Explore every episode of the podcast Contra Krugman
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. 225 The Final Episode | 10 Jun 2020 | 00:55:29 | |
On this final episode of Contra Krugman after nearly five years, we analyze Krugman's horrified response to state reopenings after the lockdowns. | |||
| Ep. 224 Krugman Bravely Comes Out Against Killing Workers | 23 May 2020 | 00:42:26 | |
With his usual magnanimity, Krugman declares that the epidemiologists have been completely accurate in their warnings during the pandemic, whereas those who want to reopen the economy are trying to kill workers. Tom and Bob beg to differ. | |||
| Ep. 215 Don't Worry About the Deficit! | 19 Jan 2020 | 00:36:08 | |
That's Krugman's message now. Interestingly, back in 2003 the very indicators he's now using to tell us not to worry were actually less pronounced, and yet back then he was warning of a "fiscal train wreck." In any case, today we discuss what the genuine problems with the deficit are, and why it makes perfect sense to be concerned about it. | |||
| Ep. 125 Is the Stock Market Telling Us Something? | 09 Feb 2018 | 00:34:45 | |
Krugman insists that "the stock market is not the economy," and that downturns in the stock market need not portend bad economic times. But he takes the opportunity of stock market volatility to evaluate the present condition of the economy and its prospects for growth. We respond. | |||
| Ep. 124 Bitcoin Is Evil, and a Bubble, Says Krugman | 02 Feb 2018 | 00:41:03 | |
Krugman thinks Bitcoin serves no good purpose, except perhaps for people who are up to no good, and is powered by libertarian fantasies and paranoia. Bob and Tom have some fun banter on this one. | |||
| Ep. 123 We're Forgetting How Bad Previous Presidents Were | 26 Jan 2018 | 00:30:54 | |
Krugman complains about Trump again this week, and blames him for (among numerous other things) the loss of U.S. credibility abroad. We take a stroll down (recent) memory lane to add some perspective: there's plenty of presidential crappiness to go around. | |||
| Ep. 122 Varieties of Wrongness: The Different Kinds of Keynesianism | 21 Jan 2018 | 00:38:51 | |
This week we bypass Krugman's columns to discuss the different schools of Keynesianism, how and when they emerged, and what their differences are. | |||
| Ep. 121 We've Never Had a President Who.... Oh, Really? | 12 Jan 2018 | 00:36:48 | |
Krugman hits a bunch of themes in this one, among them Alexander Hamilton, Russiagate, and the claim that no president ever acted on the desire to imprison his opponents. We restore a bit of perspective by glancing back at American history. | |||
| Ep. 120 Krugman Tries to Explain Away the 2017 Economy | 10 Jan 2018 | 00:31:32 | |
Immediately after the 2016 election, Krugman predicted markets would "never" recover, but after a strong 2017, Krugman is suddenly reminded that presidents don't have much influence over the economy after all. But if we should need more stimulus, he says, we'll be sorry we don't have a Keynesian in office. | |||
| Ep. 119 Is Bitcoin More Evil Than Krugman? | 31 Dec 2017 | 00:53:31 | |
In this episode, Bob once again flies solo, burdening the listeners with his odd sense of humor. But along the way, he tackles Krugman's objections to Bitcoin, and also discusses the relevance of Mises' regression theorem to the cryptocurrency. | |||
| Ep. 118 Krugman Talks Taxes, Debt, and the Innovative Post Office | 23 Dec 2017 | 00:43:04 | |
In this episode, Bob flies solo when analyzing a Krugman interview with Vox's Ezra Klein. Being close to the holiday, it's only appropriate that our Keynesian Nobelist seems to be contradicting the ghost of Krugman past. | |||
| Ep. 117 How Bob Smacked Down Krugman on the Financial Crisis | 17 Dec 2017 | 00:36:31 | |
Krugman is claiming that everything he said regarding housing and the financial crisis has been vindicated. The problem, he says, was a general collapse in "demand." Contra Krugman co-host Bob Murphy, on the other hand, has shown in his own writing that in fact the crisis was not caused by a problem with "demand" in general, but with problems in particular sectors, brought about during the inflationary boom. | |||
| Ep. 116 Krugman Hearts the Neocons for Their Principles | 06 Dec 2017 | 00:36:07 | |
Krugman is upset that more Republicans aren't speaking out against the tax bill that's been in the news. But there's one bright light for Krugman: the neocons. Lots of them have been soundly anti-Trump, and Krugman appreciates their adherence to principle. (Funny, we don't recall Krugman ever admiring Ron Paul's adherence to principle, and his led to far fewer deaths....) | |||
| Ep. 214 Austerity Is Just What the World's Economies Needed | 06 Jan 2020 | 00:35:20 | |
Krugman blames the "austerity" that began a decade ago for ensuing economic ills and political instability. This is a fashionable enough view, but the evidence against it is more or less overwhelming. Enjoy! | |||
| Ep. 115 Brutal: Contra Krugman Takes on Krugman's P.C. List of America's Sins | 02 Dec 2017 | 00:38:28 | |
In one of the most heated episodes ever, Bob and Tom take apart Krugman's apologies for not fully appreciating the extent of his "white privilege," and for the things he says he once appreciated about America that are now disappearing: toleration (no, he's not criticizing people who shout down speakers), environmental protection, respect for truth and evidence, respect for intellectuals, etc. It's brutal. | |||
| Ep. 114 What's Wrong With Keynes, in a Nutshell | 25 Nov 2017 | 00:29:22 | |
No Krugman column this week for us; instead we step back and look at the big picture: what exactly do Keynesians get wrong in their understanding of the economy? | |||
| Ep. 113 Will Tax Cuts Mean Millions of Lost Manufacturing Jobs? | 18 Nov 2017 | 00:30:45 | |
Krugman argues that the GOP tax plan, even on its own terms, would blow up the trade deficit and lead to millions of lost manufacturing jobs. We teach the economics behind his argument, but also mention--get ready for this--that Krugman leaves out two big factors that completely undercut his case. | |||
| Ep. 112 Don't Get Excited About Tax Cuts, Says Krugman; Results Will Be Pitiful | 11 Nov 2017 | 00:33:26 | |
Krugman says Republicans are expecting too much from the corporate income tax rate cut they're proposing. Is he right? | |||
| Ep. 111 Cutting Corporate Taxes Helps Only "The Rich," Says Krugman | 04 Nov 2017 | 00:40:28 | |
This week, Krugman disputes the claim that reductions in corporate tax rates help anyone but the super-rich. So we explain to him how they work. | |||
| Ep. 110 Krugman Demands We Admit Our Mistakes, Embrace the Fed | 29 Oct 2017 | 00:47:25 | |
Krugman thinks everyone who disagrees with him on monetary policy has been decisively refuted and ought to be ridiculed or ignored. The Fed has done great work, he says. He also insists that unlike him, we refuse to admit our mistakes. That's a lot of fodder for one episode. Enjoy! Show notes for Ep. 110 | |||
| Ep. 109 LIVE from the Contra Cruise: Do People Behave the Way Economists Predict? | 21 Oct 2017 | 00:39:34 | |
Krugman is a fan of Richard Thaler, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and speaks in favor of Thaler's argument that real people often don't act like the calculating robots of neoclassical lore. Thaler is right about that, but we've got a bunch of punchy responses to his more dubious claims -- responses that are all the more fun to listen to because delivered before a live audience aboard the Contra Cruise! | |||
| Ep. 108 Do We Need an Interventionist at the Fed? | 16 Oct 2017 | 00:42:06 | |
Krugman is concerned that Trump will appoint a hands-off Fed chairman who hasn't learned the lessons of history. We challenge the hidden premise in there. Show notes for Ep. 108 | |||
| Ep. 107 The Problems With Tax Reform | 08 Oct 2017 | 00:33:30 | |
Krugman complains that what we know so far about a potential Trump tax reform plan is not good -- it would give most relief to millionaires and billionaires. We discuss Rand Paul's opposition to the plan, and what genuine tax reform should really do. | |||
| Ep. 106 One of the Top Krugman Errors Ever, Literally Out of Economics 101 | 01 Oct 2017 | 00:31:19 | |
Krugman says: who cares if high marginal income tax rates make people work less, or lower rates would give them an incentive to make them work more? It's all a wash, says Krugman: if they work more they also earn more, so they get all the gains and society gets nothing. This is smashed like nothing we've smashed before. Show notes for Ep. 106 | |||
| Ep. 213 Trump's Tariff War a Flop? | 23 Dec 2019 | 00:34:30 | |
Although details are still emerging, a deal has evidently been reached between China and the United States regarding trade. Did Trump accomplish anything (from his standpoint)? Was the whole thing a waste of time and resources? Did it create uncertainty in the business world? What should we think about trade deficits? It's all in here, folks. | |||
