The Origins of Abundance

This podcast is an interview between Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein about Klein's book, "Abundance." The conversation traces the book's genesis, starting with Klein's 2021 essay on "supply-side progressivism" and Thompson's subsequent "Abundance Agenda" piece. They discuss the intellectual influences on the book, including the Yimby movement and the Niskanen Institute's work on state capacity. The core argument revolves around shifting the focus of liberalism from demand-side spending to supply-side building and implementation, illustrated by examples of inefficient housing construction and biomedical research funding. The discussion concludes by highlighting the need for a more outcome-oriented, less bureaucratically-focused approach to governance within the Democratic party.