The Curious Task

Malcolm Lavoie — Why Are Property Rights So Important?

Alex Aragona speaks with Malcolm Lavoie about the importance of property rights to decentralization and the use of resources, and discusses how FA Hayek's work plays a part in understanding this connection. 

References from Episode 51 with Malcolm Lavoie:

• You can read Malcolm Lavoie’s paper “Property and Local Knowledge”, which is referenced throughout the podcast, at this link.
• You can read FA Hayek’s essay “The Use of Knowledge in Society” on EconLib here
• You can purchase FA Hayek’s book, Law, Legislation, and Liberty, on Amazon Canada at this link.

Linda Kavuka — How Do Free Markets Help Africa?

Alex Aragona speaks with Linda Kavuka as she explores why it's so important to rediscover Africa's free-market past, and how the ideas surrounding free markets can help remedy the problems facing many African countries.  

References from Episode 50 with Linda Kavuka:

• You can read Linda Kavuka’s Telegraph article on Africa and access to the free market referenced in the podcast here
• You can watch Linda Kavuka’s talk on the impact of colonialism on property rights in Africa, referenced in the podcast here

Fabio Rojas — What Happened to the Anti-War Movement?

Alex Aragona speaks with Fabio Rojas as he traces the history of the post 9/11 anti-war movement and what caused it to lose momentum.

References from Episode 49 with Fabio Rojas:

• You can purchase Fabio Rojas’ book, From Black Power to Black Studies: How a Radical Social Movement Became an Academic Discipline, on Amazon Canada at this link.
• You can buy Fabio Rojas’ book, Party in the Street: The Antiwar Movement and the Democratic Party After 9/11,  on Amazon Canada at this link.
• You can purchase Fabio Rojas’ book, Theory for the Working Sociologist, on Amazon Canada here.
• You can read the transcript of Barack Obama’s 2002 speech against the Iraq War, which Fabio refers to in the podcast, here

Travis Smith — Why Are Superheroes So Popular?

Alex Aragona nerds out with Travis Smith as they discuss his book 'Superhero Ethics', why superheroes are so popular, and the ten ways superheros save the world. 

References from Episode 48 with Travis Smith:

• You can purchase Travis Smith’s book Superhero Ethics: 10 Comic Book Heroes; 10 Ways to Save the World; Which One Do We Need Most Now? on Amazon Canada at this link
• You can watch the trailer for Watchmen, the American superhero drama limited television series Alex mentions in the podcast here.

Ilya Somin — Can You Vote With Your Feet?

Alex Aragona speaks with Ilya Somin as he explores how you can vote with your feet and if it is effective.

References from Episode 47 with Ilya Somin:

• You can purchase Illya Somin’s book, Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter, on Amazon Canada at this link
• You can purchase Illya Somin’s book, The Grasping Hand: “Kelo V. City of New London” and the Limits of Eminent Domain, on Amazon Canada at this link
• You can purchase Illya Somin’s book, Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom, on Amazon Canada at this link

Dennis Rasmussen — How Did A Friendship Shape Modern Thought?

Alex Aragona speaks with Dennis Rasmussen as he traces the friendship between Adam Smith and David Hume, and how it helped shaped modern thought.

References from Episode 46 with Dennis Rasmussen:

• You can purchase Dennis Rasmussen’s book, The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought, on Amazon Canada at this link.
• You can purchase David Hume’s book, A Treatise of Human Nature, on Amazon Canada at this link
• You can read Adam Smith’s book, A Theory on Moral Sentiments, for free on the Online Library of Liberty at this link.
• You can purchase David Hume’s book, Dialogue Concerning Natural Religion, on Amazon Canada at this link
• You can read Adam Smith’s book, The Wealth of Nations, for free on The Library of Economics and Liberty here.
• You can read David Hume’s essay, Of Refinement in the Arts, for free on The Liberty of Economics and Liberty at this link.
• You can read Adam Smith’s publication of Letter from Adam Smith, L.L.D. to William Strahan for free on The Liberty of Economics and Liberty here.

Steve Davies — What Happens After The Pandemic?

Alex Aragona speaks with Steve Davies as he explores what he thinks life after the pandemic will look like, including our relationship with the welfare state.

References from Episode 45 with Steve Davies:

• You can purchase Steve Davies’ book, Empiricism and History, at Amazon at this link
• You can purchase Steve Davies’ book, The Wealth Explosion: The Nature and Origins of Modernity, at Amazon at this link
• You can purchase Steve Davies’ book, The Economics and Politics of Brexit: The Realignment of British Public Life, at Amazon at this link
• You can read Steve Davies’ article on What History Teaches Us About the Coronavirus Pandemic here
• You can read more about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s argument on news sensationalization that Steve Davies mentions at this link.
• Steve Davies talks about the Bathtub Fallacy here
• You can read Steve Davie’s briefing paper on C-19: Redefining the State of Welfare here

Shikha Dalmia — How Are Indian Immigrants Saving Canadian Hockey?

Alex Aragona talks with Shikha Sood Dalmia as she explores the story of a Sikh-Canadian broadcaster's rise to fame, and what stories like these mean for the broader immigrant community when it comes to joining, and changing, the world around them.

References from Episode 44 with Shikha Dalmia:

• You can read Shikha Dalmia’s original Reason article about this topic at this link

Ben Perrin — What's the Solution to the Opioid Crisis?

Alex Aragona speaks with Ben Perrin as he explores the causes of, and solutions to, the opioid crisis in Canada and the United States.

