The Curious Task

Akiva Malamet and Mikayla Novak - How Do Markets Influence Gender?

Sabine speaks with Akiva Malamet and Mikayla Novak about the effects of market forces on gender as a social construct, the unlikely pairing of free markets and gender in an age of socialist feminist theory, and their recent co-authored article in Cosmos + Taxis.

Episode Notes:

"Gender as a Discovery Process: Social Construction, Markets, and Gender" Akiva Malamet and Mikayla Novak https://cosmosandtaxis.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/malamet_novak_ct_vol11_iss11_12_epub.pdf 

Randall Holcombe on Spontaneous Order:

https://doi.org/10.1177/1473095212458270

David Pozen "We Are All Entrepreneurs Now": 

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1044021 

Immanuel Kant first introduces the concepts of "phenomena" and "noumena" in his critical philosophy, particularly in his work titled "Critique of Pure Reason" (Kritik der reinen Vernunft), which was first published in 1781.  

Isreal Kirzner on Entrepreneurship:

https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Kirzner.html 

Jason Kuznicki "Human, Transhuman, Transgender.":

https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/human-transhuman-transgender 

 

Ryan Thorpe - Is Journalism In Trouble?

Sabine Speaks with Ryan Thorpe about the state of Journalism in Canada and about how bills C-18, C-11 and government subsidies for journalism are compromising an industry necessary for democratic participation in an age when accountability is more important than ever. 

Episode Notes:

Ryan's page on the Winnipeg Free Press website: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/biographies/ryan-thorpe

A primer on Canada's Bill C-18: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/understanding-bill-c-18-canada-s-online-news-act-and-its-proposed-rules-explained-1.6488532 

Canadaland's statement regarding denial of government subsidies: https://www.canadaland.com/how-to-support-canadaland/ 

A legal perspective on Bill C-11: https://www.lexpert.ca/legal-insights/exploring-the-controversy-around-bill-c-11/380414 

Sy Hersh's C-SPAN speech describing how he exposed the My Lai massacre: https://www.c-span.org/video/?62006-1/vietnam-war-lai-massacre 

Torstar losing approximately 50 million dollars a year: http://surl.li/pqchw 

Blacklocks reporter on the memo to Pablo Rodriguez demonstrating the failure of public subsidies to Canadian media: https://www.blacklocks.ca/media-bailout-failed-memo/ 

 

 

Tyler Cowen - Who Is The Greatest Economist Of All Time?

Matt speaks with Tyler Cowen about his recent book "GOAT:
Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter?", as they discuss the case for and against each of the top finalists, and the interactive AI features that Tyler has integrated into the book's online release.

Episode Notes:

The full book plus all interactive AI features can be found for free here: https://goatgreatesteconomistofalltime.ai/en 

 

Matthew Mitchell and Peter Boettke - What Can We Learn From Estonia?

Alex speaks with Peter Boettke and Matthew Mitchell about their recent book co-authored with Konstantin Zhukov about the unusual rise of Estonia from the ashes of Stalinism to their current status as one of the freest nations on earth. 

Episode Notes:

The conversation focusses on the book "Road To Freedom" which can be read in its entirety here: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/road-to-freedom-estonias-rise-from-soviet-vassal-state-to-one-of-the-freest-nations-on-earth_0.pdf 

A similar publication on the economic history of Poland by these same authors can be read in its entirety here: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/road-to-socialism-and-back-an-economic-history-of-poland-1939-2019.pdf 

 

Nick Cowen - Is Public Ignorance A Problem?

Alex speaks with Nick Cowen about democracy, markets, and his forthcoming article "Include The Ignorant"

Episode Notes:

- Jason Brennan "Against Democracy" https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691178493/against-democracy 

- On the Compatibility of Epistocracy and Public Reason
by Thomas Mulligan https://www.jstor.org/stable/24575740 

- Hayek on Limited Democracy, Dictatorships, and the ‘Free’ Market: An Interview in Argentina, 1977
"Birsen Filip" https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-91358-2_10 

 

 

 

Mike Munger - Can Classical Liberalism Be Saved?

Alex speaks with Mike Munger about the state of classical liberalism in an era in which conservatism seems intent on wielding the tools of central planning and the left prefers the term "progressive" to "liberal".

