Matt speaks with Bart Wilson about what economists often overlook in their analysis—specifically, the role of morality, human cooperation, and language in shaping economic behaviour. Wilson argues that mainstream economics tends to focus too much on scarcity and efficiency while neglecting the deeper social and moral foundations that make trade and prosperity possible. Drawing on his book Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human, he explores how concepts like property, reciprocity, and justice emerge from human relationships rather than being imposed from the top down. 

References:

• Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human by Bart Wilson
  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/meaningful-economics-9780197758151?cc=us&lang=en& 

• The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
  https://a.co/d/j0nL0mY 

• The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
  https://a.co/d/iKwedtg 

• Knowledge and Decisions by Thomas Sowell
  https://a.co/d/cRgCwe4 

• The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance by Russell Roberts
  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0262681358 
  

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley https://a.co/d/a7vAUsi 

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit our Patreon page. 

Alex Aragona speaks with Tim Thurley about gun policy in Canada, discussing the current state of firearm regulations, the shift away from a past political consensus, and whether recent legislative changes are effectively targeting crime. They explore the role of licensing, background checks, and storage laws, as well as the impact of smuggled firearms and high-profile policy changes like Bill C-21 and the handgun freeze. Thurley argues that recent policy shifts focus on legal gun owners while failing to address the main sources of gun crime in Canada.

References

1. "Aiming Off Target: Gun Policy in Canada" by Tim Thurley & Noah Schwartz (Macdonald-Laurier Institute)
   https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/aiming-off-target-gun-policy-canada/

2. "On gun control, Liberals opt for wedge politics over actual change" by Noah Schwartz
   https://nationalpost.com/opinion/noah-schwartz-on-gun-control-liberals-opt-for-wedge-politics-over-actual-change 

3. "More Guns, Less Crime" by John R. Lott Jr.
   https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0226493660

4. "The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things" by Barry Glassner
   https://a.co/d/4qXgBqf 

5. "The Origins and Development of Canada’s Firearms Laws" by R. Blake Brown
   https://a.co/d/bMb4zyV 

6. "Armed: New Perspectives on Gun Control" by Gary Kleck & Don B. Kates
   https://a.co/d/5xk3gUj 

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt speaks with Ethan Nadelmann about vaping, e-cigarettes, and pouch nicotine alternatives to cigarettes within the broader context of health policy and the drug war. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding nicotine, harm reduction strategies, and how opposition to non-combustible nicotine mirrors past drug war policies. Ethan highlights international case studies, the role of public health organizations, and the influence of figures like Michael Bloomberg in shaping the global discourse - and misinformation - around alternatives to cigarettes.

References

1. "Thinking Seriously About Alternatives to Drug Prohibition" by Ethan Nadelmann
   https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20027122.pdf

2. "The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction" (KAC Reports)
   https://gsthr.org/

3. "High Price" by Carl Hart
   https://a.co/d/inDX5Gi 

4. "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein
   https://www.amazon.ca/dp/014311526X

5. "Ending the War on Drugs: A Solution for America" by Dirk Chase Eldredge
   https://a.co/d/bIGQpJ6 

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Alex speaks with Eric Schliesser about the "freedom to" vs. "freedom from" debate in political theory, using Serene Khader’s book Faux Feminism as a central reference. They explore the historical distinction between negative and positive liberty, the role of hierarchy in structuring freedom, and how liberalism’s focus on removing restrictions can sometimes reinforce existing power structures. The discussion touches on feminist theory, liberal political thought, and broader critiques of market-based individualism.

References

1. Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop by Serene Khader
   https://a.co/d/fFRt6op

2. Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract by T.H. Green
   https://history.hanover.edu/texts/green.html

3. Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin
   https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/

4. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
   https://a.co/d/6YWK7bA

5. The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt
   https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Totalitarianism-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0156701537

6. Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman
   https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Freedom-Milton-Friedman/dp/022673479X

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Alex Aragona moderates a discussion with Ryan Thorpe and Matt Bufton about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and its relevance in today’s world. They explore the CBC’s historical mission to promote Canadian culture and information, its struggles to meet its mandate, and the challenges posed by media fragmentation and perceived biases. The conversation also touches on the roles of private media, government funding, and the rise of independent outlets as alternatives to a state broadcaster.