References from Episode 43 with Ben Perrin:

• You can purchase Ben Perrin’s new book Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis at Amazon Canada at this link
• You can listen to the episode of The Curious Task that Alex mentioned that features Trevor Burrus at this link

Sarah Skwire — Why Should Women Care About Economic Freedom?

Everyone should care about economic freedom. But why is economic freedom especially relevant for women? Alex Aragona chats with Sarah Skwire as she explores why economic freedom has been, and is, important for women to cherish and defend.

References from Episode 42 with Sarah Skwire:

• You can check out Adam Smith Works here
• You can purchase Sarah’s article on Margaret Fell here
• You can read Sarah Skwire’s article on How the State Became the American Woman’s Real Enemy here
• Sarah Skwire talks about Round About a Pound a Week here
• Sarah Skwire talks about Roast Beef, Medium here

Russ Roberts — How Can Adam Smith Change Your Life?

Alex Aragona speaks with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can change your life, even so many years later.  

References from Episode 41 with Russ Roberts 

• You can purchase Russ Roberts’ book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life at Amazon Canada here
• You can read the Theory of Moral Sentiments for free on the Online Library of Liberty here

Pete Boettke — What Is The Curious Task of Economics?

Alex Aragona chats with Pete Boettke as he dives into what the curious task of economics is and relates it back to the work of Friedrich Hayek.

References from Episode 40 with Pete Boettke

• You can purchase Pete Boettke’s book on F.A. Hayek on Amazon Canada here
• Check out Pete Boettke’s economics blog here

Mike Munger — Is Price Gouging Wrong?

Alex Aragona speaks with Mike Munger as he explores what's truly happening when we see rapid price changes during a crisis, and whether suppliers raising their prices in a time of crisis is wrong.

References

1. “Is Capitalism Sustainable?” by Michael Munger

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Sustainable-Michael-Munger/dp/1630691739 

2. “Three Undeniable Problems with Anti-Gouging Laws” by Michael Munger

Link: https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/three-undeniable-problems-with-anti-gouging-laws/

David Clement — Is Marijuana Legalization Working?

Alex speaks with the Consumer Choice Centre's David Clement about why Canada's marijuana legalization regulations missed the mark, and what government could have done to make legalization work. 

References from Episode 38 with David Clement:

Here are a few articles by David Clement on marijuana legalization

• Globe and Mail: Ottawa is baking a bitter taste into its rules around edibles
• Globe and Mail: Minor changes could have a major positive impact on Ontario’s cannabis plan
• Globe and Mail: Health Canada shows again that it can’t properly regulate cannabis
• Globe and Mail: Consumers are paying for government’s failure to understand cannabis
• Globe and Mail: Are excise taxes killing the cannabis industry?
• Globe and Mail: Quick and smart fixes for Canada’s cannabis mess
• Globe and Mail: Ontario Cannabis Lottery was a disaster. It should be the last
• National Post: Ontario delivers yet another cannabis decision that hurts retailers and helps illegal dealers
• National Post: Ottawa’s latest rules risk ruining cannabis-infused beverages before they’re even legal
• National Post: Liberals are blowing smoke with claim that they’ve wiped out half of the illicit market
• Toronto Star: Banning cannabis at local level is bad policy

Ray Pennings — Does School Choice Work?

Alex Aragona chats with Cardus' Ray Pennings as he explores the benefits of more school choice to both students and society, and look at some data to see if, and how, it works. 

References from Episode 37 with Ray Pennings:

• You can check out the Canadian Cardus Survey here
• You can read the U.S. Cardus Education Survey 2018 here
• You can read the Cardus survey on Who Chooses Ontario Independent Schools and Why here

Jason Brennan — Why Not Capitalism?

Alex Aragona chats with Jason Brennan's about his response to G.A. Cohen's book and question "Why Not Socialism?" and his thoughts on ideal capitalism.

References from Episode 36 with Jason Brennan:

• You can purchase Jason Brennan’s book Why Not Capitalism on Amazon Canada here

Jesse Walker — Did We Really Go to The Moon? (April Fool's Day Episode)

Alex Aragona speaks with Jesse Walker as they explore whether a human being truly set foot on the moon.

References

1. “Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America” by Jesse Walker

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rebels-Air-Alternative-History-America/dp/0814793827 

2. “The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory” by Jesse Walker

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/United-States-Paranoia-Conspiracy-Theory/dp/0062135562

Matt Bufton — Are There Libertarians in a Pandemic?

Matt Bufton talks with Alex Aragona about the effects the response to COVID-19 will have on freedom, the proper government response to a pandemic, how lifting certain regulations can help, and more. 

References from Episode 34 with Matt Bufton:

• You can read the Atlantic article referenced in the podcast  here
• You can read more about hand sanitizer regulations being relaxed here
• Check out more information on the Mercatus COVID-19 Innovation Prizes here

Scott Beyer — What is Market Urbanism?

Alex Aragona speaks with Scott Beyer as he explores the basic tenets of market urbanism and the ideas behind market driven solutions to problems in our communities.

References from Episode 33 with Scott Beyer:

• You can check out Scott’s website The Market Urbanism Report here
• You can check out the popular Market Urbanism Report Facebook page here

Jason Sorens — Could Alberta Leave Canada?

Alex Aragona speaks with Jason Sorens as he explores what it takes for a group to secede or gain independence from a state, and whether Alberta could leave Canada.

References from Episode 32 with Jason Sorens:

• You can purchase Jason Sorens’ book on Secessionism on Amazon Canada  here
• You can listen to Jason Sorens’ appearance on the Danielle Smith show in Alberta here