Smart Talk Podcast

To celebrate our 100th episode, we wanted to do a special podcast on Henry George and Georgism. It was recorded in November of 2023 by Nathan Greene, a researcher at the Henry George School, and Ed Dodson, a long-time faculty member.

Ed is an expert on Henry George and all things Georgism. As a long-time subscriber of George, land value taxation, and land use reform, he is an excellent person to talk to for our centennial episode.

Henry George is an important figure in both American and economic history. His life led him to understand the world in a complex way that gave him a unique perspective. With this perspective, George looked to solve ecological and social problems through land rights, welfare, and social justice. This blend of philosophy and economics was the genesis of Georgism, an ideology that his followers believed would solve some of the most pressing issues of the time.

George grew up during the Gold Rush and would eventually live through the Gilded Age. This was a time of massive inequality, major reforms, and rapid economic growth. The various places he lived instilled in George the need for greater fairness within society.

One of his famous adages is, “Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power.” George believed that through reflection and critical thinking, everyone can strive towards a better life for themselves, and their community. And this still rings true today. Henry George passed over a hundred years ago, but many of the problems he lived through still plague us today.

Income and wealth inequality have skyrocketed. According to Pew Research, a well-known pollster, between 1983 to 2016, the share of wealth belonging to upper-income households increased from 60% to 79%. Meanwhile, the amount held by middle-income households has been reduced by half, decreasing from 32% to 17%. Lower-income households only had 4% of wealth in 2016, down from 7% in 1983. Meanwhile, millions of young people are shut out of the real estate market and can’t afford their first house. I can’t help but wonder what Henry George would say if he could see the state of the world in 2023. A history of George’s life, how he formed his ideas, and the movements he inspired may help us parse that out.

Mr. Dodson attended Shippensburg University and Temple University where he received an economics degree. Ed worked for Fannie Mae, a public-private partnership to help distribute home mortgage loans. During his time at Fannie Mae, Mr. Dodson held numerous management and analyst positions within the Housing & Community Development group, helping revitalize neighborhoods and local communities. This gives him an interesting perspective on land use and reform, and how it can reduce inequality. He also has extensive experience as a history lecturer at the Osher Life Long Learning Institute and the Learning is For Everyone program at Burlington County College. Ed has written many papers on history and the political economy and is the author of a three-volume book series titled "The Discovery of First Principles."

Together, we discussed Henry George in the context of economic history, his ideas, and how the Georgist community can turn back into a movement.

Often when we talk about competition between two nations, the US and China is the perfect example for today, we get arguments that are boiled down to broad ideas; like East vs the West and capitalism vs communism. But when we do this, we often lose a lot of nuance and miss some important details.

Not too long ago, the US and the West were competing with the USSR and pooled their resources towards containing the spread of communism. Fast forward to now and some of the satellite states and former Soviet Union nations have turned into development success stories. Nations like Poland have increased their GDP by 179% since the fall of the USSR in 1990; Estonia’s GDP per capita in 1995 was $3,134, and in 2021 it’s just below $28,000.

Today our discussion comes from our most recent annual conference: Why is Housing so Unaffordable? Causes and Solutions.

We were lucky enough to have John Krinsky join us today. Dr. Krinsky is a professor of Political Science at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Thus far, we’ve looked at a lot of trends and changes within the housing industry. We’ve heard a lot about programs and solutions, but, so far, have heard very little about the people inhabiting these homes. Today, we want to talk about the conditions facing the people these solutions are trying to help.

Dr. Krinsky earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and focuses on public policy, urban politics, and modern protest and activist movements. He is the author of "Who Cleans the Park" and "Free Labor." Both offer examinations of labor and job policies from state and local levels. Dr. Krinsky is also the co-editor of two journals: Metro-politics and Social Movement Studies. In addition to his work in academia, he is also the founder of New York City Community Land Initiative, a grassroots collective of non-profits and NGOs that promote community land trusts and housing for all.

Together, we discussed some of the failures of market-based approaches, evaluating policy responses to poverty & inequality, and the differences in exchange- or monetary-value versus use-value.