References

1. Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant
   https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X

2. Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias"
   https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY

3. Canadaland
   https://www.canadaland.com/

4. The Hub
   https://thehub.ca/

5. The Narwhal
   https://thenarwhal.ca/

6. The Tyee
   https://thetyee.ca/

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

In this episode, host Matt Bufton interviews historian Steve Davies about the political realignment happening across the Western world. Steve explains how traditional divisions in politics, such as socialism versus capitalism, have been replaced by a new axis centered on nationalism versus globalism. He critiques both "national collectivism" and "technocratic liberal progressivism" while discussing the implications for classical liberalism. The conversation also touches on the influence of leaders like Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron, and explores what the future holds for liberal ideas in a shifting political landscape.

References

1. "The Great Realignment: Understanding Politics Today" by Steve Davies (Cato Institute)
   https://www.cato-unbound.org/2018/12/10/stephen-davies/great-realignment-understanding-politics-today/

2. Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ

3. "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek
   https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553

4. "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter
   https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086

5. "The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution" by Francis Fukuyama
   https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Political-Order-Prehuman-Revolution/dp/0374227349

6. "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes
   https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950

7. "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek
   https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

In this conversation from 2021, Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about Montesquieu's role in shaping contemporary political science, the American revolutionary project, and the role of the separation of powers as a bulwark against despotism. 

References

1. “Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rationalism-Pluralism-Freedom-Jacob-Levy/dp/0198808917 

2. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122 

3. “Montesquieu’s Constitutional Legacies” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1117087 

4. “Beyond Publius: Montesquieu, Liberal Republicanism, and the Small-Republic Thesis” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=739447 

5. “The Spirit of Laws” by Charles Baron de Montesquieu

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Spirit-Laws-Charles-Baron-Montesquieu/dp/1616405287#:~:text=The%20Spirit%20of%20Laws%2C%20first,by%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church. 

6. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes 

Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm 

7. “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke

Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm

In this episode from 2021, Alex Aragona speaks with Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli about whether the monarchy might seem absurd, and whether a little absurdity can be a good thing. 

References

1. “The Monarchy and the Constitution” by Vernon Bogdanor

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Monarchy-Constitution-Vernon-Bogdanor/dp/0198293348

Alex speaks with Neera Badhwar about her forthcoming paper, “There are Divinities in Liberal Market Societies Too,” exploring how liberal societies enable prosperity, intellectual virtue, and moral growth. Neera discusses key concepts like happiness and flourishing, critiques thinkers like Gerry Cohen, and reflects on the role of free markets and limited government in fostering human well-being.

References

1. "There are Divinities in Liberal Market Societies Too" by Neera Badhwar (forthcoming in Social Philosophy and Policy, 2025)
   https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-philosophy-and-policy

2. "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith
   https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0865970122

3. "If You're an Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich?" by Gerry Cohen
   https://a.co/d/6NyLaC2

4. "The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money" by Bryan Caplan
   https://www.amazon.ca/Case-Against-Education-System-Money/dp/0691174652

5. World Values Survey
   https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/

6. World Happiness Report
   https://worldhappiness.report/

7. Human Progress Newsletter
   https://humanprogress.org/

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Today, we're revisiting this special Christmas episode of The Curious Task from 2019.
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Alex Aragona chats with Alex Tabarrok on this very special Christmas episode of The Curious Task as he explores whether gift giving is inefficient, and if there are better ways to give to others.

References from Episode 21 with Alex Tabbarok

• You can watch a video of Alex Tabbarok and Tyler Cowen discuss gift giving here
• Giving to my Wild Self article can be found here

Alex speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac about the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), exploring its historical context, operational inefficiencies, and the potential for reforming its structure. Sabine draws on her co-authored report to outline economic benefits and practical reforms, while also critiquing the LCBO's moral and historical failings. The conversation highlights broader themes of government overreach, consumer choice, and economic modernization.

References

1. Sabine's article in the Spec entitled "The LCBO is an archaic system with an ugly history": https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/the-lcbo-is-an-archaic-system-with-an-ugly-history/article_4d18e1c1-2080-5c7d-be29-7ff72e3bba60.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&utm_campaign=user-share 

2. "Modernizing Ontario’s Alcohol Retail System" by Sabine El-Chidiac and David Clement
   https://consumerchoicecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Modernize_Ontario_Report.pdf

3. "Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity" by Thomas Babor et al.
   https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alcohol-no-ordinary-commodity-9780199551149

4. LCBO Historical Documents
   https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx

5. "Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health" by Peter Boyle et al.
   https://a.co/d/eoBTcI9

6. Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) Wholesale Model
   https://ocs.ca/

7. "Free to Choose: A Personal Statement" by Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman
   https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Choose-Personal-Statement-Milton/dp/0156334607 

8. Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) Model
   https://aglc.ca/

Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit patreon.com/curioustask.