicago.edu.

In this episode, we talk about the remote work revolution. It is now more than two years old, and it’s a worldwide phenomenon, at least in wealthier countries. Economist Steve Davis has been studying the staying power of work from home around the globe, and finds that not only is it here to stay, but it’s prompting larger societal questions about everything from worker power to the viability of urban city centers.

]]> 1297 no Can Economics Save the World? A Panel Discussion with 2019 Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/can-economics-save-the-world The United States is facing a range of challenging policy issues, from trade to inequality to climate change. The good news is that academic economists are doing cutting-edge work to help solve the challenges of the day, at the University of Chicago and institutions around the world. Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing momentum toward evidence-informed policymaking. While this seems promising, barriers still exist to bridging the divide between academia and government. On November 19, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) welcomed MIT Professor of Economics Abhijit Banerjee, recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics and co-author of the forthcoming book, Good Economics for Hard Times. Banerjee joined a panel of experts, including UChicago’s Katherine Baicker, Michael Greenstone and Steve Levitt, along with the Obama Foundation’s Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, to share their experiences and perspectives on the potential for economics to improve policy outcomes, the obstacles that exist to evidence-informed policymaking, and opportunities for improvement. Follow along with Banerjee's opening remarks and view his presentation: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/CanEconomicsSavetheWorld_Presentation.pdf For more on the event, visit: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/event/can-economics-save-the-world/ Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:55:42 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago The United States is facing a range of challengin… The United States is facing a range of challenging policy issues, from trade to inequality to climate change. The good news is that academic economists are doing cutting-edge work to help solve the challenges of the day, at the University of Chicago and institutions around the world. Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing momentum toward evidence-informed policymaking. While this seems promising, barriers still exist to bridging the divide between academia and government. On November 19, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) welcomed MIT Professor of Economics Abhijit Banerjee, recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics and co-author of the forthcoming book, Good Economics for Hard Times. Banerjee joined a panel of experts, including UChicago’s Katherine Baicker, Michael Greenstone and Steve Levitt, along with the Obama Foundation’s Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, to share their experiences and perspectives on the potential for economics to improve policy outcomes, the obstacles that exist to evidence-informed policymaking, and opportunities for improvement. Follow along with Banerjee's opening remarks and view his presentation: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/CanEconomicsSavetheWorld_Presentation.pdf For more on the event, visit: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/event/can-economics-save-the-world/ 4063 no Crony Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics, Featuring Chang-Tai Hsieh https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/cocktails-and-conversation-with-chang-tai-hsieh The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI), the Chicago Economics Society (CES), and the Booth Alumni Club of Washington, DC, welcomed Chang-Tai Hsieh, Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Professor Of Economics, Chicago Booth School of Business, for cocktails and a conversation on Crony Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics. David Rank, former Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in China, moderated a discussion following Professor Hsieh’s remarks. Professor Hsieh discussed how China’s fast-paced growth over the past three decades is one of the most remarkable events in world economic history. This growth was fueled by the introduction of pro-market policies, especially in agriculture and trade. However, China’s national institutions continue to restrict property rights and hinder private business development, among other obstructive policies. To counter those forces, China has developed a system of crony capitalism at the local level that has allowed businesses to thrive. Political leaders benefit when local businesses succeed, so those leaders use their power to enhance certain businesses’ success. Local political leaders then compete with other cities for businesses, creating a competitive market that helps drive economic growth. Thu, 07 Mar 2019 15:50:45 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI)… The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI), the Chicago Economics Society (CES), and the Booth Alumni Club of Washington, DC, welcomed Chang-Tai Hsieh, Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Professor Of Economics, Chicago Booth School of Business, for cocktails and a conversation on Crony Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics. David Rank, former Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in China, moderated a discussion following Professor Hsieh’s remarks. Professor Hsieh discussed how China’s fast-paced growth over the past three decades is one of the most remarkable events in world economic history. This growth was fueled by the introduction of pro-market policies, especially in agriculture and trade. However, China’s national institutions continue to restrict property rights and hinder private business development, among other obstructive policies. To counter those forces, China has developed a system of crony capitalism at the local level that has allowed businesses to thrive. Political leaders benefit when local businesses succeed, so those leaders use their power to enhance certain businesses’ success. Local political leaders then compete with other cities for businesses, creating a competitive market that helps drive economic growth. 