Freakonomics Radio

Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)

Listen Later

Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. In this updated replay of a 2022 episode, we hold a very Smithy tug of war.

 

  • SOURCES:
    • Eamonn Butler, co-founder and director of the Adam Smith Institute.
    • Glory Liu, a political scientist and Adam Smith scholar at Georgetown University.
    • Mariana Mazzucato, professor in the economics of innovation and public value at University College London.
    • Dennis Rasmussen, a professor of political science at Syracuse University.
    • Russ Roberts, president of Shalem College in in Jerusalem; host of the EconTalk podcast; and author.
    • Craig Smith, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in the Scottish Enlightenment at the University of Glasgow.

      •  

      • RESOURCES:
        • Adam Smith’s America: How a Scottish Philosopher Became an Icon of American Capitalism, by Gloria Liu (2022).
        • "Henry and Adam: A Deep and Special Friendship," by Benny Higgins (Adam Smith Panmure House Perspective, 2020).
        • "Rescuing Adam Smith From Myth and Misrepresentation," (The Economist, 2018).
        • The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought, by Dennis C. Rasmussen (2017).
        • How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness, by Russ Roberts (2014).
        • "British Privatization — Taking Capitalism to the People," by John Moore (Harvard Business Review, 1992).
        • Free to Choose: A Personal Statement, by Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman (1990).
        • The Essential Adam Smith, edited by Robert L. Heilbroner (1986).
        • An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith (1776).
        • The Theory of Moral Sentiments, by Adam Smith (1759).

          •  

          • EXTRAS:
            • "In Search of the Real Adam Smith," series by Freakonomics Radio (2022).

              • Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              Freakonomics RadioBy Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5

              4.5

              30,597 ratings

              More shows like Freakonomics Radio

              View all
              This American Life by This American Life

              This American Life

              91,297 Listeners

              TED Radio Hour by NPR

              TED Radio Hour

              21,954 Listeners

              Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

              Stuff You Should Know

              78,688 Listeners

              Radiolab by WNYC Studios

              Radiolab

              43,837 Listeners

              Fresh Air by NPR

              Fresh Air

              38,430 Listeners

              Planet Money by NPR

              Planet Money

              30,609 Listeners

              Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

              Hidden Brain

              43,687 Listeners

              99% Invisible by Roman Mars

              99% Invisible

              26,242 Listeners

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast by Earwolf and Scott Aukerman

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast

              13,254 Listeners

              Marketplace by Marketplace

              Marketplace

              8,801 Listeners

              The Sporkful by Dan Pashman

              The Sporkful

              3,928 Listeners

              The Daily by The New York Times

              The Daily

              113,121 Listeners

              Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

              Ologies with Alie Ward

              24,585 Listeners

              The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

              The Indicator from Planet Money

              9,556 Listeners

              Throughline by NPR

              Throughline

              16,512 Listeners

              No Dogs in Space by The Last Podcast Network

              No Dogs in Space

              2,233 Listeners

              No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              No Stupid Questions

              3,624 Listeners

              The Walkout by SiriusXM

              The Walkout

              185 Listeners

              Coaches Clubhouse by SiriusXM

              Coaches Clubhouse

              32 Listeners

              SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

              SmartLess

              58,365 Listeners

              Rise and Schein by SiriusXM

              Rise and Schein

              112 Listeners

              People I (Mostly) Admire by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              People I (Mostly) Admire

              2,030 Listeners

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire by SiriusXM

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire

              22 Listeners

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish by SiriusXM

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish

              95 Listeners

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender by SiriusXM

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender

              18 Listeners

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City by The Last Podcast Network

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

              431 Listeners

              The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

              The Mel Robbins Podcast

              20,222 Listeners

              Andy Cohen’s Daddy Diaries Podcast by SiriusXM

              Andy Cohen’s Daddy Diaries Podcast

              414 Listeners

              Owned with Rex Chapman by SmartLess Media

              Owned with Rex Chapman

              164 Listeners

              The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

              The Economics of Everyday Things

              1,643 Listeners

              The Bone Whisperers by SiriusXM & NYU Langone

              The Bone Whisperers

              27 Listeners

              Victoria & Friends by SiriusXM

              Victoria & Friends

              18 Listeners

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast by SiriusXM Podcasts

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast

              804 Listeners

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive by SiriusXM

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive

              96 Listeners

              The Trendcast by SiriusXM Media

              The Trendcast

              2 Listeners