Summer Playlist 2025 Episode 2 | Michael Greenstone, Director, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)

In this episode of SmarterMarkets™, host Dave Greeley interviews Michael Greenstone, Director of EPIC at the University of Chicago, about translating academic energy and environmental research into real-world impact. Greenstone shares his experiences in the White House and the origin story of EPIC, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic growth with climate change concerns. The conversation delves into EPIC's work in building cap-and-trade particulate emissions markets in Gujarat, India, highlighting the challenges and successes of implementing such a system. Greenstone discusses the significance of understanding local problems, the role of monitoring, and the critical moment when regulators held the line to enforce the rules, leading to improved compliance, reduced pollution, and cost savings for industries. The discussion also covers EPIC's expansion into other states and countries, the founding of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, and the need for a balanced approach to climate and economic growth.