
Adam Smith’s Rubbish Bin (TM)
Adam Smith, the 18th century philosopher, laid down the foundations for market economies. Professors Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher explore how businesses and politicians influence markets to their advantage, and the price we pay as a result.
Episodes
12 episodes
AI, Productivity, and Your Job
In this episode TCNJ and NYU alum Christian Balevski - working at the intersection. of software engineering, innovation and emerging technology in finance - discusses the use and future of AI in the workplace. Christian connects the dots betwee...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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31:27

Everyone Wants All Of Your Money All Of The Time
Sellers bombard us with messages to buy, buy, buy — and the resulting consumption culture drives America’s economy. Consumer spending makes up about 68% of our GDP, far more than in Germany, Denmark, or Canada. But here’s the catch: the top 10%...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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25:44

It’s the Economy, Stupid
Some economists and business leaders remain (overly) optimistic about the economy. Here we bring look at diverse sets of data and conclude that consumers do not share that optimism and for good reason.
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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28:12

The Amazon Effect and The Unknown Cost of Convenience
In this episode we explore not just what Amazon has done to alter consumer behavior, which is considerable, but also what it might continue to do moving forward. Adam Smith worried about the ability of sellers to control or influence the market...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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28:40

Local Government Gives You Your Money’s Worth
In this episode we interview Brian Levine, a three-term mayor of a NJ town and former council member. Brian is a Republican who got elected and re-elected in a town that typically votes overwhelmingly Democrat. Good local government helps make ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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41:04

Inflation: Not on the Menu Please!
In this episode we explore the causes of inflation and the potential harm to consumers. We include a look at interest rates, which tend to be used as a tool against inflation.
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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27:54

Trouble With Tariffs
Here we look at the risks and limited reward of broad tariffs, the disfunction of an unclear tariff policy, and the usefulness of selected, shorter-term tariffs.
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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27:54

Private Equity and Public Harm
In this episode we explore an aspect of private equity investments that have raised concerns regarding their impact on prices, employees, and communities.
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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31:03

Crafting a Career: Is Education Overrated
In this episode we explore the changing job outlook and the role of higher education.
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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28:41

Everyday Consumers and the Lost American Dream
In this episode we look at the impact of increasing income and wealth disparities and prices on consumer spending. For example, the top 10% of all US households now accounts for 50% of consumer spending and the average house price ($500K) is no...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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29:36

Laid Off: Researchers, Innovators, and the Department That Fixes Stuff
This episode digs into the current enthusiasm for government downsizing and disinvestment. Adam Smith, ever the pragmatist, wrote that in addition to providing a defense from external threats and a fair and effective judicial system, the govern...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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28:11

We're In The Money -- The Growing Importance of Lobbying and Political Giving
We begin by looking at banking as the financial services industry impacts everyone. Then we look at a dominant manufacturer – Boeing. Each of these companies have had years-long legal and ethical problems while spending millions on lobbying and...
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34:49