Today our discussion comes from our most recent annual conference: Why is Housing so Unaffordable? Causes and Solutions. For the next twelve weeks, our discussions will revolve around the topic of housing and house prices with three subtopics. The first will be root causes, followed by an evaluation of current policy responses, and finishes with alternatives to current policy and thinking around affordability.

We were lucky enough to speak with Brendan Cheney. Brendan is the Director of Policy and Communications at the New York Housing Conference. The New York Housing Conference is a policy and advocacy non-profit dedicated to advancing state, local, and federal housing policies.

Our affordable housing crisis will require comprehensive solutions, which will require reliable data. With good data, we can formulate the best possible policy, understand what areas need the most relief, and empower those shut out of the market due to unaffordability.

With organizations like the New York Housing Conference, policymakers can prevent gentrification, and buyers have help navigating the market. We’re glad to have our guest on at such a pivotal moment in the housing crisis.

Brendan earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and his master’s in public administration from Syracuse. He has extensive experience as a policy analyst and consultant. Mr. Cheney was also a staff writer for Politico, writing about housing policy and homelessness, often using data to communicate trends and complex ideas. As Director of Policy and Operations, he oversees all advocacy and policy efforts on behalf of the conference.

Together, we talked about the priorities of Governor Kathy Hochul, got into the weeds of federal and state housing policy, and explained the concept of “affordability depth.” It was quite the conversation.

We hope you enjoy this talk, and make sure to check back on our page every week for a brand-new episode!

Today we were lucky enough to speak with Ross Karp. Ross is the Downstate Development Director of Home and Community Renewal (HCR), an agency within New York State. HCR is part of the state’s Executive branch and is in charge of administering housing policy.

When you think of homebuilders, who do you think of? If I had to guess, you were probably thinking about real estate developers or even construction companies. And while they are important factors in our analysis, they are only one piece of the puzzle. State and local governments have a huge influence on housing outcomes, and getting their policies right can be tricky. 

Building new homes requires grants and loans, navigating zoning regulations, and ensuring building codes and standards are met. But doing this all quickly and in large quantities is an uphill battle, to say the least. That’s where state and local government institutions come in. They can either facilitate this process or slow things down and hinder construction.

That’s why I’m thrilled to have our guest on today. New York’s Governor, Kathy Hochul, created a housing plan with $25 billion in funding. As Development Director, Mr. Karp helps oversee these funds and achieve New York’s goal of maintaining and revitalizing communities.

Mr. Karp received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago, and his master’s in city planning from MIT. He has extensive policy and governance experience working for both the City of Chicago and New York and within the State of New York.

Together we discussed some of the housing initiatives under Governor Hochul, a few financing options available to developers, and why New York struggles to increase the supply of housing.

We hope you enjoy this talk, and make sure to check back on our page every week for a brand-new episode! 

Mr. Manekin is a social entrepreneur and community organizer from the Baltimore area. I first met him at a professional development training camp where he gave a speech about social entrepreneurship and how we can become the change within the communities that we want to see. Thibault is the cofounder of PeacePlayers and Seawall. PeacePlayers is an international non-profit that helps bridge divides and empower youth through sports and education. Seawall is a real estate development company that operates as a social business. Collaborating with the community, Seawall has successfully renovated and developed quintessential parts of the Baltimore area, giving them new life and a new look. They have successfully built three apartment buildings offering discounts to local teachers, renovated Baltimore’s famous Lexington Market, as well as many other examples, all while shaping their plans based on the community’s needs and input.

I encourage you to think about Thibault’s idea of social entrepreneurship and how his philosophy penetrates not just into his business model but how he views the idea of work as a whole. 

Together, we discussed how state and local governments, along with the private sector, can cooperate to help communities develop, how your values can impact your business practices, and how real estate and land can impact society. 

Ms. Brown is a community organizer and mayoral candidate for the City of Toronto. She received her bachelor’s from Ryerson University in public administration and governance, and her master's from Humber College in human resource management and administrative services. Chloe has spent her life advocating for change within her community. Her campaign focuses on issues of inequality, land use, and quality of life. Many of her solutions revolve around an equitable use of land or progressive taxation that would distribute benefits to the working class.

