Explore every episode of the podcast Econ To Go
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myths and truths: How remote work is redefining our lives | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:24:34 | |
How has remote work changed the way we live and work? And what’s here to stay? In the first episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford economist Nick Bloom, one of the world’s leading experts on work-from-home, to unpack how the pandemic reshaped work almost overnight. From productivity and profitability to housing, health, and the future of cities, this conversation looks past the headlines to what the data actually tells us about the new world of work. Along the way, we explore several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Nick Bloom, is the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. To learn more about him, explore his bio and research on work-from-home, productivity, and organizational change. For additional context on remote work and its economic impacts, check out these links: | |||
| Introducing Econ To Go | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:01:20 | |
Welcome to Econ To Go, where Stanford economics meets your everyday life. Hosted by Neale Mahoney, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), the show takes you on a walk across campus for smart, curious conversations about the forces shaping our economy. From AI and productivity to inflation and college sports, it’s Stanford economics, to go. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. | |||
| Private money, public trust: The stablecoin battle | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:28:55 | |
What makes money… money? And who should we trust to issue it? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford finance professor Amit Seru to explore the tug-of-war over the future of money. Stablecoins promise fast, low-cost digital payments, but Seru explains why they function much like narrow banks — vulnerable to runs if confidence erodes. The conversation examines the GENIUS Act’s attempt to add guardrails for this unique type of crypto, the risks of delegating core financial functions to private issuers, and why trust remains the foundation of any stable currency. We cover several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Amit Seru, is the Steven and Roberta Denning Professor of Finance at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. To learn more about him and his work on financial regulation and stablecoins, explore his bio and these recent pieces: | |||
| The hidden backbone: The data behind the economy | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:26:26 | |
How do we know what’s really happening in the economy? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with labor economist Erika McEntarfer, former head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to explore the public data system behind the numbers we hear every day, like inflation, unemployment, and GDP. McEntarfer explains why America’s statistical system is widely considered the global gold standard, but also why it’s facing new pressures from rising survey costs, declining response rates, threats to independence, and limited budgets. We explore several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Erika McEntarfer, is a labor economist and former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. She is a research scholar and the Tad and Dianne Taube Policy Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Her work focuses on economic measurement, labor markets, and the public statistical infrastructure that underpins economic policymaking. To learn more about her work and the U.S. economic data system, explore these links: | |||
| Medical mistrust: Why representation matters | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:24:06 | |
How does trust — or the lack of it — shape who gets care, and what outcomes they experience? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford physician-economist and MacArthur Fellow Marcella Alsan to explore how trust and representation shape the U.S. health care system. Her research shows that historical events like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study continue to affect healthcare use and health outcomes today, and that trust isn’t abstract, it’s measurable. The conversation also highlights how trust can be built, how underrepresentation in clinical trials can influence both physician behavior and patient trust, and other key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Marcella Alsan, is a physician-economist at Stanford University, the Thomas J. Davis, Jr. Faculty Scholar at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, and a MacArthur Fellow whose research focuses on health disparities, trust in medicine, and the role of institutions in shaping health outcomes. To learn more about her work, explore her bio and these links: | |||
| Tariffs and trade: A turning point for globalization | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:30:13 | |
Are we entering a new era of globalization? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford trade economist Stephen Redding to unpack the sharp escalation of U.S. tariffs in 2025 and 2026, and what it signals for the global economy. Redding explains why the scale of recent changes stands out historically, and how trade policy is becoming more persistent and more weaponized, shaped by concerns around supply chains, geopolitical tensions and critical technologies. The conversation also explores what tariffs are designed to do — and why economists often view them as a blunt tool, with costs that ripple through consumers, firms, and global trade flows. Along the way, we explore several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Stephen Redding, is the Kleinheinz Family Professor of International Studies and a professor of economics at Stanford University, as well as a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. His research focuses on international trade, economic geography, and the impact of globalization on local economies. To learn more about his work, explore these links: | |||
| Beyond rhetoric: Immigration in America | 05 May 2026 | 00:24:45 | |
What’s the untold story of immigration in the United States? Are our beliefs misconceptions or truths? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford economist Ran Abramitzky to unpack some of the most persistent myths about immigration — and what the evidence shows instead. Drawing on decades of data, Abramitzky breaks down how immigrants and their children fare over time, how assimilation works in practice, and why common narratives about crime and economic impact often miss the mark. Along the way, we explore several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Ran Abramitzky, is the Stanford Federal Credit Union Professor of Economics and senior associate dean of social sciences at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. His research focuses on immigration, economic mobility, and economic history. To learn more about his work, visit his Stanford profile or explore these links: | |||
| Morality, money and markets | 19 May 2026 | 00:26:22 | |
What should — and shouldn’t — be for sale? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford economist and Nobel laureate Alvin Roth to explore “moral economics,” the subject of his new book and the idea that markets are not just driven by prices, but shaped by human values. From debates over “repugnant transactions” like surrogacy and prostitution to the real-world design of kidney exchange systems, Roth unpacks how markets evolve, where they break down, and why thoughtful design and social support are essential to making them work. Along the way, we cover several key topics, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Alvin Roth, a Nobel laureate, is the Craig and Susan McCaw Professor of Economics at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). A pioneer in market design, his work has helped shape systems like kidney exchange, improving how scarce resources are allocated in practice. His research focuses on how markets can be designed to function more effectively, especially in areas where traditional markets fall short. To learn more about his work and these ideas, explore the following:
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| Financial Literacy: Get ahead or fall behind | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:27:41 | |
Why do people with similar incomes and education levels end up with vastly different financial outcomes? In this episode of Econ To Go, Neale Mahoney sits down with Stanford economist Annamaria Lusardi to explore what people actually understand about money, and why financial literacy has become an essential skill in today’s increasingly complex economy. A pioneer in the field, Lusardi explains how gaps in financial knowledge shape everything from day-to-day decisions to long-term wealth and how early exposure, education and regulation make a difference. Along the way, we explore several key themes, including:
Econ To Go brings Stanford economics into your everyday life — served with a side of coffee. Hosted by economist and Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Neale Mahoney, the show takes you on a walk across campus with leading thinkers as they unpack the ideas shaping our economy, public policy, and daily lives. Smart, curious, and conversational — it’s Stanford economics, to go. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research is a nonpartisan research center that brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to solve pressing economic challenges and inform better public policy. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Econ To Go on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow SIEPR on LinkedIn or X/Twitter for episode updates and research highlights, or explore more at siepr.stanford.edu. Today’s guest, Annamaria Lusardi, is a leading expert on financial literacy. She is the Director of the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Her work — in both the academic and global policy arena — focuses on how financial education can improve economic outcomes. To learn more about Lusardi and her research, visit the IFDM website or explore these links:
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