Episode Notes:

The Classical Liberal Diaspora by Mike Munger: https://t.co/xoRnPIUXXi 

The Articles of Confederation: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Articles-of-Confederation 

Preamble to the United States constitution: https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/us 

Fusionism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusionism 

Albert Jay Nock and The Remnant: https://mises.org/library/isaiahs-job 

Chile rewriting its constitution: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chilean-congressional-council-finalizes-new-draft-constitution-again-2023-10-30/ 

Lauren Hall - Is Gender An Emergent Order?

Sabine speaks with Lauren K Hall, who defends the notion that feminism is an emergent order, and speaks about her recent special edition of Cosmos+Taxis.

Episode Notes:

All articles in the most recent edition of Cosmos+Taxis are linked here:

https://cosmosandtaxis.org/current-issue/ 

Sarah Blaffer Hrdy "The Woman That Never Evolved":

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1khdr6b

Kimberle Crenshaw "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex:
A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination
Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics":

https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1052&context=uclf 

 

Clara Piano - Does Greater Economic Freedom Lead To More Babies?

Matt speaks with Clara Piano about the relationship between economic freedom, fertility, and the roles that modernization and increasing well-being for women have on the number of babies that are born in countries around the world.

Episode Notes:

"The Fertility Gap and Economic Freedom" by Clara Piano & Lyman Stone https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4564080 

"The Fertility Benefits of Economic Freedom" by Clara E. Piano https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-fertility-benefits-of-economic-freedom 

"The Best Policy for Supporting Families Is “Do No Harm”" by Clara E. Piano https://www.aier.org/article/the-best-policy-for-supporting-families-is-do-no-harm/ 

Some history on "The Population Bomb" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/book-incited-worldwide-fear-overpopulation-180967499/ 

Sarah Skwire - Why Should Liberals Read Shakespeare?

Sabine speaks with Sarah Skwire about the fascinating world of Shakespeare and why there are so many lessons we can learn from a pre-enlightenment playwright about markets, politics, and the human condition. 

Episode Notes:

- Mike Huemer's Post on Shakespeare: https://fakenous.substack.com/p/why-i-hate-shakespeare 

- "The Comedy of The Errors" https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/the-comedy-of-errors/read/#:~:text=Synopsis%3A,named%20Dromio%2C%20as%20their%20servants. 

- Sarah on Shakespeare and Immigration: https://fee.org/articles/even-shakespeare-knew-that-kicking-out-immigrants-harms-us-all/ 

- Adam Smith on Human Sympathy: https://www.adamsmithworks.org/documents/smith-on-sympathy-lauren-hall-12-1 

- Summary of Shakespeare's "Sir Thomas More": https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sir-thomas-more-play/ 

- Adam Smith's misrecollection of Othello https://www.adamsmithworks.org/speakings/skwire-smith-shakespeare-slips-end-of-othello 

- Intro to "Measure for Measure": https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/measure-for-measure/ 

- Commentary on the Political Theology of First Samuel: https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/samuel-kings-chronicles-and-work/from-tribal-confederation-to-monarchy-1-samuel/ 

 

 

 

David Friedman - What Is Anarcho-Capitalism?

Alex speaks with David Friedman about defenses, definitions and critiques of Anarcho-Capitalism in David's work and in others'. 

Episode Notes:

- Summary of David's book "The Machinery of Freedom" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Machinery_of_Freedom 

- Some of Ayn Rand's views on Libertarianism and Anarcho-Capitalism: http://aynrandlexicon.com/ayn-rand-ideas/ayn-rand-q-on-a-on-libertarianism.html 

- Some of David's comments on his Father's views of his work can be found here: https://www.econlib.org/archives/2011/07/david_friedmans_1.html 

- The Stanford Encyclopedia's entry on Anarchism https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anarchism/#:~:text=Libertarianism%20and%20anarcho%2Dcapitalism%20also,the%20idea%20of%20social%20development. 

- "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" - Robert A. Heinlein https://a.co/d/4gmWZrP 

- "The Private Enforcement of Law" - Landes and Posner https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=259376 

- "Law Enforcement, Malfeasance, and Compensation of Enforcers" - Gary S. Becker and George J. Stigler  https://laws21.classes.ryansafner.com/readings/Becker-Stigler-1974.pdf 

 

 

Iain Murray - What Has Happened to Conservatism?

Matt speaks with Iain Murray about the estrangement of conservative liberalism from identitarian forms of conservative nationalism and the intriguing alliances that may arise in the future between freedom-loving libertarians and some unlikely allies. 

