Economist and "Noahpinion" writer Noah Smith and investor Erik Torenberg make sense of what’s happening in the news, technology, business, and beyond, through the lens of economics.
The discussion centers on the implications of AI development, particularly Anthropic's role and the inevitable government involvement. It is argued that AI's potential as a weapon necessitates governmental oversight, similar to nuclear technology. Leopold Aschenbrenner's prediction of potential nationalization of AI is...
The podcast explores the complexities of crime in America, arguing that despite falling crime statistics, the baseline level remains unacceptably high compared to other developed nations. It highlights that a significant portion of crime is now organized and profit-driven, involving sophisticated operations like South ...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss a range of topics, beginning with the economic and industrial implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict for Europe, particularly in the context of defense and competition with China's electric car industry. They then shift to the recent Israel-Gaza de...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry (PEG) engage in a debate about immigration policy, focusing on illegal immigration and potential solutions. PEG argues for prioritizing the interests of current and future citizens and expresses concern over what he sees as a devaluation of the nation-st...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith analyze the potential impacts of AI on GDP and productivity, referencing Darren Acemoglu's framework and discussing whether AI will replace, augment, or create new tasks for humans. They explore recent data suggesting a slight acceleration in labor pr...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss a range of topics, starting with Noah's experience at an industrial policy conference in Canada and contrasting Canadian culture with that of the United States. They delve into the concept of industrial policy, particularly its application in Canada and...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith delve into the economic implications of AI, expanding on a previous conversation with Dorkesh. They explore whether AI will significantly impact the economy, discussing the potential for job displacement and the concentration of profits within AI corp...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg, Noah Smith, and Dwarkesh Patel discuss the definition of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its potential economic impacts. Dwarkesh defines AGI in economic terms, focusing on its ability to automate white-collar work, while Noah questions the perfect substitutability...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith analyze current economic issues, beginning with Argentina's economic situation under Milei, discussing his austerity measures and their impact. They explore the balance between government intervention and free market solutions, using the US and China ...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Sam D'Amico discuss China's dominance in modern manufacturing, particularly in the electric tech stack, which includes technologies driving industries like EVs and robotics. Sam argues that the U.S. has fallen behind due to geographical segregation of engineers and factory wo...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss current events through an economic lens, beginning with the recent mayoral election and its potential impact on New York City's policies, drawing parallels to San Francisco's experiences. They then analyze the implications of actions involving Iran, dis...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith interviews Derek Thompson about his move to Substack from The Atlantic. They discuss Thompson's reasons for the transition, including a desire for a new challenge and greater freedom in expressing his political ideas. The conversation explores Thompson's trendspotting abilities, ...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Chris Best, CEO of Substack, discuss the future of media in light of AI advancements and the evolving social media landscape. They explore the potential for AI to create personalized content and the implications for individual creators. The conversation shifts to Substack's r...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania discuss China's economic and technological landscape, touching on topics from demographics and financial challenges to its dominance in the electric tech stack. They address concerns about China's real estate crash, debt, and the impact of government indus...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith debunk the trope of cost disease affecting service sectors like healthcare, education, and housing. They discuss how manufacturing productivity has flatlined since 2008, while service productivity has been rising due to technology. They explore the re...
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith (not present in the transcript) and Erik Torenberg republish a conversation between Matt Yglesias and Torenberg, discussing the rise of electric motors and batteries, industrial policy, and how partisan narratives obscure transformative advances. They explore the history of energ...
In this episode of Econ 102, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith discuss the recent India-Pakistan conflict, its implications for the crumbling Pax Americana, and the U.S.'s role in such conflicts, advocating for a focus on national interests. They then shift to the inadequacy of the U.S. defense industrial base, proposing m...
This episode explores the myth of the hollowing out of the American middle class due to trade and globalization, challenging the narrative that wage stagnation and inequality are primarily driven by these factors. Noah Smith argues that median incomes have generally risen, and wage stagnation was a temporary pause comp...
This episode explores the role of nostalgia in politics, contrasting the approaches of the US and China, and analyzing the impact of tariffs on the global economy. Against the backdrop of nostalgia politics in both the US and China, the discussion delves into the motivations behind this phenomenon, highlighting how pe...
This episode explores the economic and social implications of the Trump and Biden administrations' approaches to industrial policy, contrasting their strategies and outcomes. Against the backdrop of Trump's protectionist tariffs, the discussion analyzes the potential for de-industrialization in America due to reduced ...
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