When listening to this talk, think about land ownership and all the different benefits of it. If you are a renter or someone who just likes to move around a lot in this age of digital nomads, what are the economic or political benefits you miss out on? Ms. Brown looks to solve this problem by removing the mutual exclusivity of land ownership and rights. I encourage you to think about how expanding liberty to those without ownership of land could diffuse power, and how that would create different economic outcomes. 

This week we discussed how Toronto can improve housing, why relying on real estate developers can lead to unaffordable housing, and how taxation can be used to incentivize equitable development. 

Dr. Tideman is a Georgist economist, whose family have been Georgists for generations. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Reed College and his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. He has spent his career immersed in economics, teaching at numerous universities such as Harvard, the University of Buckingham, and Virginia Tech, where he currently teaches. Dr. Tideman reached the pinnacle of his career in the 1970’s working for the president's council of economic advisers. He has held advisory positions within the Office of Management and Budget and Treasury Department. He is the author of many journal publications and is the author of two books: Collective Decisions and Voting and Land and Taxation; both examine collectivist economic models and decision-making.

This week we discussed left-libertarianism, how land values and taxes can be systematized, and why a carbon tax is insufficient for promoting equality but good for the environment.

Dr. Cohen received his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, both in economics. Before his academic career, Dr. Cohen worked as a management consultant at Accenture. He has spent over 24 years studying and understanding the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Josh’s expertise ranges from regulatory practices to drug discovery and has over one hundred publications in numerous journals. In addition to his publications, Josh has also written for numerous periodicals and is currently a contributor to Forbes. 

Together, we discussed the changes within the pharmaceutical industry caused by the IRA, how drug prices are formulated from manufacturer to consumer, and why the IRA is more of a reform than it is large-scale change.

We hope to see you all at our Annual Conference! The link is below:

https://www.hgsss.org/annual-conference-2023/

Dr. Bauman earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Reed College, and his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Economics. Known as the first and only “Standup Economist” Dr. Bauman likes to inject humor into his teachings and analyze economic issues through a comedic lens. He is the author of several books including, "Tax Shift" and "The Cartoon Introduction to Economics." The former is an analysis of how to align our environmental goals with our tax system, while the latter is a beginner's book to learning economics. When he is not writing, Dr. Bauman performs his routine at companies, colleges, and conferences. He has performed for events hosted by Time Magazine, PBS, and NPR. He is also an activist, supporting and leading multiple environmental movements, most prominently, Clean the Darn Air, a movement created to encourage more environmental ballot initiatives in his home state of Utah.

Dr. Bauman joined the Henry George School to discuss reforming economics education, how Canada implemented a carbon tax, and how taxing land value can improve welfare outcomes.

Mr. Marinescu graduated from the University of Waterloo with a mathematics and computer science degree. Floyd is the founder and CEO of C4Media, InfoQ, and UBI Works. C4Media and InfoQ is a news organization that spreads information about computer software and SaaS (software as a service). UBI Works is an organization Mr. Marinescu created in order to raise awareness of the benefits of UBI and its socioeconomic benefits. When he is not working towards either of these endeavors, he is also an angel investor for several startups that look to make a social impact. 

When listening to our guest, I find it immensely helpful to consider his intellectual journey, and how he arrived at his conclusions. I find it very formative in understanding our guest’s logic.

Together, we discussed the benefits of having common and public goods, how rent-seeking negatively impacts well-being, and the pros and cons of incremental vs systemic change.

Dr. Rasmus is a professor at St. Mary’s college in California where he focuses on inequality and economic crises. Dr. Rasmus began his career in journalism and is the author of numerous books on the political economy, such as "Central Bankers at the End of Their Rope?", "The Scourge of Neoliberalism," and "Epic Recession." He has served as a negotiator, organizer, and president of multiple local unions. He is the host of the radio show "Alternative Visions" and has contributed to multiple magazines, such as "World Financial Review," "European Financial Review," and "World Review of the Political Economy."

We discussed the monetary response to Covid-19 and its macroeconomic impact, how modern technology impacts communication in politics, and Dr. Rasmus' critique of mainstream monetary theory.

We hope you enjoy this talk and make sure to check back on our page every week for a brand-new episode! 

Mr. Harrison received his bachelor's from Oxford University and his master’s from the University of London. He is a veteran journalist who has served in multiple news agencies such as "The People" and "Wellington Journal." In 1988 he became the Research Director of the Land Research Trust, London, and has advised several corporations and international governments on tax and economic policy. Fred emphasizes the housing market and its interaction with the economy. He is the author of many books, including "The Corruption of Economics," "The Power in the Land," and "A Philosophy for a Fair Society," all of which critique mainstream economic thinking. Most of today’s discussion will center around Fred’s book "#WeAreRent," which offers policy solutions that empower societies to adapt to crises and transform governance for the common good. When listening to this episode, I encourage you to listen to Fred’s solution to rent-seeking, which requires a more moralistic approach to capitalism. It is also worth considering how land comes into play and how Mr. Harrison’s solutions impact property values. Together, we discussed how land value taxes could lower rents, why progressive policies can be unpalatable to most people, and how old ideas perpetuate the issues progressives try to solve. 

Dr. Chiu received her bachelor’s from Smith College, her master’s from Northwestern, and her Ph.D. from Oxford University, all in English. Dr. Chiu is a critic of contemporary politics and philosophy, but not through traditional means. Her unique perspective instead comes from a literary point of view. Her research is conducted on how reform politics is represented in literature from the 18th to 20th century. Her most recent project on Thomas Paine has received national recognition, as she currently teaches the only class on Paine’s philosophy. Dr. Chiu has contributed to many articles, books, and other publications, her most recent being The Routledge Guidebook to Paine's Rights of Man. She is currently a professor at the New School, where she focuses on gender and identity, history, and political science. In her teachings of Thomas Paine, Dr. Chiu often revisits his old ideas with new perspectives. I urge you to focus on her concept of what Paine thought of as “small” or “limited government”, which was much more anti-elitist than most conservative schools of thought. I urge you to consider how this idea of anti-elite small government intertwines with modern conservatism, and how conservatives discuss limited government. Together, we discussed the Founding Father’s ideas for how to build a constitutional democracy, how personal versus national interests conflicted in the drafting of the Constitution, and how power originally became concentrated within elite circles.

Mr. Marohn received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and his master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota. Charles leads an industrious career in City and Urban Planning. He is the founder and current president of Strong Towns, a non-profit dedicated to making cities habitable and safe through collaborative local government. Charles analyzes public policy through an engineering lens, which leads him to find inefficiencies that work against the public’s best interest. He is the author of "Confessions of a Recovering Engineer", "A World Class Transportation System", and "Strong Towns"; all of which discuss how urban planning can improve living standards and better develop communities. Mr. Marohn has a very unique idea of what he calls “Finished Cities” which can be characterized as static adaptation. I urge you to pay attention to how this concept connects with the financial system and local government. We were lucky enough to join Mr. Marohn in discussing his idea of how cities can become more adaptable to the future, how our ideas around urban planning changed over time, and how public policy failed to prevent the deterioration of Detroit. 

Dr. Charles Clark earned his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in economics, and his master’s and Ph.D. from the New School in the History of Economic Thought and Industrial Organization. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Vincentian Center and previously served as President of the Association for Evolutionary Economics and the Association for Institutionalist Thought. Dr. Clark has authored over 150 different journal publications and two books: "Rich and Poor" and "Rediscovering Abundance"; both examine the role of inequality and how it impacts policy. Dr. Clark is currently a professor at St. John’s University, the University College of Cork, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. When he is not teaching, Dr. Clark works on fiscal policy consulting, tax, and welfare reform, and serves as Advisor to the Holy See Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Together we discussed Universal Basic Income (UBI). Most conversations around UBI focus on costs or how they will impact individuals’ incentives. However, our talk was a little different. We instead chose to talk about UBI through an ethics and human-flourishing lens. When listening to this talk, I encourage you to think of quality of life, and how UBI would impact standards of living. 

