To Tim Harford, mistakes are fascinating. “We often only understand how something works when it breaks,” he says, explaining why there’s such an emphasis on errors throughout his work. They also tend to make great stories, which can stoke the curiosity necessary to change minds. A former persuasive speaking champion, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire “for services to improving economic understanding,” which he’s achieved through appearances on the BBC, columns for the Financial Times, several TED Talks and books, and now his latest podcast series Cautionary Tales.
Tim joined Tyler to discuss the role of popular economics in a politicized world, the puzzling polarization behind Brexit, why good feedback is necessary (and rare), the limits of fact-checking, the “tremendously British” encouragement he received from Prince Charles, playing poker with Steve Levitt, messiness in music, the underrated aspect of formal debate, whether introverts are better at public speaking, the three things he can’t live without, and more.
Follow us on Twitter and IG: @cowenconvos
Email: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu
Follow Tim on Twitter
Follow Tyler on Twitter
Newsletter
John Nye on Revisionist Economic History and Having Too Many Hobbies
Eric Schmidt on the Life-Changing Magic of Systematizing, Scaling, and Saying "Thanks" (Live)
Ben Thompson on Business and Tech
Rob Wiblin interviews Tyler on *Stubborn Attachments*
Paul Krugman on Politics, Inequality, and Following Your Curiosity
Bruno Maçães on the Spirit of Adventure
Michele Gelfand on Tight and Loose Cultures
Claire Lehmann on Speaking Freely
Michael Pollan on the Science and Sublimity of Psychedelics
Michelle Dawson on Autism and Atypicality
Vitalik Buterin on Cryptoeconomics and Markets in Everything
Juan Pablo Villarino on Travel and Trust
Elisa New on Poetry in America and Beyond
David Brooks on Youth, Morality, and Loneliness (Live at Mason)
Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Self-Education and Doing the Math (Plus special guest Bryan Caplan)
Bryan Caplan on Learning across Disciplines (Live at Mason Econ)
Balaji Srinivasan on the Power and Promise of the Blockchain
Agnes Callard on the Theory of Everything
Martina Navratilova on Shaping Herself (Live at Mason)
Chris Blattman on Development, Conflict, and Doing What’s Interesting
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Heal, Survive & Thrive!
Summarize | رادیو سامرایز
LifeBlood
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast