"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

By Noah Smith, Erik Torenberg

What's "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg about?

Economist and Substack writer Noah Smith and investor Erik Torenberg make sense of what’s happening in the news, technology, business, and beyond, through the lens of economics. Econ 102 is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co

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"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg episodes:

05.01.2024
How the Fed Works, Currency Crises, and TikTok ban [Listener Mailbag]
In today's episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg tackle more listener questions: the Fed's impact on inflation and the economy, theories behind interest rates' unexpected effects, and 'greedflation'. The discussion also extends to shifts in Japan's economic...
04.24.2024
Wealth Distribution, Fixing Healthcare, and UBI
In today's episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg answer listeners' questions in rapid fire format, over topics such as the global reserve currency, fair taxation, wealth redistribution, education reform, healthcare, US manufacturing, how to revitalize cities, and more. Thanks to...
04.17.2024
WW3 Analysis: China, The US, Ukraine, The Middle East
In this week’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg tackle more listeners' questions focused on conflicts and war. They cover various defense strategies, emphasizing the urgency of revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to prepare for potential conflicts. They discuss...
04.10.2024
Fixing the US Economy: the Debt, Inequality, Biden/Trump Economic Predictions
In this week’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg dive into various econ topics and tackle listener questions! They cover: government spending and the national debt, discussion on taxation, wealth taxes and economic outcome of the next U.S. election, as...
04.02.2024
Analyzing Economies Round 3: Middle East, Africa, South America, and North America
This episode is a continuation of analyzing the economies around the world, with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg focusing on the Middle East, Africa, South America, and North America. They discuss the economic challenges and solutions in Egypt and Saudi...
03.27.2024
Analyzing Economies: England, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, and the EU/European Immigration
In our second installment of Analyzing the Economies Around the World, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg cover Europe and Turkey. They discuss the UK's productivity issues, France's nuclear energy investments, Germany's weaknesses, Poland's economic success, Turkey's economic policies, and immigration...
03.21.2024
Analyzing Economies: USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more
In this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg talk about the world's biggest economies including US, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Australia, and more, looking at things like inflation, debt, industrial policy, and population challenges. They talk about what each...
03.13.2024
AI's Influence on the Economy with Nathan Labenz
In this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg are joined by Nathan Labenz, co-host of The Cognitive Revolution Podcast, to deep dive into AI's impact on our economy and society. They discuss how AI might affect the job market and...
03.05.2024
How We Build More Housing with Brad Hargreaves
In this episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg are joined by Brad Hargreaves, the founder of Common, co-founder of General Assembly, and writer of Thesis Driven. They discuss the future of real estate and housing in America,...
02.29.2024
Building a Multi Racial Society
This week on Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg explore the changing racial dynamics in the U.S., highlighting the importance of national identity, and the recent role of social media within that evolution. If you’re looking for an ERP...
02.21.2024
Putin, Tucker, and Russia
This week on Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin, the state of Russia's economic and military, and the country's relationships with the West. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite...
02.14.2024
How International Development Works
This week Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg sit down to deconstruct several economic theories dealing with developing nations, export oriented manufacturing, the roles of engineers across the world, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite...
02.07.2024
A Deep Dive on Tariffs
This week on Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the role of tariffs in the world economy, Tesla’s positioning in the Chinese market, and economic strategies that the U.S. may need to implement to remain competitive in global...
01.31.2024
Is the Great Stagnation Over?
This week, economist Eli Dourado joins Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg to explore the concept of the Great Stagnation and whether it is over, the challenges of scaling in America, the role of governance in hindering progress, the role of...
01.24.2024
A Deep Dive into Japan
This week on Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg explore several aspects of Japan’s work system, culture, economy, and more, including the seniority promotion system, globally perceived homogeneity, economic transformation, and immigration trends. Match a donation up to $100...
01.17.2024
Should We Prepare For a Recession?
This week Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Itay Vinik, Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Equi, to explore their different perspectives on the current state of the economy and the likelihood of a recession. Match a donation...
01.10.2024
Claudine Gay's Resignation from Harvard & Problems Plaguing Academia & Research
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the resignation of Harvard's President Claudine Gay as well as the issues surrounding academic research, such as plagiarism, peer review, academic incentives, and more. Match a donation up to $100 for your favorite charity...
01.03.2024
Trump/Biden, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and US/China w/ Dan Romero
This week Dan Romero joins Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg to discuss the overuse of the term “fascism,” what has led to the capabilities of China and the U.S., and much more. Match a donation up to $100 for your...
12.27.2023
Making Sense of Argentina: Inflation, Milei, Macro with Sebastian Bensusan
For this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg are joined by Sebastian Bensusan, an Argentinian engineer, to discuss Argentina's unique inflation problem, its agricultural and mining sectors, dollarization, voting patterns, and more. Match a donation up to $100 for your...
12.20.2023
The Truth About Inflation
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg explore the factors contributing to rising grocery prices and the impact of inflation on consumer sentiment, as well as debunking misconceptions about inflation. Match a donation up to $100 for your favorite charity with GiveWell...
12.13.2023
America's View on Immigration
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg explore the debate on immigration, including open borders vs border enforcement, the ideal composition of immigrants, the housing crisis, & the mixed views Americans have on the subject. Match a donation up to $100 for...
12.06.2023
Which energy source is best w/ Age of Miracles
