Host Alex Aragona and a rotating cast of guests explore philosophy, politics, economics, and other ideas from a classical liberal perspective.
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
Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant
https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X
Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias"
https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY
Canadaland
https://www.canadaland.com/
The Hub
https://thehub.ca/
The Narwhal
https://thenarwhal.ca/
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 Steve explains how traditional divisions in politics, such as socialism versus capitalism, have been replaced by a new axis centered on nationalism versus globalism.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
"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/
Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ
"The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek
https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553
"Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter
https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086
"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
"Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes
https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950
"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
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
"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
"The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith
https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0865970122
"If You're an Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich?" by Gerry Cohen
https://a.co/d/6NyLaC2
"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
World Values Survey
https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
World Happiness Report
https://worldhappiness.report/
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
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
"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
"Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity" by Thomas Babor et al.
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alcohol-no-ordinary-commodity-9780199551149
LCBO Historical Documents
https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx
"Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health" by Peter Boyle et al.
https://a.co/d/eoBTcI9
Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) Wholesale Model
https://ocs.ca/
"Free to Choose: A Personal Statement" by Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman
https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Choose-Personal-Statement-Milton/dp/0156334607
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.
Alex speaks with Danny Leroy about inflation in Canada, with a focus on the rising price of groceries. Danny explains how monetary expansion and government policies have driven up grocery prices and other costs, emphasizing the role of the Bank of Canada in creating money and the cascading effects this has on different sectors of the economy. Danny and Alex then discuss potential policy changes to address rising costs and improve the purchasing power of Canadians.
ReferencesDanny Leroy's Publications
Link: https://scholar.ulethbridge.ca/dannyleroy/publications
"The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847
Milton Friedman on Greed (Donahue Show, 1979)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A
Statistics Canada Data on Grocery Prices
Link: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/food-price
"Prices and Production" by Friedrich Hayek
Link: https://a.co/d/igCpqFX
Austrian Economics and the Boom-Bust Cycle
Link: https://yipinstitute.org/article/boom-or-bust-the-austrian-theory-of-the-business-cycle
"The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553
Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald.
To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask
Matt speaks with Brian Albrecht about how policymakers can think more like economists by emphasizing the role of prices, trade-offs, and unintended consequences in shaping effective policies. Brian and Matt discuss tax policies, antitrust laws, and some very silly tariffs to illustrate the importance of applying economic reasoning to address societal challenges while minimizing inefficiencies.
ReferencesBrian Albrecht's Substack, Economic Forces
Link: https://substack.com/@briancalbrecht
"Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom Through the Ages" by Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod
Link: https://a.co/d/94DlEoq
"The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847
"The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0143105922
"Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy" by Thomas Sowell
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Basic-Economics-Common-Sense-Guide/dp/0465060730
"Antitrust Paradox: A Policy at War with Itself" by Robert H. Bork
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Antitrust-Paradox-Policy-Consumer-Welfare/dp/0029044561
Alex speaks with Matt Zwolinski about whether a truly "free market" exists, delving into concepts of freedom, coercion, and property rights. They examine critiques of markets from left-leaning thinkers, such as Robert Hale, as well as conservative perspectives, while discussing libertarian approaches to balancing coercion and freedom in market societies. Zwolinski also references his own Substack essays and reflects on ideas for minimizing coercion without dismissing critiques.
ReferencesMatt Zwolinski's Substack, Bleeding Heart Libertarian
Link: https://bleedingheartlibertarian.substack.com/
"Coercion and Distribution in a Supposedly Non-Coercive State" by Robert Hale (1923)
Link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/2142367
"The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847
"23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism" by Ha-Joon Chang
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/23-Things-Dont-Tell-Capitalism/dp/1608191664
"The Myth of Ownership: Taxes and Justice" by Liam Murphy and Thomas Nagel
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Ownership-Taxes-Justice/dp/0195150163
"Tyranny, Inc." by Sohrab Ahmari
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Tyranny-Inc-Private-American-Liberty/dp/0593443462
"The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism" by Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi
Link: https://a.co/d/5lCZvGS
Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald.
To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask
Alex speaks with Nimish Adhia about the practice of tipping, exploring its cultural and economic implications, as well as its persistence despite widespread criticism from various stakeholders. Adhia discusses the historical origins of tipping, its impact on workers and customers, and coordination problems that prevent its abolition, referencing his own case study on the topic.
References“The Theory of Moral Sentiments” by Adam Smith
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0143105922
“The Strategy of Conflict” With a New Preface by the Author” by Thomas Schellin
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Strategy-Conflict-Thomas-C-Schelling/dp/0674840313
“Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action” by Elinor Ostrom
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Governing-Commons-Evolution-Institutions-Collective/dp/1107569788
“The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624
“The Rise of Decline of Nations” by Mancur Olson
Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rise-Decline-Nations-Stagflation-Rigidities/dp/0300030797
Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald.
To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask
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