Episode Notes:

Iain's book "The Socialist Temptation" https://a.co/d/5AUQHQp 

One of Iain's articles on the subject https://cei.org/blog/european-populism-is-nationalist-conservatism/ 

"Do Libertarians Have a Political Home Anymore?" by Iain Murray https://www.acton.org/religion-liberty/volume-35-number-1-2/do-libertarians-have-political-home-anymore 

Summary of Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly_Elegy 

Ezra Klein's comment on "Everything Bagel Liberalism" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/opinion/democrats-liberalism.html 

Brad Lips - Is The Liberty Movement In Trouble?

Sabine speaks with Atlas Network's Brad Lips about what's in store for the liberty movement all over the world. 

Episode Notes: 

- The Atlas Network  https://www.atlasnetwork.org/who-we-are 

- Brad's book "Liberalism and the Free Society in 2021" https://a.co/d/0Bcor8q 

- The Free Market Foundation https://freemarketfoundation.com/ 

- Article summarizing Margaret Thatcher's relationship with Anthony Fisher https://philanthropydaily.com/margaret-thatcher-and-antony-fisher-free-markets-and-philanthropy/ 

- Watler Williams on South Africa https://www.annistonstar.com/the_st_clair_times/stclair_opinion/walter-williams-ridding-south-africa-of-apartheid-and-what-replaces-it-column/article_da26121e-ad32-11e8-ba86-7783725cd2d4.html 

- Centre for Civil Society in India https://ccs.in/ 

Mark Mercer - What’s Wrong With Universities?

Matt speaks with Mark Mercer about academic freedom, the changing mission of universities themselves, and what role faculty, administrators, and students should play in shaping the future of the institution. 

References:

• Mark’s Interview in C2C Journal: https://c2cjournal.ca/2023/05/confronting-the-post-academic-university-in-conversation-with-mark-mercer/  
• Peter March at St. Mary’s: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/students-protest-prof-who-posted-cartoons-1.623017 
• Kathleen Lowrey at University of Alberta: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/u-of-a-professor-says-she-was-dismissed-over-views-that-biological-sex-trumps-transgender-identity-for-policy-decisions 
• Tomáš Hudlický at Brock University: https://niagaraindependent.ca/remembering-professor-tomas-hudlicky-and-how-poorly-brock-university-treated-him/ 
• The Chicago Principles: https://provost.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/documents/reports/FOECommitteeReport.pdf 

 

Cory Massimino - How Do We Abolish Prisons?

Alex speaks with Cory Massimino about the concept of prison abolition and how this position corresponds with natural rights theory and recent movements demanding the end of prisons as we know them. 

Read some of Cory’s published and unpublished pieces on prison abolition here: thttp://corymassimino.com/tag/prison-abolition/ 

Seth Kaplan - Why Are Neighbourhoods Important?

Matt speaks with Seth Kaplan about his book Fragile Neighborhoods, and why a decision as simple as where we choose to live can often make the difference between lives of prosperity and lives of uncertainty and strife. 

Seth's book can be ordered here:

https://a.co/d/aqUzRny 

Noah Schwartz - Does Canada Have A Gun Problem?

In March of 2023, Alex spoke with Noah Schwartz about gun control in Canada and how recent attempts to review firearms policy have failed to address root issues and the causes of violence and crime.

References

1. “On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA” by Noah Schwartz

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Target-Gun-Culture-Storytelling-NRA/dp/1487548443/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

2. “Firearms Act, 1995” by Justice Laws Website

Link: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-11.6/ 

3. “Firearms Licensing” by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Link: https://rcmp.ca/en/firearms/licensing 

4. “A Right to Bear Arms? Canadian Cases” by Leonid Sirota

Link: https://doubleaspect.blog/2012/04/15/a-right-to-bear-arms-canadian-cases/ 

5. “Nova Scotia Shooting Incident - Timeline” by Public Safety Canada

Link: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20200730/021/index-en.aspx 

6. “Bill C-21” by the Parliament of Canada

Link: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-21

Monica Guzman - How Can Curiosity Fix Polarization?

In April of 2023, Alex speaks with Monica Guzman about the need for curiosity as a remedy for the increasing polarization in American discourse and her recent book on the subject "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times"

Monica's book:

https://a.co/d/j6xKME7 

Kevin Vallier - Must Politics Be War?