3135 no Friedman Forum: How Do Individuals Repay Their Debt, Featuring Neale Mahoney https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/friedman-forum-how-do-individuals-repay-their-debt-featuring-neale-mahoney When faced with debt across multiple credit cards, do people pay down their balances in a way that makes financial sense? On February 1, BFI hosted Chicago Booth Professor Neale Mahoney for a Friedman Forum luncheon lecture on his recent working paper, “How Do Individuals Repay Their Debt? The Balance-Matching Heuristic.” In the paper, Professor Mahoney and his colleagues examine how credit card holders in the United Kingdom divide their payments between credit card balances. Instead of paying down the card with the highest interest rate first, the authors find people make payments based on the size of the balances on each credit card. These findings reveal the large gap between the optimal way to repay debt, and reality of how people repay their credit card debt. Thu, 07 Mar 2019 15:37:36 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago When faced with debt across multiple credit cards… When faced with debt across multiple credit cards, do people pay down their balances in a way that makes financial sense? On February 1, BFI hosted Chicago Booth Professor Neale Mahoney for a Friedman Forum luncheon lecture on his recent working paper, “How Do Individuals Repay Their Debt? The Balance-Matching Heuristic.” In the paper, Professor Mahoney and his colleagues examine how credit card holders in the United Kingdom divide their payments between credit card balances. Instead of paying down the card with the highest interest rate first, the authors find people make payments based on the size of the balances on each credit card. These findings reveal the large gap between the optimal way to repay debt, and reality of how people repay their credit card debt. 3024 no A Conversation with Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/a-conversation-with-cass-sunstein-and-richard-thaler Traditional economics assumes rational actors. In daily decision-making, however, we all make decisions influenced by our biases and beliefs, whether which car to buy or who to vote for at the polls. As a result, outcomes often deviate from the standards of rationality assumed by economics. Combining discoveries in human psychology with a practical understanding of economics – including incentives and market behavior – Booth Professor Richard Thaler, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics, and Harvard Law School Professor Cass Sunstein, recipient of the 2018 Holberg Prize and former Administrator of the White House Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs, have revolutionized our understanding of how human behaviors can impact markets. Their work highlights opportunities to drive decision-making in a direction that improves outcomes for businesses, government, and society as a whole. The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics welcomed Thaler and Sunstein, authors of the best-selling book "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness," for a discussion about the power of behavioral economics to affect decision-making. BFI Director Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Professor of Economics, the Harris School and the College, moderated the discussion. Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:05:19 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Traditional economics assumes rational actors. In… Traditional economics assumes rational actors. In daily decision-making, however, we all make decisions influenced by our biases and beliefs, whether which car to buy or who to vote for at the polls. As a result, outcomes often deviate from the standards of rationality assumed by economics. Combining discoveries in human psychology with a practical understanding of economics – including incentives and market behavior – Booth Professor Richard Thaler, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics, and Harvard Law School Professor Cass Sunstein, recipient of the 2018 Holberg Prize and former Administrator of the White House Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs, have revolutionized our understanding of how human behaviors can impact markets. Their work highlights opportunities to drive decision-making in a direction that improves outcomes for businesses, government, and society as a whole. The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics welcomed Thaler and Sunstein, authors of the best-selling book "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness," for a discussion about the power of behavioral economics to affect decision-making. BFI Director Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Professor of Economics, the Harris School and the College, moderated the discussion. 3855 no Becker Brown Bag: Learning From Data, Featuring Steve Levitt https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/becker-brown-bag-learning-from-data-featuring-steve-levitt Chicago Booth Professor Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics, discussed modern data science techniques at BFI's latest Becker Brown Bag talk. Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:05:05 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Chicago Booth Professor Steve Levitt, co-author o… Chicago Booth Professor Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics, discussed modern data science techniques at BFI's latest Becker Brown Bag talk. 3421 no Discussion Section Uncut: Nancy Stokey https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-uncut-nancy-stokey In this episode, Murphy talks with Nancy Stokey, The Frederick Henry Prince Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, about the transformative effects that technology has on economies. Mon, 18 Dec 2017 23:01:53 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy talks with Nancy Stokey, … In this episode, Murphy talks with Nancy Stokey, The Frederick Henry Prince Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, about the transformative effects that technology has on economies. 