Is the American Dream a lie? (with Christian Cooper and Khiara Bridges)
Is the American Dream dead? Is economic mobility a myth? The foundational promise of America is that anyone, if they work hard and play by the rules, can enjoy a secure, middle-class life. Christian C...
21 Jan 201942min
BONUS: Marching orders for new legislators
As newly elected Democrats across the country enter their respective capitol buildings for the first time, Civic Ventures president Zach Silk and former Washington State legislator (and Civic Ventures...
18 Jan 201914min
Where does economic growth really come from? (with W. Brian Arthur and Cesar Hidalgo)
Is economic growth all about money, trade, and GDP, or are healthy economies built on a different foundation? In this episode, economist W. Brian Arthur and MIT physicist Cesar Hidalgo explain why hum...
15 Jan 201946min
How should we measure the economy? (with Diane Coyle)
Pop quiz: What does “GDP” stand for? And now, quickly: what the hell does “gross domestic product” even mean? It turns out, the way we measure the economy changes the way we manage the economy, so if ...
7 Jan 201935min
Whatever happened to the middle class? (with Heather Boushey and Matthew Stewart)
The American middle class is shrinking and, contrary to popular belief, globalization and automation are not to blame. Far from inevitable, skyrocketing inequality is a choice. In this episode, we loo...
31 Dec 201841min
BONUS: Where's your $4,000 raise?
Civic Ventures president Zach Silk joins us for a quick explainer on how Republicans sold their trickle-down tax cuts as a great deal for the middle class—and how angry suburban voters punished them f...
28 Dec 201814min
What is the trick in trickle down? (with Yuval Harari and Molly Crockett)
What is the “trick” in “trickle down” economics? It’s how wealthy elites and their neoliberal lackeys convince you that what’s good for them (tax cuts, deregulation, etc.) is good for you… and that po...
25 Dec 201846min
Is Econ 101 a lie? (with Eric Beinhocker and James Kwak)
What is “Econ 101,” and why do economists always get things wrong? In this episode we dismantle orthodox economics, exploring where it comes from, why it's wrong, and how “It’s Econ 101!” became a cyn...
17 Dec 201839min