Mr. Doyle is a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As a senior economist, he headed their Europe division but later resigned after becoming highly critical of IMF leadership. Peter earned his bachelor’s from the University of Oxford and has focused his research on macroeconomics, international development, and the environment. Before his time at the IMF, Peter worked at the Bank of England and was a fellow at the Overseas Development Institute. Mr. Doyle has written articles for numerous journals and think tanks including, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, the Huffington Post, and the Financial Times. We were lucky enough to join Peter in discussing slavery, how human rights are central to economic philosophy, and how social democracy can help reorient economics towards outcomes that improve general welfare.

Ms. Hartzok is a long-time environmental activist and ethicist. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and her graduate degree from the University of West Georgia, both in psychology. She is the author of The Earth Belongs to Everyone, a collection of essays that explores how democracy can be used to achieve environmental rights. Ms. Hartzok is also the author of Democracy, Earth Rights, and the Next Economy, an influential essay on environmental ethics and their role within the economy. Alanna is currently an Administrator at the International Union for Land Value Tax and Co-Director of the Earth Rights Institute, a non-profit organization that focuses on land rights and land value taxation. Together we discussed the Green New Deal and its potential flaws, how a land value tax could help fund such a project, and the need for a fundamental macroeconomic restructuring towards a more inclusive framework that considers the environment.

Philip is the founder and director of Economic Indicator Services and Property Sharemarket Economics, which helps companies understand and navigate business and economic cycles. Mr. Anderson earned his bachelor's degree from RMIT University in Australia. He is also the author of The Secret Life of Real Estate and Banking, an analysis of property and debt cycles and how investors can navigate the market. Philip joined the Henry George School to discuss the relationship between real estate and recessions, how Alaska’s oil dividend reduces inequality, and how debt and inflation play a role in long-term economic trends.

Our episode today comes from our most recent panel discussion titled "Modern Money & Public Policy – Should we worry about the Federal Deficit?". Our panel discussed the role debt plays within the economy and why it shouldn’t be such a daunting subject. Do deficits really matter? Are they as poignant as they are made out to be? This talk explores how money works as a function within the economy. If you’ve ever wondered what the term Modern Monetary Theory meant, this is the podcast for you. Our talk is hosted by our Director of Education, Ibrahim Drame, who is joined by James Keenan, Adam Rice, and Ryan Benincasa.

Dr. Gaster received multiple bachelor's degrees from Oxford University in politics, economics, and philosophy. He later went on to earn his master’s in philosophy from the University of Kent and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. After two years of teaching at the University of Virginia, he would eventually become a research fellow at the Office of Technology Assessment, an arm of the United States Congress. Since then, Dr. Gaster founded Incumetrics, a consulting company that focuses on politics, economics, and technology. He is currently a visiting scholar at The George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and is the author of "Behemoth, Amazon Rising." Together, we discussed how Amazon became the behemoth it is today, the impact its size has on innovation and competition, and why the US’s reliance on the company is so perilous.

Dr. Mora is an expert on the intersection of labor and race within the economy. She received her bachelor’s and masters from the University of New Mexico, and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, all in economics. She has vast teaching experience working as a professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and New Mexico State University, and is currently a Provost Ad Interim and professor of Economics at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has shared her research with world-renowned institutions such as the Federal Reserve and the Department of Labor. Dr. Mora has written over 50 articles in journals such as "International Migration Review," "Industrial Relations," and "Social Science Quarterly." In addition to her journals, she has written many books such as "Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the 2000s," "Socioeconomic Outcomes of Island and Mainland Puerto Ricans," and many more. We were lucky enough to talk with Dr. Mora about why Puerto Rico is excluded from development within the US, how land plays a role within Puerto Rican politics, and what explains the inequality between Latin Americans and the average American. 