Noah Smith joins Age of Miracles hosts Packy McCormick and Julia DeWahl to discuss the future of nuclear energy as well as other energy sources. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the charity of their choice...
11.28.2023
The Trillion Dollar Non-Profit Sector, The Politicization of Science, & AI Tutors
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the rise in pseudoscience, the “administrification” in America, the trillion-dollar non-profit sector, and more. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the charity of their choice when they join: https://www.daffy.org/econ102 Check out...
11.21.2023
Sam Altman, the Microsoft Bull Case, OpenAI and AI Live Players - The Riff with Byrne Hobart
This is a bonus episode for Econ 102 listeners of The Riff with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg, recorded on Monday night 11/20, discussing the evolving story of Sam Altman’s ousting at OpenAI and new home at Microsoft, what OpenAI's...
11.15.2023
Singapore, Xi Jingping Cleans Up SF, & Progressive Dystopias
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Noah’s travel reflections from Singapore, the recent San Francisco cleanup, and the dystopian routes of progressivism. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the charity of their choice when they join:...
11.08.2023
China, Russia, the Middle East, and Geopolitical Predictions
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the new geopolitical dynamics in Asia and the Middle East, why demographics may mean waning conflict, and take a dive into Ireland’s wealth. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the...
11.01.2023
What's Really Happening With the Economy?
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the state of the economy, whether tech and the VC ecosystem are doing well or facing a 'rolling recession', and unpack assumptions about wealth in the United States. Make informed decision for high impact donations...
10.24.2023
Techno-Optimism, Nuclear Energy, and How To Enable More Innovation
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Marc Andreessen’s Techno-Optimist Manifesto (a16z), the last waves of economic innovation, energy advancement, and predict the next wave of productivity gains from private and government-enabled innovation. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free...
10.18.2023
Why Pax Americana is Dying and What Happens if China Attacks Taiwan
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg continue their analysis of the Israel-Gaza war, against the backdrop of shifting geopolitical power, increasing conflicts, and the end of Pax Americana. They also discuss why Noah expects a China-Taiwan conflict, and the possibility of...
10.09.2023
This is not normal, even for war | Israel, Hamas, Palestine, Iran, and Saudi Arabia
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg record an episode to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, the moral problems with the leftist ideological response, the complicated geopolitical power dynamics in the Arab world, and how this conflict marks the waning of...
10.03.2023
Where Bernie Sanders Went Wrong, PMC Socialists, and Student Loan Relief
Economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the legacy and failings of Bernie Sanders’ movement with regards to privatization, student loans, healthcare, and the wealth gap. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the charity of their...
09.26.2023
Why the Next Age of Globalization Will Be Awesome, a Cheaper US Dollar, and Reducing the Deficit
Economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Noah's Substack essays about a possible age of Austerity, and moving away from China for the US's next age of globalization. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners a free $25 for the charity...
09.19.2023
Why Vivek is the Wrong Candidate, the new China-Russia Axis, and Ranking Presidents’ Foreign Policy
Economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss Noah's recent Substack post skewering the claims and proposals that make up Republican Presidential candidate Vivek's Ramaswamy's platform. Noah covers Vivek's climate science sources, economic facts on renewable energy, foreign policy stance towards...
09.12.2023
DM Debates, AI, and Tech Downturns with Adam Nash, CEO of Daffy
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg are joined by Adam Nash to discuss the economic implications of AI, the recent tech downturn, and why the venture model has been so successful across multiple tech booms. Daffy is offering Econ 102 listeners,...
09.05.2023
Fiscal Dominance, the War in Ukraine's Actual Cost, and Fact Checking Rich Men North of Richmond
Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss how today’s economy compares to the Reagan-era, cheap oil geopolitics, how much the war in Ukraine is actually costing the US, and the economics of the populist anthem Rich Men North of Richmond. If...
08.29.2023
Why China is Primed for Economic Carnage Worse than the US Financial Crisis of 2008
In episode 8 of ECON 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the factors brewing up a major crisis for China’s economy, and what this means for the US and other international powers. If you’re looking for an ERP platform,...
08.22.2023
Student Debt, Wealth Inheritance, and Millennial Conservatism
In episode 7, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss student debt, millennial politics, conservatism, international relations, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/turpentine We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's...
08.15.2023
The Economist's Mike Bird Debates Noah on Industrial Policy
Today we’re publishing a debate about industrial policy between Noah and Mike Bird, the Asia business and finance editor at The Economist. Noah highlights the importance of steering the economy to ensure that industries align with national goals and priorities....
08.08.2023
Higher Ed, Being a Dorm Room Socrates, and the American Workforce
In episode 5, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the promise and failings of higher education, working class economic prospects, the American healthcare system, and more. Noah’s articles are linked below. Econ 102 is a part of the Turpentine podcast...
08.01.2023
California Land Use, The Best American City, San Francisco Politics, and more with Dan Romero
Noah Smith guests on the Moment of Zen podcast (hosted by his Econ 102 co-host Erik Torenberg and founder Dan Romero) to discuss California land use, housing, politics, policing, and more. Subscribe to listen to Moment of Zen, a weekly...
07.25.2023
China’s Housing Bubble, Healthcare Crisis, and Taiwan Relations
In episode 3, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg track China's housing bubble, its healthcare crisis, and Taiwan in relation to China and Japan. Econ 102 is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co We're hiring across the...
07.18.2023
Why Libertarianism Fragmented, How the Right Became Statist, and Culture Wars
In episode 2, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg track the fracturing of the Libertarian movement, the culture wars, and which ideas deserve not to die. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's...
07.11.2023
Foreign Policy, Industrial Policy, and Reflections on Biden thus far
In our first episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the highs and lows of Biden's first term, Biden's policies in comparison to previous presidents and other leaders, as well as China -- its real estate sector,...

