Having enjoyed these greatly, I decided to go through the Econtalk archives and download all of the interviews with Mike Munger. There are 21 in all, and all have some gems. Professor Munger just described a tool as a “congealed idea” that you can literally pass on. It is that kind of clarity and analogy, and both of their understanding of the limits of their ‘science’, that makes me come back for more. How do price gouging laws make sure there is no ice in Raleigh, when what is desperately needed is ice? All sorts of interesting questions posed and answered.
I strongly recommend cruising through the archives – there are some excellent and timeless interviews, and some recent ones seemingly off-topic, but not so, like the interview with Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat (a poor choice of title when it comes to gift giving!).
This link will take you to the page that has all 21 of the Mike Munger interviews. Perhaps I am deranged, but I decided to listen from the beginning. I enjoy listening to their relationship develop. There is always a human element to history or biography or economics, and when reading one becomes somewhat oblivious to the author’s perspective, though it is there, at all times. Listening, one is aware of the character of the teacher, and in this case, it certainly gives me faith that they are teaching from the heart and head as all do, but that in this case the hearts are also sound.
Professor Mike Munger
Professor Russ Roberts
Econtalk Archives Featuring Mike Munger
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