| Ep. 105 How Bad Is the Latest GOP Health Care Bill? (Includes Great Bob/Tom Banter) | 25 Sep 2017 | 00:34:00 | |
The Graham-Cassidy bill is yet another version of Obamacare repeal -- but is that what it does? We cover the ongoing debate, with plenty of the usual fun. | |||
| Ep. 104 Another 9/11 Anniversary, and the Political Class Is Still Stupid (and/or Evil) | 16 Sep 2017 | 00:41:46 | |
Krugman observes the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, with a column about the unique wickedness of the Republicans, and no acknowledgment of the bipartisan War Party. Scott Horton joins us for some real history from those terrible days. | |||
| Ep. 103 Krugman Fair With Sessions? Keep DREAMing | 09 Sep 2017 | 00:35:17 | |
Bob flies solo in this episode, as Tom & Family evacuate for the hurricane. Krugman makes some good observations about the economics of immigration, but (as usual) he misrepresents his opponents (while accusing them of being liars). Bob offers his own views on how libertarians might better approach this controversial subject. | |||
| Ep. 102 Hurricane Harvey, Climate Change | 02 Sep 2017 | 00:38:20 | |
Krugman blames the destructiveness of the hurricane partly on climate change and partly on Houston's lack of zoning. We take these on, and also defend the "price gouger," who genuinely saves lives. | |||
| Ep. 101 Krugman: Trump and Republicans Plot Against Workers | 25 Aug 2017 | 00:32:38 | |
Even if Republicans don't get their way on taxes or spending, don't be fooled, says Krugman: they have lots of other ways to make workers miserable. | |||
| Ep. 100 Ron Paul’s Guide to 2017 | 17 Aug 2017 | 00:33:22 | |
Ron Paul joins us as our special guest on episode 100! We cover health care, the Trump foreign policy, trade, the splintering of the “liberty movement,” and more. Enjoy! | |||
| Ep. 99 Krugman Doesn't Get What Happened in 2008 | 11 Aug 2017 | 00:34:46 | |
Krugman claims the downturn of 2008 was caused by inadequate "demand." The Austrians claim the downturn was more complicated: it involved problems in particular sectors that had been artificially expanded, not a system-wide problem of not enough spending. Thankfully, we can resolve this dispute swiftly enough -- and we do, in this episode. | |||
| Ep. 98 Do Krugman's Opponents Lie About Taxes, Health Care, and Everything Else? Or Is Krugman Just Dead Wrong? | 04 Aug 2017 | 00:31:27 | |
Republicans are incorrigibly wrong on issue after issue, from taxes to health care, says Krugman. They have no respect for experts, for data, or for the truth itself. And yet it turns out that the guy who's wrong is...(you'll never guess). | |||
| Ep. 97 How Central Banks Hurt Regular People (LIVE from Mises U) | 01 Aug 2017 | 00:39:41 | |
How do central banks hurt the common man? That's the theme of our discussion in this episode, recorded live at the Mises Institute's annual week-long instructional program for students. Professor Jeffrey Herbener of Grove City College and Ph.D. candidate Louis Rouanet join us. | |||
| Ep. 96 Long Ago, Weren't Conservatives Better Than They Are Now? | 21 Jul 2017 | 00:47:42 | |
On his blog, Krugman responds to fellow columnist Bret Stephens, who argues that the conservative movement has fallen a long way since the days of William F. Buckley. Krugman responds that the conservative movement was never any good, and never had any kind of golden age. Believe it or not, we get more worked up in this episode than probably any episode thus far. You won't want to skip this one. | |||
| Ep. 212 Trump, Crony Capitalism, and Impeachment | 07 Dec 2019 | 00:35:59 | |
We discuss the impeachment, Krugman's selective praise for whistleblowers, and what the correct approach to the problem of "crony capitalism" should be. | |||
| Ep. 95 Do Economic Laws Have Expiration Dates? | 17 Jul 2017 | 00:39:12 | |
Krugman reviews economic ideas that he says no longer apply today. Is there anything wrong with his thinking? | |||
| Ep. 94 The Disastrous Results of a Trade War | 09 Jul 2017 | 00:34:39 | |
Is a trade war in the offing? There's plenty of protectionist talk coming from the White House. Will it "save jobs"? | |||
| Ep. 93 The Seattle Minimum Wage Policy Is a Disaster | 30 Jun 2017 | 00:47:09 | |
The official study commissioned by the city of Seattle is painting a grim picture of the consequences of the minimum wage increase in that city thus far. | |||
| Ep. 92 Krugman Says GOP Policies Are Zombies and Vampires | 24 Jun 2017 | 00:46:23 | |
