Episodes

  • Should You Have the Right To Repair Your John Deere Tractor?

    Should You Have the Right To Repair Your John Deere Tractor?
    Apr 15 2024
    It’s tractor week at Unintended Consequences with special guest Ike Brannon, who is a Senior Fellow at the Jack Kemp Foundation, about the right to repair movement and the struggle of farmers over whether John Deere can restrict their right to tinker with their own tractors. But first, Peter and Paul talk about government restrictions on manufactured homes as well as efforts by state officials to override local opposition to upzoning. (For those interested in doing a little extra reading about how houses are shrinking, here is a deep dive from the New York Times.) And the episode ends with a surprising paper about how unions actually lower wages.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Starter Homes, Electric Vehicles, and Poverty

    Starter Homes, Electric Vehicles, and Poverty
    Feb 14 2024

    Incentives matter, but they don’t care about your intentions. In this episode Paul and Peter start by talking with special guest and Truist Distinguished Professor of Economics at Winston-Salem State University Craig Richardson. He discusses how the federal government tried to prevent greedy banks from taking advantage of homebuyers but just ended up making it harder for first-time homebuyers, especially those from minority communities, to afford a house. They also discuss a review of Matthew Desmond’s book Poverty, by America, as well as efforts by the Biden administration to boost the transition to electric vehicles.


    Featuring Peter Van Doren, Paul Matzko, and Craig Richardson


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Whiskey, Electricity, and Antitrust

    Whiskey, Electricity, and Antitrust
    Oct 10 2023
    Peter and Paul discuss three topics – adulterated whiskey, Texan electricity, and Brandeisian antitrust – with one core theme: government action under political pressure is a poor substitute for market discipline. With special guests Macy Scheck and Daniel Smith. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Enforcing Smart Water Management Policies and Encouraging Bureaucratic Neutrality is Harder Than You Might Imagine

    Enforcing Smart Water Management Policies and Encouraging Bureaucratic Neutrality is Harder Than You Might Imagine
    Jul 24 2023
    Is there an “optimal hypocrisy” when it comes to enforcing laws and regulations? That’s the central theme in this episode of Unintended Consequences, which covers both water policy and the neutrality of government economists.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Railroad Profiteering and Mortgage Forbearance

    Railroad Profiteering and Mortgage Forbearance
    Apr 19 2023
    In this episode of the Unintended Consequences podcast, we start by investigating whether railroads are making excessive profits by cutting back labor expenses. That’s the subject of Peter’s new paper, which is particularly timely given the reaction to the train derailment in eastern Ohio. Then, Mark Calabria joins to discuss his cover article about his time as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the steps he took to prevent a mortgage meltdown during the pandemic. Finally, Peter and Paul tackle the limits of zoning reform as a solution for runaway housing inflation.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    52 mins