S2 E9: Diffusion of Innovation, Productivity, and Academia with Nick Bloom from Stanford University
In this episode, our guest is Nick Bloom from Stanford University! And we talked about academic production functions, diffusion of innovation, economic situation in the US and the UK, working from home, and more. 01:41 How did he decide to be an economist?03:17 John Van Reenen and Nick Bloom04:45 Co-authorship and Academic Production Function 08:26 Diffusion of Innovation16:25 Politics, Trump, and Long Run Innovation20:28 How about the UK Politics? 26:33 Working from Home, Academia, Undergrads and Grads35:58 What are the gaps in the literature?38:00 “Gollum” Strategy?40:59 If he couldn’t be an economist in a parallel universe, what would he be?42:32 Is there something in economics he believes in that others disagree with?44:45 Never have I ever!
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S2 E8: Science and Politics with Kyle Myers from Harvard Business School
In this episode, our guest is a young star economist: Kyle Myers from Harvard Business School! We talked about the current clash between the Trump administration and Harvard, NIH, "Elasticity of Science", Covid, and more!Current Host: Ruveyda Gozen (@ruveyda_gozen)Timestamps:00:00 Intro, Trump, and Harvard 06:35 “Elasticity” of Science 20:43 Funding for Science: Is there a better way? 24:53 Covid and Elasticity of Science 28:03 Let’s Switch to More Personal Questions! 30:55 What is Kyle’s Production Function of Research?34:55 If he couldn’t be an economist, what would he be in a parallel universe?36:35 What’s something you believe about research or academia that many others in economics don’t agree with?38:43 “This or That?”40:13 Never Have I Ever!
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S2 E7: Capitalism without Capital, and Productivity Puzzles with Jonathan Haskel from Imperial College
In this episode, our guest is Jonathan Haskel from Imperial College and we talked about productivity puzzle in the UK, general productivity slowdown, intangible capital, and finance! Current Host: Ruveyda Gozen (@ruveyda_gozen)04:00 Productivity Puzzle in the UK 11:12 Productivity Slowdown and Intangible Capital29:25 Finance and Intangible Capital Investment35:34 Some “personal” questions!41:53 Game on! This or That?
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S2 E6: Inventors/Engineers, Directed Technical Change, and the British Industrial Revolution with Walker Hanlon from Northwestern University
In this episode, our guest is Walker Hanlon who is an Associate Professor in Economics at Northwestern University. We talked about if necessity is the mother of invention, different theories about directed technical change, why the British Industrial Revolution specifically persisted and more! 06:40 Necessity: the mother of invention? 08:20 What is directed technical change? 09:50 Theories on directed technical change 15:10 Laissez-Faire and Walker’s New Book!20:00 Why did The British Industrial Revolution persist?32:25 Cheezy Question and “This or That” Game!
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S2 E5: Religion, Economic Growth, and the Protestant Ethic with Sascha Becker from the University of Warwick
In this episode, our guest is Sascha Becker from the University of Warwick, and we talk about religion, how it is related to economic growth, Max Weber's theory on the Protestant Ethic, Erasmus, Luther, power dynamics, and more!
14:00 Religion and Economic Growth
17:00 Max Weber and The Protestant Ethic Theory
21:47 Digging for the Data
28:28 Objections from Various Disciplines
32:15 Diffusion of Ideas, and Innovations
35:59 Power Shift, Luther, and the Church
46:05 Cheezy Questions!
49:55 This or That? Who are you going to write a book with?!
Our podcast aims to generate easily accessible and engaging academic discussions on innovation and diffusion. We interview the leading thinkers around the world on new technologies and the way they change our world and economy.
Hosts: Ruveyda Gozen (@ruveyda_gozen) and John Van Reenen (@johnvanreenen)
The Economic and Social Research Council funds this podcast through the Programme on Innovation and Diffusion (POID) at LSE.