What's "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg episodes:

How the Fed Works, Currency Crises, and TikTok ban [Listener Mailbag]

Wealth Distribution, Fixing Healthcare, and UBI

WW3 Analysis: China, The US, Ukraine, The Middle East

Fixing the US Economy: the Debt, Inequality, Biden/Trump Economic Predictions

Analyzing Economies Round 3: Middle East, Africa, South America, and North America

Analyzing Economies: England, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, and the EU/European Immigration

Analyzing Economies: USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more

AI's Influence on the Economy with Nathan Labenz

How We Build More Housing with Brad Hargreaves

Building a Multi Racial Society

Putin, Tucker, and Russia

How International Development Works

A Deep Dive on Tariffs

Is the Great Stagnation Over?

A Deep Dive into Japan

Should We Prepare For a Recession?

Claudine Gay's Resignation from Harvard & Problems Plaguing Academia & Research

Trump/Biden, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and US/China w/ Dan Romero

Making Sense of Argentina: Inflation, Milei, Macro with Sebastian Bensusan

The Truth About Inflation

America's View on Immigration

Which energy source is best w/ Age of Miracles

The Trillion Dollar Non-Profit Sector, The Politicization of Science, & AI Tutors

Sam Altman, the Microsoft Bull Case, OpenAI and AI Live Players - The Riff with Byrne Hobart

Singapore, Xi Jingping Cleans Up SF, & Progressive Dystopias

China, Russia, the Middle East, and Geopolitical Predictions

What's Really Happening With the Economy?

Techno-Optimism, Nuclear Energy, and How To Enable More Innovation

Why Pax Americana is Dying and What Happens if China Attacks Taiwan

This is not normal, even for war | Israel, Hamas, Palestine, Iran, and Saudi Arabia

Where Bernie Sanders Went Wrong, PMC Socialists, and Student Loan Relief

Why the Next Age of Globalization Will Be Awesome, a Cheaper US Dollar, and Reducing the Deficit

Why Vivek is the Wrong Candidate, the new China-Russia Axis, and Ranking Presidents’ Foreign Policy

DM Debates, AI, and Tech Downturns with Adam Nash, CEO of Daffy

Fiscal Dominance, the War in Ukraine's Actual Cost, and Fact Checking Rich Men North of Richmond

Why China is Primed for Economic Carnage Worse than the US Financial Crisis of 2008

Student Debt, Wealth Inheritance, and Millennial Conservatism

The Economist's Mike Bird Debates Noah on Industrial Policy

Higher Ed, Being a Dorm Room Socrates, and the American Workforce

California Land Use, The Best American City, San Francisco Politics, and more with Dan Romero

China’s Housing Bubble, Healthcare Crisis, and Taiwan Relations

Why Libertarianism Fragmented, How the Right Became Statist, and Culture Wars

Foreign Policy, Industrial Policy, and Reflections on Biden thus far