Ridley on Trade, Growth, and the Rational Optimist

Russ Roberts and Matt Ridley discuss why it's rational to be optimistic about our economic future. This podcast strongly echoes my own views and is highly recommended.

Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why he is optimistic about the future and how trade and specialization explain the evolution of human development over the millennia. Ridley argues that life is getting better for most of the people on earth and that the underlying cause is trade and specialization. He discusses the differences between Smith's and Ricardo's insights into trade and growth and why despite what seems to be strong evidence, people are frequently pessimistic about the future. Ridley also addresses environmental issues.

Listen to the podcast here.

Like Ridley, I feel cheated no teacher ever taught me about some of the simplest and most powerful lessons of economics until much later in life. Discovering these ideas is ultimately what lead me back to grad school to pursue my PhD in economics.

Here is my previous post on Ridley and The Rational Optimist after hearing him speak earlier this year.