Land: The $180 Trillion Asset That Runs the World | Mike Bird, The Economist

In this Bankless podcast episode, Ryan interviews Mike Bird, an editor at The Economist and author of "The Land Trap," about the complexities of land as an asset. They discuss why it's become harder to afford homes, the downstream effects of expensive housing, and the financialization of land within the U.S. dollar system. They explore historical perspectives, including Henry George's land reform movement and Japan's 1980s land bubble, before diving into the unique attributes of land—scarcity, immobility, and durability—and how these factors contribute to its value and potential for speculation. The conversation touches on land ownership records, the concept of a land standard, and China's approach to land management, ending with a lightning round of financial questions for Mike.