Ep. 123 Faulty Economic Justifications for the Coronavirus Lockdowns
Bob explains some of the basic–but crucial–errors in the cost/benefit analyses that have been offered by economists to justify the political lockdowns issued in light of the coronavirus. Specifically, economists have conflated voluntary physical distancing with coerced lockdowns, and they are also misusing the concept of a Value of a Statistical Life (VSL). Mentioned in…
Ep. 118 David R. Henderson Critiques Stimulus Bill and Organizes Protest of CA Lockdown
Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest: The YouTube version of this interview. David R. Henderson’s Hoover article on the “anti-stimulus” bill. David’s past appearance on the Bob Murphy Show. David’s Soho Forum debate (against Justin Wolfers) on the lockdown. A news article on the protest David helped organize. Sample issues of the Lara-Murphy Report.…
Ep. 117 Refuting Some Economics Fallacies Related to the Corona Crisis
Bob tackles some Keynesian / MMT fallacies that have resurfaced in light of the response to the coronavirus. In particular, he responds to Larry Summers who viewed the lockdown as being akin to workers staying home over the weekend, and then to Neil Irwin on Twitter, who approvingly retweeted a thread arguing that it was…
Ep. 116 Libertarian NYC Doctor Explains the Physiology of the Coronavirus
Levi Machado is a Brazilian pathologist who trained and now works in the NYC hospital network. As a fan of libertarian writers, Levi recognizes the problems with coercive “solutions” to a pandemic. However, Levi explains in the discussion what COVID-19 actually can do to the body, and why it’s not really comparable to the flu. The…
Ep. 115 Understanding the Coronavirus Alarm and Practical Steps to Weather the Storm
Bob urges skeptics not to dismiss the panic over the coronavirus as merely due to anti-Trump fear-mongering. Although government coercion is not justified, the underlying health crisis is very real. Bob also explains the economics of the toilet paper shortage, and gives practical tips he is using to try to keep his own household safe.…