In this conversation from January 2020, Alex Aragona speaks with Kevin Vallier about conflicts in politics and how ideology aggravates them, and whether liberal institutions can help us trust each other more.

References from Episode 26 with Kevin Vallier:

• You can purchase Kevin Vallier’s book Must Politics be War here
• You can purchase the book Polarization: What Everyone Needs to Know here
• You can purchase From Politics to the Pews here

Jayme Lemke - Who Was Elinor Ostrom?

Alex speaks with Jayme Lemke about the life, work, and legacy of American Nobel Prize-winning political economist Elinor Ostrom.

References

1. “Elinor Ostrum and the Bloomington School: Building a New Approach to Policy and Social Sciences” by Jayme Lemke and Vlad Tarko

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Bloomington-School-Building/dp/0228004152 

2. Elinor Ostrum Publications 

Link: https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/library/bibliographies/ostrom-elinor.html 

3. Elinor Ostrum Fellowship, Mercatus Centre

Link: https://www.mercatus.org/students/elinor-ostrom-fellowship

Alex Aragona - 200th Episode Celebration

Sabine interviews our regular host Alex Aragona as they discuss the first 200 episodes of The Curious Task.

References

1. Camden Hutchison’s episode “Why Restrict Freedom of Expression” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/?s=hutchison 

2. Sigal Ben-Porath’s episode “How Can Speech Be Protected on Campus” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-11-sigal-ben-porath-%e2%80%94-how-can-speech-be-protected-on-campus/ 

3. Jacob Levy’s episode “What is Academic Freedom?” of The Curious Task Podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-137-jacob-levy-what-is-academic-freedom/ 

4. “Different Kinds and Degrees of Private Censorship Matter” by Alex Aragona

Link: https://speaking-liberally.com/2021/04/13/different-kinds-and-degrees-of-private-censorship-matter/ 

5. Nathan Goodman’s episode “What Does Immigration Have to Do With Climate Change” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-199-nathan-goodman-what-does-immigration-have-to-do-with-climate-change/ 

6. Fiona Harrigan’s episode “How Does Immigration Make Us Freer?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-188-fiona-harrigan-how-does-immigration-make-us-freer/ 

7. Chandran Kukuthas’ episode “What’s Wrong With Immigration Control?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-127-chandran-kukathas-what-s-wrong-with-immigration-control/ 

8. Sabine El-Chidiac and Peter Jaworski’s episode “Does Immigration Make A Better World?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-134-sabine-el-chidiac-and-peter-jaworski-does-immigration-make-a-better-world/

9. Paige MacPherson’s episode “What Does School Choice Look Like?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-151-paige-macpherson-what-does-school-choice-look-like/ 

10. James Tooley’s episode “Is Low-Cost Private Education Possible?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/special-episode-3-james-tooley%c2%a0%e2%80%94-is-low-cost-private-education-possible/ 

11. James Harrigan’s episode “What’s Wrong With Utopias?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-187-james-harrigan-what-s-wrong-with-utopias/ 

12. Rachel Lomasky’s episode “Can A.I. Be Ethical?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-168-rachel-lomasky-can-ai-be-ethical/ 

13. Thomas Bunting’s episode “What Can Baseball Teach Us About Politics?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-168-rachel-lomasky-can-ai-be-ethical/ 

14. Janet Bufton and Sarah Skwire’s episode “Why Tweet the Wealth of Nations” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-98-janet-bufton-and-sarah-skwire-%e2%80%94-why-tweet-the-wealth-of-nations/ 

15. Nimish Adhia’s episode “Did Bollywood Liberalize India?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-52-nimish-adhia-%e2%80%94-did-bollywood-liberalize-india/ 

16. Chris Freiman’s episode “Is It Okay to Ignore Politics?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-31-christopher-freiman-%e2%80%94-is-it-okay-to-ignore-politics/ 

17. Jessica Flannigan’s episode “Should We Legalize All Drugs?” of The Curious Task Podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-9-jessica-flanigan-%e2%80%94-should-we-legalize-all-drugs/ 

18. Mike Munger’s episode “Is Price Gouging Wrong?” of The Curious Task 

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-39-mike-munger-%e2%80%94-is-price-gouging-wrong/

19. Dan Shahar’s episode “Is It Okay to Eat Meat?” of The Curious Task podcast

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-125-dan-shahar-is-it-okay-to-eat-meat/