Words & Numbers

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Insightful weekly commentary on news & current events from economist Antony Davies and political scientist James R. Harrigan.

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Can Incentives Save the World?

August 14, 2019

When it comes to wildlife conservation and other environmental concerns, the ideas of free markets and private property are frequently laughed off as silly by the planet’s most strident defenders. However, the incentives—the motivations to behave in a certain way—that come along with private property are strong. After all, we never worry about cows going extinct. But can these insights on property and incentives be extended to other aspects of our lives and our world? Special guest Howard Baetjer, author of Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics, joins Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they explore this and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.

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Quick hits

Pickle ball

Air conditioned shirts

Foolishness of the week 

Rudeness in the grocery stores

Topic of the week: Howard Baetjer and Economic Stories

Howard Baetjer

Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics

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