Free to Exchange

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Season Two  Season One  

Season Two

EPISODE 11 — Inequality in the United States/Space Debris and Private Governance

EPISODE 10 — Energy Markets and Global Warming Policy

EPISODE 9 — Evolution of Freedom

EPISODE 8 — Ron Paul and Freedom/Rock and the Berlin Wall

EPISODE 7 — Civil War and The Great Depression

EPISODE 6 — Standards of Living and Fostering Entrepreneurship

EPISODE 5 — Private Governance

EPISODE 4 — Economic Freedom In the U.S. and Texas

EPISODE 3 — Barbarians and Western Civilization

EPISODE 2 — Food Policy

EPISODE 1 — Crisis and Default

EPISODE 11 — Inequality in the United States/Space Debris and Private Governance

Featuring J. Robert Subrick, Associate Professor of Economics at James Madison University, and Alexander Salter, Comparative Economics Research Fellow a the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University.

Prof. Powell discusses recent concerns about inequality with Dr. Subrick, focusing particularly on some its causes and consequences. Then, he and Dr. Salter address the problem of debris in outer space and the prospects for private solutions to these problems.

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EPISODE 10 — Energy Markets and Global Warming Policy

Featuring Timothy Fitzgerald, Associate Professor of Economics in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration at Texas Tech University and Robert Murphy, Research Assistant Professor at the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University.

Prof. Powell discusses oil and gas markets with Dr. Fitzgerald, including recent developments and changes in production techniques. Then, he and Dr. Murphy examine the merits of proposed public policy responses to problems presented by global climate change.

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EPISODE 9 — Evolution of Freedom

Featuring Randall Holcombe, DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics at Florida State University, and Matt Ryan, Associate Professor of Economics at Duquesne University.

Prof. Powell and Prof. Holcombe discuss changing perceptions about the role of the federal government throughout American history. Then, he and Dr. Ryan discuss his research examining the emergence of think tanks and other public policy organizations in the second half of the twentieth century.

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EPISODE 8 — Free to Exchange: Ron Paul and Freedom/Rock and the Berlin Wall 

Featuring Ron Paul, former U.S. Representative from Texas, and Larry Schweikart, Professor of History at the University of Dayton.

Prof. Powell speaks with Dr. Paul about the development of his views on the relationship between markets and government. Then, he and Prof. Schweikart examine how rock and roll music played changed attitudes toward individual liberty in countries behind the Iron Curtain.

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EPISODE 7 — Civil War and The Great Depression

Featuring Jeffrey Rogers Hummel, Professor of Economics at San Jose State University, and Robert Higgs, Senior Fellow in Political Economy at Independent Institute.

Prof. Powell speaks with Prof. Hummel about the growth of government power as a consequence of the civil war in the United States. Then, Dr. Higgs addresses the question of whether free market capitalism caused and, if the government ultimately got the United States out of the Great Depression.

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EPISODE 6 — Standards of Living and Fostering Entrepreneurship

Featuring Donald Boudreaux, Martha and Nelson Getchell Chair for the Study of Free Market Capitalism at George Mason University, and Russell Sobel, Professor of Economics & Entrepreneurship at The Citadel.

Prof. Powell and Prof. Boudreaux discuss popular claims about the stagnation of living standards for middle-class citizens of the United States since the 1970s. Then, he and Prof. Sobel explain the role of entrepreneurship in driving the innovative activity that underlies long-term economic progress.

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EPISODE 5 — Private Governance

Featuring Peter Boettke, University Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University, and Edward Stringham, Economics and Entrepreneurship Research Fellow with the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University.

Prof. Powell and Prof. Boettke discuss the economics of self-governance with a particular focus on the distinction between governance and government. Then, Dr. Stringham discusses his most recent book, Private Governance, which explores the theory and history of the provision of governance through voluntary, contractual means.

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EPISODE 4 — Economic Freedom in the U.S. and Texas

Featuring Joshua Hall, Associate Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the Center for Free Enterprise at West Virginia University, and Vance Ginn, Economist in the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Prof. Powell speaks with Dr. Hall about the broad importance of economic freedom in promoting economic progress and his co-authored project that attempts to provide empirical measures of economic freedom. Then, Dr. Ginn shares his insights about 'The Texas Model' and current states and prospects for economic freedom in the state.

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EPISODE 3 — Barbarians and Western Civilization

Featuring Stephen Balch, Director of The Institute for the Study of Western Civilization at Texas Tech University, and Andrew Young, Associate Professor of Economics at West Virginia University.

Prof. Powell speaks with Dr. Balch about the concept of western civilization with a particular focus on its historical roots in ancient civilization. Then, Dr. Young shares his insight about the less well known historical roots of western civilization that emerged as a result of the barbarian invasions.

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EPISODE 2 — Food Policy

Featuring Darren Hudson, Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Texas Tech University, and Jayson Lusk, Willard Sparks Endowed Chair in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University.

Prof. Powell discusses the theory, history and practice and agricultural policy in the United States with a particular focus on its applications to the economy of west Texas. Then, Prof. Lusk discusses his research on food policy in the United States.

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EPISODE 1 — Crisis and Default

Featuring Robert Higgs, Senior Fellow in Political Economy at the Independent Institute, and Jeffrey Rogers Hummel, Professor of Economics at San Jose State University.

Prof. Powell speaks with Dr. Higgs about his research on the history of crisis and its concomitant impact on the growth of government power in the United States. Then, Prof. Hummel discusses the likelihood of the United States federal government defaulting on its outstanding debt.

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