How Do We Fix It?3 Feb 2016

#36 The Risks of Safety: Greg Ip: How Do We Fix It?

Anti-lock brakes make many motorists drive faster. Introducing helmets and face masks in football raised the risk of concussions. Financial regulators and central bankers played a role in creatingconditions that led to the 2008 mortgage meltdown.

The illusion of safety can lead to reckless behavior.

These fascinating insights are part of "Foolproof - Why SafetyCan Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe", the recentlypublished book by Greg Ip, chief economics commentator at The WallStreet Journal.

"Life is about risk," Greg tells us in this episode of "How DoWe Fix It?" When we believe the world is safe, it affects ourbehavior. "Many positive things happen from taking risks and weshould not let the pendulum swing all the way to the other side -trying to eliminate all risks from our lives."

Our collective aim to make life safer comes into conflict withthe equally strong desire to make things bigger and morecomplicated. It is in our nature to safeguard our world - and yetsometimes, more often than we realize, protections end up being thethings that threaten our safety and well-being.

Accidents will always happen, says Greg. Among the solutions hecalls for are safe spaces: allowing banks to fail without takingdown the entire financial system and creating flood plains that allrivers and coastal waters to rise without creating havoc in nearbycommunities.

Greg argues for a balance between independence, risk and safety.Regulate too much and we reduce the opportunities for innovationand create a sense of potential complacency. "Black swan" eventsare inevitable. Our systems of governance and rule-making shouldrecognize that we cannot plan for every eventuality.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(453)

Braver Angels 2026 Convention Report and Reactions From Delegates

Something remarkable happened in Philadelphia, days before America celebrated its 250th birthday and streets away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Nearly 900 Braver Angels delega...

1 Jul 25min

A Conversation About Differences: Sue Lani Madsen

It's very easy to be outraged or depressed about American politics today, and much more challenging and interesting to consider how things might be better. Instead of dismissing our political opponent...

6 Jun 41min

Braver Angels Convention: A Pledge Renewed. Mark Metzger

One week before America celebrates its 250th birthday, Braver Angels will hold its annual convention in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.More than one th...

22 Mai 19min

Building Bridges, Crossing Divides in Utah. Jorgensen and Bernards

The nation has been shaken by violence yet again. The assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner was another jarring tear in the fabric of our public life. Every day Americans also...

1 Mai 25min

Why Braver Angels Workshops Bring Surprise and Hope. Maryanne Colter

Right now is a really difficult time to convince Americans to come together and listen to the other side. How can we be hopeful at a time of so much anger, division, violence and despair when our poli...

10 Apr 28min

Braver Angels Ambassadors. Barbara Hancin and Ron McFarland

Braver Angels Ambassadors are among the most courageous of courageous citizens.Not only do they bridge the partisan divide, these volunteers meet people where they are. At meetings and events across t...

27 Mar 26min

Braver Angels Citizens Commission on Immigration. David Lapp

Is it possible to find points of agreement on some of the most heated and divisive issues in American politics? Can people who profoundly disagree sit down and learn from each other? The answers to bo...

13 Mar 28min

Braver Angels Courageous Citizens. Wilk Wilkinson and Maury Giles

Conflict entrepreneurs get money, influence and power by sparking anger and outrage. The Braver Angels call for courageous citizenship does precisely the opposite. In this podcast we hear the case for...

27 Feb 30min