Arnold has a PhD in Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College. In addition to being a prolific writer, he is currently a Visiting Professor at University of Austin (UATX). When we were at Clayton High School, Arnold was co-editor (with Gingy Scharff) of Clamo, the high school newspaper for which I wrote. He did occasional color commentary with me on the basketball broadcasts. He also taught me how to play bridge, which I greatly appreciate. Arnold attempted to write a computer program that would have played a simulated basketball game between my previous school, Tenafly High, and Clayton High. Alas, the program was never finished, but it may have planted a seed that eventually led to my switching college majors from journalism to computer science. Arnold in his own words: I am old. Born in 1954, I have vivid memories of the 1960s. Like many old people, I like to refer back to the past when I give my perspective on today. You probably need to appreciate that sort of thing in order to enjoy what I write here. I have written a lot. More than you can ever hope to read. The best thing I ever wrote was Memoirs of a Would-be Macroeconomist, a book-length essay. I am "retired," but I seek ways to improve the culture of intellectual discourse. I have a regular Substack newsletter.In June, 2025, I created, using Claude code, an immersive online seminar. The user reads a chapter in dialogue format and can participate via a CallonMe feature or engage in dialogue with the professor via an OfficeHours feature. I hope to inspire the creation of a higher education organization that is a network rather than a campus. This project needs a CEO (not me) who is very well connected in the business world, both to find potential faculty and to provide students with placement opportunities. Students would not get grades or diplomas, but would instead obtain letters of introduction and letters of recommendation from faculty. These would be useful because the faculty network would be have many connections. Instruction would be highly decentralized, with faculty and students negotiating course design. Although most learning would be remote, there would be several conferences per year at which students and faculty would meet in person.Prior to that, I published The Three Languages of Politics, a book about the way people stigmatize members of other political tribes.My background includes economics, housing finance, health care policy, political psychology, entrepreneur. In addition to The Three Languages of Politics, I have published: Specialization and Trade, which offers a heterodox perspective on economic analysis and methods; Crisis of Abundance: Rethinking How We Pay for Health Care, which is still relevant to today's health care policy debate; Unchecked and Unbalanced, about the discrepancy between knowledge and power; From Poverty to Prosperity (with Nick Schulz), on the significance for an economy of its intangible assets, including innovation and cultural institutions; and other books.I have also written several articles for the quarterly National Affairs, numerous book review essays for the Library of Economics and Liberty, and many other essays. Links for this episode: * LinkedIn Profile * Substack Newsletter: In My Tribe * Substack Profile * Arnold’s Site * Bio * The Social Code: An Interactive AI Seminar on Human Interdependence * Video Version * ChatGPT and Knowledge Management This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stangarfield.substack.com