4307 no Economics Amplified: Rick Evans on How Computer Science is Transforming Economics https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/economics-amplified-rick-evans-on-how-computer-science-is-transforming-economics Richard Evans is a Senior Fellow in Computational Social Science at the University of Chicago, and Fellow here at the institute. Evans sees immense potential in the methods, practices, and even workflows that computer engineers have implemented in their own discipline, and is working to bring those skills into Chicago economics through his role both here at the institute and via the Masters in Computational Social Science, a graduate program he’s a part of. Evans spoke to us about how we can expect to see computation shape different aspects of economic study, as well as the ways that computer scientists and software engineers can teach economists how to work smarter. Music in this episode:— Auscultation: https://auscultation.bandcamp.com/album/spiritland Boris Mann 2: https://soundcloud.com/boriscloud/acid-jazz-sunday Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:55:50 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Richard Evans is a Senior Fellow in Computational… Richard Evans is a Senior Fellow in Computational Social Science at the University of Chicago, and Fellow here at the institute. Evans sees immense potential in the methods, practices, and even workflows that computer engineers have implemented in their own discipline, and is working to bring those skills into Chicago economics through his role both here at the institute and via the Masters in Computational Social Science, a graduate program he’s a part of. Evans spoke to us about how we can expect to see computation shape different aspects of economic study, as well as the ways that computer scientists and software engineers can teach economists how to work smarter. Music in this episode:— Auscultation: https://auscultation.bandcamp.com/album/spiritland Boris Mann 2: https://soundcloud.com/boriscloud/acid-jazz-sunday 1226 no Discussion Section Uncut: Edward Lazear https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-uncut-edward-lazear Edward P. Lazear is a labor economist and a founder of the field known as personnel economics. His research centers on employee incentives, promotions, compensation and productivity in firms. In this episode, Lazear and Kevin Murphy talk about the legacy of human capital and labor economics at the University of Chicago, as well Lazear’s experience crossing from academia to the Council of Economic Advisers and back again. Mon, 19 Sep 2016 23:10:32 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Edward P. Lazear is a labor economist and a found… Edward P. Lazear is a labor economist and a founder of the field known as personnel economics. His research centers on employee incentives, promotions, compensation and productivity in firms. In this episode, Lazear and Kevin Murphy talk about the legacy of human capital and labor economics at the University of Chicago, as well Lazear’s experience crossing from academia to the Council of Economic Advisers and back again. 3667 no Economics Amplified: Building Policy Beyond Best Intentions https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/economics-amplified-building-policy-beyond-best-intentions Amanda Agan is interested in the ways that laws and regulations play out in the real world, often yielding unintended consequences. She visited the institute this spring and spoke about her recent work to evaluate policies that eliminate questions about previous criminal convictions from job applications Advocates of these “Ban the Box” policies have argued that these laws could increase employment for minorities, but some economic theories imply that they could have negative consequences for minorities without records. Agan and her coauthors designed a field experiment to see if the policy performs as intended. Mon, 01 Aug 2016 14:45:46 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Amanda Agan is interested in the ways that laws a… Amanda Agan is interested in the ways that laws and regulations play out in the real world, often yielding unintended consequences. She visited the institute this spring and spoke about her recent work to evaluate policies that eliminate questions about previous criminal convictions from job applications Advocates of these “Ban the Box” policies have argued that these laws could increase employment for minorities, but some economic theories imply that they could have negative consequences for minorities without records. Agan and her coauthors designed a field experiment to see if the policy performs as intended. 825 no Discussion Section Uncut with Kevin Murphy and Casey Mulligan https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-uncut-with-kevin-murphy-and-casey-mulligan In this episode, Kevin Murphy talks with Casey Mulligan, professor in economics at the University of Chicago. Mulligan examines microeconomic trends, including labor, through a macroeconomic lens, with a particular interest in how policy can inadvertently shape the labor market in unexpected ways. Thu, 23 Jun 2016 22:01:35 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Kevin Murphy talks with Casey Mu… In this episode, Kevin Murphy talks with Casey Mulligan, professor in economics at the University of Chicago. Mulligan examines microeconomic trends, including labor, through a macroeconomic lens, with a particular interest in how policy can inadvertently shape the labor market in unexpected ways. 4788 no Discussion Section Uncut with Manasi Deshpande and Kevin Murphy https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/s01-discussionsection-manasi-mixdown Manasi Deshpande is an emerging expert in how social insurance programs shape the outcomes of their recipients. In this episode, she and Kevin Murphy discuss the importance of empirical measurement of such programs over a lifetime and how those effects shape the recipients' labor response. The pair talk about the ways that economists bring a unique framework to public policy in order to better measure the efficacy of what a policy is trying to do. Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:38:58 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago Manasi Deshpande is an emerging expert in how soc… Manasi Deshpande is an emerging expert in how social insurance programs shape the outcomes of their recipients. In this episode, she and Kevin Murphy discuss the importance of empirical measurement of such programs over a lifetime and how those effects shape the recipients' labor response. The pair talk about the ways that economists bring a unique framework to public policy in order to better measure the efficacy of what a policy is trying to do. 3180 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and Chad Syverson https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-chad-syverson In this episode, Murphy gets concrete with Chad Syverson, the J. Baum Harris Professor of Economics at Chicago Booth, about how his engineering background influences his approach to economics, understanding the drivers of productivity, how it is measured, and what can be gleaned from past growth trends in predicting what may come. Fri, 01 Apr 2016 21:48:05 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy gets concrete with Chad S… In this episode, Murphy gets concrete with Chad Syverson, the J. Baum Harris Professor of Economics at Chicago Booth, about how his engineering background influences his approach to economics, understanding the drivers of productivity, how it is measured, and what can be gleaned from past growth trends in predicting what may come. 5157 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and Mohammad Akbarpour https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-mohammad-akbarpour In this episode, Murphy and Muhammad Akbarpour, a Becker Friedman Institute Research Fellow, examine the opportunities that surround the development of an international kidney exchange market, the obstacles that inhibit that market from being implemented, and the experience of being an early career scholar at the University of Chicago. Fri, 01 Apr 2016 21:46:36 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy and Muhammad Akbarpour, a… In this episode, Murphy and Muhammad Akbarpour, a Becker Friedman Institute Research Fellow, examine the opportunities that surround the development of an international kidney exchange market, the obstacles that inhibit that market from being implemented, and the experience of being an early career scholar at the University of Chicago. 4858 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and José Scheinkman https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-jose-sheinkman In this episode, Murphy and José Scheinkman, a former UChicago faculty member and department chair now at Columbia University and Princeton University, elaborate on the experience of being an economist at the University of Chicago, evaluate recent trends in the global economy, and highlight ways in which economic thinking can more broadly be applied to a wide range of problems and solutions. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 22:10:09 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy and José Scheinkman, a fo… In this episode, Murphy and José Scheinkman, a former UChicago faculty member and department chair now at Columbia University and Princeton University, elaborate on the experience of being an economist at the University of Chicago, evaluate recent trends in the global economy, and highlight ways in which economic thinking can more broadly be applied to a wide range of problems and solutions. 3654 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and Erik Hurst https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-erik-hurst In this episode, Murphy talks with Erik Hurst, V. Duane Rath Professor of Economics and the John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow at Chicago Booth, to explore Hurst's perspective on the possible common ground between macro- and micro- economic perspectives and to evaluate labor market trends from the early 2000s leading up to today on the employee side of the manufacturing and housing industries. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 22:10:09 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy talks with Erik Hurst, V.… In this episode, Murphy talks with Erik Hurst, V. Duane Rath Professor of Economics and the John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow at Chicago Booth, to explore Hurst's perspective on the possible common ground between macro- and micro- economic perspectives and to evaluate labor market trends from the early 2000s leading up to today on the employee side of the manufacturing and housing industries. 4705 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and James Heckman https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-james-heckman In this episode, Murphy and James Heckman, Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, delve into the topic of human capital, focusing on how both education and early home life play a defining role in the development of a child, and talk about how the economics toolkit is influencing the work of social scientists outside the discipline. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 22:10:09 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy and James Heckman, Henry … In this episode, Murphy and James Heckman, Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, delve into the topic of human capital, focusing on how both education and early home life play a defining role in the development of a child, and talk about how the economics toolkit is influencing the work of social scientists outside the discipline. 5001 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and Steve Davis https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-steve-davis In this episode, Murphy talks with Steven Davis, William H. Abbott Professor of International Business and Economics at Chicago Booth, explore labor market trends from the employer side and talk about how uncertainty over impending government policy and regulatory shifts can influence labor market trends and job creation. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 22:10:09 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy talks with Steven Davis, … In this episode, Murphy talks with Steven Davis, William H. Abbott Professor of International Business and Economics at Chicago Booth, explore labor market trends from the employer side and talk about how uncertainty over impending government policy and regulatory shifts can influence labor market trends and job creation. 4243 no Discussion Section with Kevin Murphy and Benjamin Brooks https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/discussion-section-with-kevin-murphy-and-benjamin-brooks In this episode, Murphy talks with Benjamin Brooks, a Becker Friedman Institute Research Fellow, about what drew Brooks to economics as his field of research, the nuances of understanding game theory, and the role of the Becker Friedman Institute in enriching the study of economics at the University of Chicago. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:59:33 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, Murphy talks with Benjamin Brook… In this episode, Murphy talks with Benjamin Brooks, a Becker Friedman Institute Research Fellow, about what drew Brooks to economics as his field of research, the nuances of understanding game theory, and the role of the Becker Friedman Institute in enriching the study of economics at the University of Chicago. 3787 no Economics Amplified: Measuring Long Term Outcomes of Social Insurance Programs https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/economics-amplified-measuring-long-term-outcomes-of-social-insurance-programs In this episode, we speak with Manasi Deshpande, who currently works at the Institute as a postdoctoral research fellow leading up to joining the UChicago Economics Department as an assistant professor in the fall of 2016. Deshpande’s research interests include the effects of social insurance and public assistance programs on consumption, health, and well being, and the interaction between these programs and labor markets. By taking advantage of newly available data from the Social Security Administration, she's able to gather quantitative insights into the impact that social insurance programs have on long-term outcomes of their recipients, important when weighing their overall benefits and costs. Wed, 23 Mar 2016 18:42:47 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, we speak with Manasi Deshpande, … In this episode, we speak with Manasi Deshpande, who currently works at the Institute as a postdoctoral research fellow leading up to joining the UChicago Economics Department as an assistant professor in the fall of 2016. Deshpande’s research interests include the effects of social insurance and public assistance programs on consumption, health, and well being, and the interaction between these programs and labor markets. By taking advantage of newly available data from the Social Security Administration, she's able to gather quantitative insights into the impact that social insurance programs have on long-term outcomes of their recipients, important when weighing their overall benefits and costs. 722 no Economics Amplified: When Game Theory Gets Complicated https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/gametheorypodcast In today’s episode we talk with Ben Brooks, a research fellow at the Becker Friedman Institute interested in how incomplete information complicates classical game theory. This summer, Brooks organized a conference, bringing together experts in mathematical modeling, incomplete information and game theory. Researchers highlighted important developments in modeling information in auctions and continuous games, as well as the relationship between information and behavior in the era of the internet and big data. Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:12:35 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In today’s episode we talk with Ben Brooks, a res… In today’s episode we talk with Ben Brooks, a research fellow at the Becker Friedman Institute interested in how incomplete information complicates classical game theory. This summer, Brooks organized a conference, bringing together experts in mathematical modeling, incomplete information and game theory. Researchers highlighted important developments in modeling information in auctions and continuous games, as well as the relationship between information and behavior in the era of the internet and big data. 753 no Economics Amplified: Crafting Policy to Face an Uncertain World https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/training-government-to-face-an-uncertain-world In this episode, we speak with David Weisbach and Jennifer Nou of the University of Chicago Law School, as well as Alan Sanstad of the Computation Institute and The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. The trio of researchers organized a conference in April 2015 centered on a persistent issues for federal institutions: when making regulations and rules, how should policymakers account for what they don’t know: the uncertainties that could affect the long term costs and benefits of their actions? Weisbach, Nou and Sanstad sat down with us to talk about why getting policymakers and economic theorists together might hold the key to helping federal agencies best assess these uncertainties and understand how to address them in the policy process. Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:59:41 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago In this episode, we speak with David Weisbach and… In this episode, we speak with David Weisbach and Jennifer Nou of the University of Chicago Law School, as well as Alan Sanstad of the Computation Institute and The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. The trio of researchers organized a conference in April 2015 centered on a persistent issues for federal institutions: when making regulations and rules, how should policymakers account for what they don’t know: the uncertainties that could affect the long term costs and benefits of their actions? Weisbach, Nou and Sanstad sat down with us to talk about why getting policymakers and economic theorists together might hold the key to helping federal agencies best assess these uncertainties and understand how to address them in the policy process. 726 no Economics Amplified: Reflecting on Writing a Handbook of Macroeconomics https://soundcloud.com/beckerfriedmaninstitute/economics-amplified-reflecting-on-writing-a-handbook-of-macroeconomics John Taylor and Harald Uhlig recount a recent series of conference aimed at codifying the most important principles guiding modern macroeconomic analysis. Music is by Boris Mann 2, whom you can listen to on Soundcloud. Licensed under Creative Commons. Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:40:48 -0000 full Becker Friedman Institute at UChicago John Taylor and Harald Uhlig recount a recent ser… John Taylor and Harald Uhlig recount a recent series of conference aimed at codifying the most important principles guiding modern macroeconomic analysis. Music is by Boris Mann 2, whom you can listen to on Soundcloud. Licensed under Creative Commons. 1493 no