Most countries focus on the political virtues of representation, but what if quotas actually change the quality of governance? I sit down with Professor Patrick Francois to uncover how strategic use of political quotas, especially in India, can break the grip of identity-driven politics and elevate governance standards. As ever, please like and subscribe if you enjoy! 😊

Professor Patrick Francois:

https://economics.ubc.ca/profile/patrick-francois/

‘Reservations and the politics of fear’:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272723001457

Timestamps:

00:00: Intro

00:42: What are Political Quotas?

02:42: Political Quotas in India

08:25: Are Political Quotas D.E.I?

13:50: How Common are Political Quotas?

16:57: Political Quotas & Socialism

23:37: Patrick’s Research & the ‘Politics of Fear’

32:48: How Political Quotas Improve Governance

37:08: Are Political Quotas Needed in Strong Liberal Democracies?

44:03: How Do You Measure Governance Quality?

51:34: Are Political Quotas Pragmatic to Implement?

58:17: Future Research to Build Upon Patrick’s Findings

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#environmentalecnomics #carbontaxes #environment #climatechange

Max sits down with Professor Nicholas Hanley to learn about the field of environmental economics, its goals and the challenges of measuring environmental impacts from economic activities. They discover how effective policy is designed for promoting positive environmental actions while managing negative externalities, in addition to the common mechanisms governments implement to meet these objectives.

Professor Nick Hanley:

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/staff/nicholashanley/

Environmental economics in theory and practice:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Environmental-Economics-Practice-Nick-Hanley/dp/033397137X/ref=books_amazonstores_desktop_mfs_aufs_ap_sc_dsk_0?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=eSt37&content-id=amzn1.sym.f9a1288a-66fe-4587-95f9-1387021c317b&pf_rd_p=f9a1288a-66fe-4587-95f9-1387021c317b&pf_rd_r=262-2263400-8564258&pd_rd_wg=XTeJ4&pd_rd_r=e1c917de-3283-492d-a6cc-6af32f222b23

Timestamps:

00:00: Intro

00:43: What Are the Goals of Environmental Economics

06:32: Types of Environmental Economics Policy

10:06: Tradeable Permit Schemes

23:36: Carbon & Other Environmental Taxes

29:51: How to Design Environmental Policies with the Right Incentives

39:24: How Behavioural Economics Factors into Environmental Economics

47:29: Biggest Changes in Environmental Economics in Nick’s Career

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#opioidepidemic #pharmaceuticalindustry #addiction #publichealth #USpolitics #PurduePharma #fentanyl #drugpolicy #healthcarecorruption #politicalinfluence

Max and Professor Carolina Arteaga Cabrales explore the origins, impact, and political consequences of the opioid epidemic in North America, related pharmaceutical industry practices, regulatory failures and societal effects.

Professor Carolina Arteaga Cabrales:

https://www.carolinaarteaga.com/

‘Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects of the Opioid Epidemic’:

https://www.nber.org/papers/w33904

Timestamps:
00:00: Intro

00:37: The Opioid Epidemic & How it Occurred

15:53: Purdue Pharma Lawsuit

17:46: Carolina’s Research

32:15: Political Effects of the Opioid Epidemic

40:39: Decriminalisation of Drug Programmes

46:37: Would Other Health Shocks Cause the Same Effects?

51:03: Did Republican’s Campaign on the Opioid Epidemic?

54:52: Future Impacts of the Opioid Epidemic

57:40: Future Research Carolina Would Like to See

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In this episode, Max and Professor Tirthankar Roy discuss India's economic history, focusing on trade and commerce from antiquity right up to the modern day. It is a journey through regional economies, the role of ports, the impact of the caste system, British colonization and post-independence industrialization.

India in the World Economy: From Antiquity to the Present

Cambridge University Press: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/india-in-the-world-economy/9079E07A2697FB6A122BEBFE3CC6FA13

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/India-World-Economy-Antiquity-Approaches/dp/110740147X

Professor Tirthankar Roy

https://www.lse.ac.uk/people/tirthankar-roy

Timestamps

00:00: Intro

00:39: India’s Economy (Antiquity to 1200)

12:04: Sources for Indian Economic History

15:46: An Agricultural Economy

20:28: Climate/Droughts

25:50: Caste Economics

32:11: Mughal Empires (1200 to 1600)

36:26: European Settlements/Traders (1600 to 1800)

41:59: The British Raj

53:08: Indian Socialism (1940’s to 1990’s)

59:04: Religion & Commerce

01:05:25: Future of the Indian Economy

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In this episode, Professor Thiemo Fetzer dissects how austerity policies since 2008 have reshaped society, fueled distrust in public institutions and sparked political upheaval (ultimately resulting in its influence over the EU referendum). He reveals surprising insights regarding how structural transformations, immigration incentives, and age demographics influence national identity and support for populist movements.