Well well well, in a splash of serendipity, the one week Tom leaves the show in Bob's hands, Krugman devotes his column to zombies--and vampires. Specifically, the GOP idea that tax cuts on the rich are great for the economy is an idea that just won't die. And the Republican plan for health insurance reform must be kept hidden from the sunlight. (Just like a vampire, get it?) Bob brings on Cato Senior Fellow Dan Mitchell to talk about the alleged supply-side failure in Kansas. | |||
| Ep. 91 You Know Where There Won't Be a Shipwreck | 18 Jun 2017 | 00:38:44 | |
Krugman says Trump is wrecking the ship of state: the president's worse than even his harshest critics warned. Trump's petty politics on health care is causing insurers to hike premiums, while his foreign policy moves indicate corruption and recklessness. We point out Krugman's flip-flopping on health insurers, and you'll also learn how to pronounce "Qatar." Show notes for Ep. 91 | |||
| Ep. 90 Trump Has Destroyed the Planet! | 12 Jun 2017 | 00:48:36 | |
Krugman wrote two columns in a row on Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Accord and the abdication of American leadership on climate change, and we reply to them both in this episode. Our thanks to Marcus Brown for the Contra Cruise jingle! Check out his comedy podcast, Make My Day. | |||
| Ep. 89 Risking the Planet? | 03 Jun 2017 | 00:37:53 | |
Krugman says Donald Trump is all wrong to want to give regulatory relief to the coal industry. That industry can't ever be revived to where it was in the old days, says Krugman, and it would be silly to try, especially when all these abundant clean alternatives are available. In fact, to try would amount to putting "the whole planet's future at risk." (Krugman also makes a side remark about Trump's blasphemy on NATO, and we also comment on that.) Show notes for Ep. 89 | |||
| Ep. 88 Krugman: Free Markets Are the Real Road to Serfdom! | 27 May 2017 | 00:28:22 | |
This week Krugman complains that workers are becoming less free: Obamacare is in danger of repeal, and more and more workers are being required to sign noncompete agreements. These things limit people's choices, says Krugman, so in a very real sense they are being made less free. Is any of this true, and is Krugman's understanding of freedom coherent? This is all especially good fodder for Contra Krugman. | |||
| Ep. 87 LIVE IN SEATTLE: Krugman Wrong on Everything | 24 May 2017 | 00:38:22 | |
For the second time, we recorded a live episode of the show in Seattle. We hit health care, foreign policy, taxes, and more. Thanks to the energetic crowd! | |||
| Ep. 86 Krugman Warns Fellow Elites: We Are Under Attack | 12 May 2017 | 00:38:32 | |
You probably know what Paul Krugman thinks of Brexit and Marine Le Pen, but in this column he urges European elites not to treat them as if they can be brushed aside. The populist wave is strong and real, says Krugman, and it's in part a response to the lousy job European politicians have done. | |||
| Ep. 211 LIVE FROM VIENNA: Is Europe an Example for the U.S.? | 25 Nov 2019 | 00:42:11 | |
We recorded this episode before a live audience at -- of all places -- the Austrian central bank in Vienna, where the Austrian Economics Center held a two-day academic conference. We respond to Krugman's key claim: namely, that Eurosclerosis is long over, and that Europe can no longer be cited with any plausibility as evidence that significant social spending and regulation retard employment. | |||
| Ep. 85 Trump Is Terrible, and His Supporters Won't Admit It, Says Krugman | 08 May 2017 | 00:32:05 | |
On the one hand, people are telling pollsters that they're bullish on the economy, but on the other, the economic statistics (like retail sales) aren't reflecting this kind of confidence. What's going on here? Krugman has a theory.... | |||
| Ep. 84 Tax Cuts, Shmax Cuts: They're Overrated, Says Krugman | 01 May 2017 | 00:26:46 | |
Krugman can't believe people still think tax cuts (particularly on "the rich," who of course pay most of the taxes) might have good and substantial effects on the economy, or that they could believe that the ensuing economic growth could make up some of the lost revenue. We look at the facts of the matter. | |||
| Ep. 83 Why All the Talk About Manufacturing? Don't All Jobs Matter? | 21 Apr 2017 | 00:31:20 | |
Krugman (correctly) wonders about all the emphasis on manufacturing employment, when many other perfectly honorable lines of work have also witnessed declines. Why the emphasis on manufacturing? Why, because white people tend to hold those jobs, says Krugman. What a surprise.... | |||