The Economist Next Door

Paul Mueller
  • 4.9 (76)
  • News Commentary

The Economist Next Door with host Paul Muller is AIER's newest podcast. It's a plain-spoken guide that makes complex ideas accessible to the "everyman" and "everywoman." No PhD required. In place of partisan spin, we're offering honest analysis and an optimistic spirit and translating academic concepts into clear conversations. Paul Mueller is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He received his PhD in economics from George Mason University. Previously, Dr. Mueller taught at The King's College in New York City. He has published widely in both academic and popular publications.

  1. 6d ago

    The Recession Story We Keep Getting Wrong

    Recessions are often explained as the inevitable result of excess: too much borrowing, too much speculation, too much optimism, or some hidden imbalance waiting to be corrected. But what if that story is wrong? In this episode of The Economist Next Door, host Paul Mueller talks with Tyler Goodspeed, chief economist at ExxonMobil and author of Recession: The Real Reasons Economies Shrink and What to Do About It, along with AIER President Samuel Gregg, about what 300 years of economic history reveal about downturns. Goodspeed argues that recessions are not predictable corrections caused by the excesses of previous expansions. Instead, they are often triggered by unexpected shocks — from energy crises and natural disasters to financial disruptions — that interrupt economic activity. He explains why the historical record challenges the familiar boom-bust narrative and why recoveries, rather than expansions, are often the true correction. The conversation also explores why humans are drawn to stories of blame and punishment when economies falter. From the Great Depression to the 2008 financial crisis, policymakers and the public have often searched for villains and embraced narratives of moral failure. But those stories can lead to misguided interventions that prolong economic pain. Paul, Tyler, and Sam discuss what this perspective means for today's economy, including debates over AI, technological change, and fears of another boom-bust cycle. They examine why we are quick to identify the next economic villain — and why focusing on long-run growth, resilience, and human flourishing matters far more than trying to eliminate every downturn.

  2. Jul 14

    How Your Neighbors Are Using AI

    Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant technology of the future—it is already reshaping how people work, learn, create, and solve problems. In this episode of The Economist Next Door, Paul Mueller explores the practical and philosophical questions surrounding AI with three guests — Jacob Mueller, co-founder of short-term rental management company Renjoy; Nicholas Roseveare, software engineer and developer at Revenue Solutions; and Tanner Thetford, pastor at First Baptist Church of Leadville — who are actively using these tools in their work and daily lives. The conversation goes beyond productivity gains to examine deeper questions about how humans should use AI. Like every powerful tool, the question is not simply whether we use it, but how we use it.

  3. Jul 7

    Is AI a Threat to Human Flourishing?

    Artificial intelligence is often discussed in terms of productivity, jobs, and economic growth. But the deeper question is a human one: Will AI help us become more fully human? In this episode of The Economist Next Door, Dr. Paul Mueller brings together three guests to examine AI from different angles. They discuss how entrepreneurs, programmers, and educators are using AI today—and wrestle with the harder questions surrounding technology, work, creativity, and human purpose. Will AI free people to pursue more meaningful work, or will it weaken the habits and relationships that make us human? Can artificial intelligence serve as a tool for human flourishing, or will it encourage dependence and disengagement? Listen to this thought-provoking conversation on the economic and moral questions surrounding one of the most transformative technologies of our time.

  4. Jun 25

    The Declaration's Most Radical—and Consequential—Idea

    As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, host Paul Mueller sits down with historian Brad Birzer to explore the ideas that gave birth to the American experiment. Together, they examine what made the Declaration such a revolutionary document, why its principles remain relevant nearly two and a half centuries later, and the radical claim at its heart: that all people are created equal and possess rights that no government can rightfully take away. Mueller and Birzer discuss the intellectual influences behind the Declaration, the courage required to sign it, and the enduring importance of natural rights, self-government, and human dignity. They also reflect on how the Declaration transformed political thought around the world and why its message continues to shape debates about liberty today. Join us for a timely conversation about the most radical—and important—idea in the Declaration of Independence.

  5. Jun 23

    Could Trump Accounts Actually Work?

    Host Paul Mueller is joined by AIER scholars Tom Savidge and Dave Hebert to discuss one of the most intriguing and controversial provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill: Trump Accounts. The program would provide government-seeded investment accounts for children, with supporters arguing that it could expand ownership, encourage long-term wealth building, and foster a stronger culture of saving and investing. Are Trump Accounts a meaningful step toward an ownership society, or are they simply another government program destined to fall short of its promises? Paul, Tom, and David debate the merits and drawbacks of the proposal, examining everything from financial literacy and intergenerational wealth to government incentives, philanthropy, and the future of retirement security. Along the way, they spar over whether giving every child a stake in the market could strengthen capitalism, encourage broader participation in wealth creation, and reshape the relationship between citizens and the economy.

  6. Jun 16

    Economics Is for Everyone

    In this episode of The Economist Next Door, host Paul Mueller is joined by Tom Savidge and Julia Cartwright of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), along with Richard Morrison of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), to explore how basic economic thinking shows up in everyday life. Using accessible, real-world examples—from wedding dresses and tuxedos to sneakers, thrifted fashion, housing regulations, and consumer choice—the conversation highlights how trade-offs, discounting, incentives, and social norms shape ordinary decisions. It moves from household economics to broader policy debates, including regulation, market variety, and the unintended consequences of quality standards in housing and consumer goods. The episode makes clear that economics, at its core, is not merely a technical discipline for experts, but a practical framework for understanding how people make choices under scarcity, constraints, and competing values in daily life.

  7. Jun 9

    Congratulations, You Own Your Home. Sort Of.

    In this episode of The Economist Next Door, host Paul Mueller speaks with economist Vance Ginn about one of the most contentious issues in state and local fiscal policy: property taxes. Ginn argues that property taxes pose a fundamental challenge to private ownership, since homeowners must continue paying taxes on their property even after paying off their mortgage. The conversation explores alternatives to the current system, including the possibility of replacing property taxes with broader sales taxes. Ginn outlines a reform framework that emphasizes spending restraint, tax base broadening, and a gradual "buy-down" approach to reducing reliance on property taxes over time. Mueller and Ginn also discuss how different tax structures shape government behavior, interstate competition, and housing markets, as well as the trade-offs between stability in revenue and economic distortions. Could a consumption-based tax system offer a more transparent and less burdensome foundation for funding local government? Listen and find out!

  8. Jun 2

    America's Student Debt Crisis, Explained

    In this episode of The Economist Next Door, Paul Mueller is joined by fellow American Institute for Economic Research scholars Jeff Degner and Dave Hebert to examine the economics behind America's student debt crisis. The conversation explores how decades of federal aid and subsidized student loans helped fuel tuition inflation, reshape university incentives, and transform higher education into a debt-driven consumption economy. The scholars discuss credential inflation, luxury campus amenities, signaling theory, Austrian business cycle theory, and the unintended consequences of government intervention in higher education. They also examine why so many students leave school with debt but no degree, how colleges use price discrimination, and whether reforms such as shorter degree programs, income-sharing agreements, and AI-driven education tools could lower costs and improve outcomes. No PhD required.

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4.9
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

The Economist Next Door with host Paul Muller is AIER's newest podcast. It's a plain-spoken guide that makes complex ideas accessible to the "everyman" and "everywoman." No PhD required. In place of partisan spin, we're offering honest analysis and an optimistic spirit and translating academic concepts into clear conversations. Paul Mueller is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He received his PhD in economics from George Mason University. Previously, Dr. Mueller taught at The King's College in New York City. He has published widely in both academic and popular publications.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Mueller
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Economist Next Door

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