Professor Thiemo Fetzer https://www.trfetzer.com/

Did austerity cause Brexit? https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20181164

Timestamps

00:00: Intro

00:39: Did Austerity Cause BREXIT?

19:09: Effects of the 2008 Financial Crisis

29:25: Implementation of Austerity (UK)

35:33: Thiemo’s Research Paper

44:35: How Benefits Recipients Affect the Economy

48:37: How the High Street Changed/Regional Identities

53:35: Regional Wealth Inequality in the United Kingdom 56:14: What Were the Alternatives to Austerity?

01:08:17: Effects of Ageing Demographics & Generous Pensions

01:24:26: What Don’t We Understand About Austerity & BREXIT?

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In this episode, we dive into the Sujaan Initiative, a community-focused program that trains and supports female and minority entrepreneurs in Mirpur Khās, Pakistan. The discussion covers how working with local male leaders fosters local buy-in, the gender and regional disparities the project tackles and the financing and governance hurdles to scaling the model across more regions.

Professor Ahmad Timsal:

https://www.derby.ac.uk/staff/ahmad-timsal/

‘Sujaan: a social enterprise of socio-economically disadvantaged women in rural Sindh, Pakistan’:

https://derby-repository.worktribe.com/output/735857/sujaan-a-social-enterprise-of-socio-economically-disadvantaged-women-in-rural-sindh-pakistan

Timestamps

00:00: Intro

00:49: The Sindh Region (Pakistan)

08:45: The Sujaan Project

14:33: Ahmad’s Motivation for the Research

17:59: Gender Disparities in Pakistan

23:20: Getting Community Buy In

31:44: Is There Support for Sujaan?

36:28: Sindh’s Feudal Mindset

45:32: How Sujaan is Providing Support

50:46: The Effects of Sujaan on the Region

54:15: What’s Next?

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Discover how war reshapes economies beyond the battlefield. Economist Clifford Thies reveals the hidden costs of conflict, from GDP distortions to social capital destruction. Learn why some nations recover faster and how institutional strength and financial strategies play a crucial role. Essential insights for anyone interested in the true economic impact of war.

Professor Clifford Thies

https://www.su.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/clifford-f-thies/

‘The Effect of War on Economic Growth’:

https://www.cato.org/cato-journal/winter-2020/effect-war-economic-growth#

Timestamps

00:00: Intro

00:41: What Happens to an Economy When War Breaks Out?

01:24: Clifford’s Research (Defining ‘War’)

04:23: How to Finance War

07:22: Clifford’s Research (What Data was Used?)

14:08: Post War Recovery (Strength of Pre-War Institutions)

20:31: Poor Post-War Recoveries (Examples)

24:22: Democratic VS Command Economies (India VS China)

29:12: Are Trade Sanctions Effective? (In War or Peace)

38:42: The Peace Dividend

43:35: Key Takeaway from Clifford’s & Other Research

46:57: What Will Russia’s Post-War Economy Look Like?

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Explore the intricate evolution of Russia's economy, from Tsarist infrastructure to Soviet command systems to Russia’s modern-day challenges. Economist Richard Ericson delves into the sustainability of Russia's resource-driven growth, the impact of geopolitical tensions, and the looming risks of its current economic model. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the forces shaping one of the world's most consequential nations, perfect for those interested in geopolitics and economic resilience.

Professor Richard Ericson:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UOLZdsYAAAAJ&hl=en

“The Classical Soviet-Type Economy: Nature of the System and Implications for Reform”:

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.5.4.11

Timestamps:

00:00: Intro

00:41: Context for the Russian Economy of Today

02:29: Soviet Era Economics

14:36: Structure of the Soviet System

18:21: Soviet Economy: Comparisons to Other Economies

25:05: Imperial (Tsarist) Russian Economy

30:17: Transition to Communism

38:26: What People Misunderstand About the Soviet Union

41:48: Collapse of the Soviet Union

48:50: The Modern Russian Economy

56:35: Russian Economy too Resource Dependent?

59:30: Wartime Economy (Ukraine War)

01:10:30: The Future of the Russian Economy

01:16:24: Richard’s Final Thoughts

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