Dr. Castañeda is the former Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs under President Vicente Fox. He received his bachelor's degree from Lycée Franco-Mexicain, his master’s from Princeton in history, and his doctorate in economic history from the University of Paris. Dr. Castañeda began his political career advising different presidential campaigns. After a successful run with Vicente Fox, he was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs. In 2003 he was appointed to the UN Commission on the Private Sector and Development, and would later go on to run for president himself. Dr. Castañeda is a contributor to many publications including "The New York Times" and "Foreign Affairs." He is the author of Utopia Unarmed and America Through Foreign Eyes, all of which center around geopolitics and the political economy. Together we discussed the role Mexico plays in the world, why trade agreements have not spurred development as much as policy-makers had hoped, and why inequality has increased between the North and South of Mexico. 

Dr. Nell attained his bachelor's degree in economics from Princeton University and his master's and Ph.D. from Oxford University in England, after being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. Dr. Nell has taught at numerous universities in the U.S. and across the globe including Wesleyan, Bennington College, McGill University, Bard College, and the University of Siena. He has written for many economic journals on macroeconomic theory, development, and monetary and financial analysis. He is also the author of "The General Theory of Transformational Growth," "Making Sense of a Changing Economy," and many more. We were lucky enough to join Dr. Nell in discussing the role of conflict and competition in economics, Henry George’s theories of trade, and how saving and investment interact in macroeconomic models.

Dr. Chappe received her master's in Comparative Business Law and her Ph.D. in Economics. Gabi Zodik is the director of Blockchain and Web3 at IBM Research. Eerke Boiten is a cybersecurity professor at De Montfort University in Leicester City, England. Ed Dodson spent his career in a variety of management roles at Fannie Mae and is a a Senior Researcher and long-time member of the Henry George School. Our discussion revolved around how cryptocurrencies work, their impact on public policy, and the cybersecurity risks they present.

Mr. Harrison received his bachelor's from Oxford University and his master’s from the University of London. He is a veteran journalist who has served in multiple news agencies such as The People and Wellington Journal. In 1988 he became the Research Director of the Land Research Trust, London, and has advised several corporations and international governments on tax and economic policy. Fred places an emphasis on the housing market and its interaction with the economy as a whole. He is the author of many books, including "The Corruption of Economics," "The Power in the Land," and "A Philosophy for a Fair Society," all of which critique mainstream economic thinking. Mr. Harrison joined the Henry George School to discuss the consequences of generational poverty and inequality, why quantitative easing will fail to quell the next financial crisis, and why tech billionaires love the idea of basic income.

Dr. Bromley earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in Ecology and master's and Ph.D. from Oregon State University in natural resource economics. He is Professor (Emeritus) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a visiting professor at the Humboldt University - Berlin where he teaches environmental economics and ecology. He is also a fellow at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Dr. Bromley is quite a prolific author as well. Dr. Bromley has contributed to multiple journals on topics such as resource management and ecological economics. He is the author of "Vulnerable People Vulnerable States," "Making the Commons Work," as well as numerous ecology textbooks. Dr. Bromley served as Chair of the U.S. Federal Advisory Committee on Marine Protected Areas, an arm of the Department of the Interior. He has served as an advisor at many prestigious organizations such as the World Bank, the Ford Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank. Dr. Bromley joined the Henry George School to discuss how property rights affect environmental conservation efforts, why the marginal revolution fails to properly educate economics students, and the role of human nature in economic analysis. It was a pretty interesting conversation.

Dr. Rasmus is a professor at St. Mary’s college in California where he focuses on inequality and economic crises. Dr. Rasmus began his career in journalism and is the author of numerous books on the political economy such as "Central Bankers at the End of Their Rope," "The Scourge of Neoliberalism," and "Epic Recession." He has served as a negotiator, organizer, and president of multiple local unions. He is the host of the radio show "Alternative Visions" and has contributed to multiple magazines and journals, such as World Financial Review, European Financial Review, and World Review of the Political Economy. Together we discussed why a historical perspective is crucial for public policy, the impact of the decades-long tax cuts in the US, and why most of the world’s growth stemmed from China in the 2010s.

