Trump says it would destroy us. Biden needs the voters who support it (especially the Bernie voters). The majority of millennials would like it to replace capitalism. But what is “it”? We bring in the economists to sort things out and tell us what the U.S. can learn from the good (and bad) experiences of other (supposedly) socialist countries.
Today
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?
The promise is that they can beat the experts at predicting inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. But right now, roughly 90 percent of the action is sports. Is this a future we want to bet on? Stephen Dubner speaks with, among others, the C.E.O. of Kalshi. (Part one of a two-p ... Show More
48m 39s
Sep 16
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in Person
He was thriving in the N.F.L., but then he decided to focus on mathematics — a subject he now teaches at M.I.T. John walks Stephen Dubner through the whole story, teaches him some blocking techniques, and explains why some infinities are bigger than others. If you'd like to see t ... Show More
32m 32s
Sep 11
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?
For decades, teams have tried (and mostly failed) to predict which college quarterbacks will thrive in the pros. Is the science finally catching up? Stephen Dubner speaks with a scout, a psychologist, a data warrior, and a Hall of Fame quarterback who nobody wanted. SOURCES:Scott ... Show More
58m 20s
Apr 2023
Larry Summers on the Politics & Economics of Envy
We turn to economist and former Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, to help us make sense of inflation, Silicon Valley Bank and what Biden should do next. Also on the agenda: why Summers believes in a politics and economics of opportunity — “not of envy.” Plus, why he thinks Am ... Show More
55m 3s
Sep 2025
Is Capitalism The Best We Can Do? | Surrounded Follow-Up
John Regalado sits down with Mason, Gabby, James and Isabella to revisit their Surrounded debate with Patrick Bet-David. They share their experiences that led them to becoming anti-capitalist and discuss taxing the ultra-rich, enduring poverty, reimagining socialism and the poten ... Show More
1h 14m
Oct 2025
Confused By The U.S. Economy? You're Not Alone
How are changing tariffs, the AI boom, immigration policies and uncertainty in employment and the stock market impacting the economy? Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, explains.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data ... Show More
46m 23s
Jun 2025
Can the World Count on ‘TACO’ Anymore?
In this episode of Trumponomics, we explore whether Donald Trump’s attack on Iran changes the calculus on his “reciprocal” tariffs and a looming deadline. Host Stephanie Flanders is joined by John Authers, senior editor for markets and a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and Shawn Don ... Show More
25m 42s