Economics is about how people make choices under scarcity—not just money.

In this episode, I talk with Jimmy DeNicco of Rice University about the core principles of economics and how they shape policy, markets, and everyday decisions.

We break down tradeoffs, incentives, tariffs, and why understanding economics is essential for prosperity.

🔗 More: vanceginn.com | vanceginn.substack.com

We’re at a moment where support for free-market capitalism is slipping—and it’s not hard to see why. From both political parties, we’re hearing the same kinds of ideas: cap prices, punish profits, and have the government take a more active role in managing markets.

Politicians are increasingly trying to pick outcomes, override prices, and direct capital. And history is clear: this doesn’t fix capitalism's weaknesses—it replaces markets with politics.

In today’s episode of This Week’s Economy, I break down why prices and profits matter—how they act as the heartbeat of the free market, sending signals, shaping decisions, and fueling the competition that improves our quality of life. Tune in to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting.

Texas is often seen as a model for freedom and economic growth—but many Texans aren’t feeling it.

In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with TX State Representative Brian Harrison (R) to discuss rising property taxes, record state spending, and the growing gap between Texas’s reputation and reality.

We explore why budget surpluses haven’t translated into lasting tax relief, why property tax elimination should be the goal, and how school choice, fiscal discipline, and government accountability fit together. We also dig into the risks of expanding regulation around AI, age verification, and online activity—and where to draw the line between protection and overreach.

If Texas wants to remain a leader in economic opportunity, it will need to focus on spending restraint, transparency, and policies that truly let people prosper.

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👉 Get show notes at https://vanceginn.substack.com

Subscribe to the Let People Prosper Show for more conversations on economics, policy, and how to expand opportunity.

Are age-verification mandates really the solution to protecting kids online?

In this episode of This Week’s Economy, we examine the rapid push by states to regulate app stores and social media platforms—and the serious risks these policies create.

We cover:
• Why the evidence behind smartphone-driven mental health claims is mixed
• How digital ID systems threaten privacy and free speech
• Why these regulations could entrench Big Tech and limit competition
• A better approach that puts parents—not government—in charge

🎧 Listen now: https://youtu.be/B5SFgE3pxS0
📖 More at: https://vanceginn.substack.com

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America’s next wave of economic growth—from artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing—will require one critical input: abundant, reliable energy.

In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Brian Gitt of Oklo to explore how advanced nuclear reactors could transform the energy landscape and help meet rapidly rising electricity demand.

We discuss the connection between AI and energy, why reliability matters more than ever for data centers and industry, and how new business models like build-own-operate could reshape how power is delivered. We also dig into the policy barriers that continue to slow innovation—and what it will take to unlock true energy abundance.

If you care about economic growth, national security, and the future of energy, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

👉 Learn more at https://vanceginn.com
👉 Get show notes & updates at https://vanceginn.substack.com

Subscribe to the Let People Prosper Show for more conversations on economics, policy, and how to expand opportunity for all.

The numbers are in—and the economy is flashing warning signs.

A weakening labor market, rising healthcare costs, slowing growth, and increasing uncertainty are not isolated issues. They are the predictable consequences of policy decisions shaping today’s economy.

In this episode of This Week’s Economy, we break down what’s really happening across jobs, Medicare, regulation, trade, and taxes—and why it all points to the same underlying problem.

If policymakers don’t change course, the costs will continue to rise.

🎧 Listen now for a clear, data-driven perspective on where the economy is headed. Get show notes at vanceginn.com.

Affordability is the defining economic issue for millions of Americans.

In this episode, I talk with Michael R. Strain, Ph.D., of the American Enterprise Institute about inflation, tariffs, and why rising costs—not wages—are the real challenge facing families today.

We explore what the data say, where policymakers are getting it wrong, and what a pro-growth path forward could look like.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations that help you think clearly about policy and prosperity. Get show notes and more at vanceginn.com.

Free-market capitalism remains the best system ever discovered for human flourishing. Yet political support for it is wavering — and that should alarm anyone who cares about prosperity and freedom.

A recent Gallup poll on Americans’ views of capitalism and socialism found that just 54% of Americans now view capitalism favorably — the lowest level Gallup has ever recorded.

The partisan breakdown is striking:

• Republicans remain strongly pro-capitalist, though support has softened.

• Independents now only narrowly favor capitalism.

• Among Democrats, fewer than half view capitalism positively, while nearly two-thirds view socialism favorably.

The data reveal a hard truth: those of us who defend free-market capitalism are unlikely to persuade most Democrats anytime soon. Many Democrats appreciate the outcomes of capitalism — jobs, innovation, rising living standards — yet reject the label itself, often associating it with inequality, corporate favoritism, or cronyism.

That means the task before us is bigger than winning a policy argument. It’s about reclaiming the moral case for capitalism.

In today’s episode of This Week’s Economy, I lay out that moral case, explore why criticisms of capitalism are gaining traction, and discuss how we can renew support for the system that has lifted more people out of poverty than any other in history. Tune in to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information about Ginn Economic Consulting and show notes.

If tariffs truly created prosperity, countries that raise the most trade barriers would be the richest in the world. They aren’t. Yet protectionism keeps returning to Washington politics like a bad sequel nobody asked for. Why? The answer often has less to do with economics and more to do with political incentives.In Episode 189 of the Let People Prosper Show, I interviewed Dr. David Hebert, Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and Associate Director of the Entangled Political Economy Research Network, to unpack how political incentives shape economic outcomes.We discuss tariffs, immigration, manufacturing myths, and why criticism and debate are essential for a healthy democracy. If you want to understand why bad economic ideas survive even when evidence is clear, this conversation is for you.🎧 Listen to the full episode of the Let People Prosper Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Find out more about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting and get show notes at vanceginn.com or vanceginn.substack.com.

What’s on Americans’ minds? The latest primary election results offered a window into what voters are thinking about. In my home state of Texas, voters sent a clear signal by backing efforts to eliminate property taxes through spending reductions.

Across the country, Americans are asking for the same things: lower taxes, a more affordable future, and a strong economy that creates opportunities. But too often, policymakers try to tax their way out of spending problems or regulate innovation — choices that threaten the very prosperity people are asking for.

That’s why in This Week’s Economy, I’m breaking down how these issues are playing out in policy debates. From tariffs and taxes to government spending and regulation, these decisions directly shape whether American families can afford the future they’re working toward — and policymakers can’t afford to ignore them.

Let’s dive in! Catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit vanceginn.com for more info about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting and newsletter with show notes at vanceginn.substack.com.