Mr. Harrison earned his bachelor’s in economics from Dartmouth and his master’s in finance from Columbia. Edward’s career has taken many turns, working as an executive at a technology company, an investment banker, and even a diplomat. His diverse experiences throughout his career have given him a well-rounded perspective to interpreting macroeconomic events. He is the author of "Credit Writedowns," a blog that examines economic and political trends through a global lens. Mr. Harrison has successfully predicted economic patterns such as the 2007 Financial Crisis and the Mid-Cycle Pause between 2014 and 2021. He is the founder of "Real Vision," a financial media startup intended to promote financial awareness through political and economic analysis. He has also appeared as a commentator on numerous news stations, such as the BBC. Together we discussed what caused the rise in populism in Europe and across the world, what it means for the future of the post-WW2 order, and why the appeal of populism is so alluring despite the general improvement of living conditions over time.

Dr. Lafer earned his bachelor’s in economics from Swarthmore College and his Ph.D. from Yale in political science. He has taught at numerous colleges around the world including the University of Oregon, UMass Amherst, Tel Aviv University, and Hebrew University. His work and teachings have focused on industrial policy and labor law. From 2009-2010 he served as Senior Policy Advisor to the United States Congress as part of its Committee on Education and Labor. Dr. Lafer is the author of "The Job Training Charade" and "The One Percent," both examinations of the failure of modern economic and labor policy in America. He is currently a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington D.C. where he studies topics such as unions and labor law. Together we discussed the decline of union membership, why the decline of big labor led to increased influence from non-profits, and how a better-planned tax system can better serve working-class Americans.

Mr. Davies was the program director of the Henry George Institute and editor of the Georgist Journal. He is the author of "The Sassafras Crossing" and "The Alodia Scrapbook," both of which are fiction novels that explore the topic of development on a local, more personal level. In addition to his novels, he was the editor of the Mason Gaffney Reader and the creator of Henry George’s abridged version of The Science of the Political Economy, one of George’s seminal works. A lover of all things Henry George, Lindy spent his life promoting Georgist values and spreading his word. Mr. Davies, unfortunately, passed away in 2019. May he rest in peace. Together we discussed the progress Georgists have made in promoting Georgist values, how monopolies act as extractive institutions in the economy, and why a systemic view is better for solving economic quandaries than a micro-based approach.

Dr. Lapavitsas earned his master’s from the London School of Economics and his Ph.D. from Birkbeck, University of London. He has taught at the New School and the School of Oriental and African studies. Dr. Lapavitsas is known as a sharp critic of western financial capitalism. He has worked as a regular columnist for The Guardian and founded Research, Money, and Finance, a collective of political economists who focus on money, finance, and the two's intersection with capitalism. In 2015, he was elected to the Greek Parliament as a member of the Syriza party in order to help Greece regain its footing after the Greek Debt Crisis. He is the author of numerous books, including "Crisis in the Eurozone," "Profiting without Producing," and "The Left Case Against the EU." Dr. Lapavitsas joined us to discuss how leaving the EU’s monetary union could transform the Greek economy, why financialization harms people in the long-run, and why Germany’s wages remain stagnant despite its economic dynamism.

Dr. Gaster received multiple bachelor's degrees from the University of Oxford in politics, economics, and philosophy. He later went on to earn his master’s in philosophy from the University of Kent and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. After two years of teaching at the University of Virginia, he would eventually become a research fellow at the Office of Technology Assessment, an arm of the United States Congress. Since then, Dr. Gaster founded Incumetrics, a consulting company that focuses on politics, economics, and technology. He is currently a visiting scholar at the George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and is the author of Behemoth, Amazon Rising. Together, the Henry George School and Dr. Gaster discussed how small firms can be successful, the rise of the gig economy, and why productivity has stagnated across developed nations.

Mr. Harrison received his bachelor's from Oxford University and his master’s from the University of London. He is a veteran journalist who has served in multiple news agencies such as The People and Wellington Journal. In 1988 he became the Research Director of the Land Research Trust, London, and has advised several corporations and international governments on tax and economic policy. Fred places an emphasis on the housing market and its interaction with the economy as a whole. He is the author of many books, including "The Corruption of Economics," "The Power in the Land," and "A Philosophy for a Fair Society," all of which critique mainstream economic thinking. Mr. Harrison joined us to discuss why he focuses so much on land and housing, rentier capitalism, and why passing redistributive policies can be so hard.