Choosing Better

Enoch Hill and Tim Taylor
  • 5.0 (30)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Choosing Better

Conversations about wacky ideas, economics, and the art of living well.

  1. APR 11

    Cultivating Generosity: Should We Receive Pleasure When We Give to Others?

    Is one being generous if they enjoy the very act of giving? Or is giving only a virtue if it hurts in some way? Join Enoch and Tim as they discuss the pleasure in generosity and why we may want to cultivate in ourselves, and others, the “warm glow” that comes from altruism. They tell stories and question whether we should consider efficiencies and effectiveness in our giving.   Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Recording Date: 23 January 2025

    1h 1m

  2. APR 4

    [Bonus Episode] Liberation Day: The Tariff Wall Is Here

    On April 2nd, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the most expansive set of tariffs (taxes on imports) in modern history with the United States setting a baseline tariff rate of 10% on over 180 countries. And further tariffs will be added to particular countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, and the European Union. Rarely does a global event intersect so closely with the academic work of both Enoch and Tim, so they too are stepping into unprecedented terrain in recording a bonus episode on a current event in political economy. They discuss what the tariffs will do, motivations for comprehensive tax on nearly all imports, and how we can choose better in a world with less free trade. Errata: In the episode, I (Enoch) attempted a back of the envelope calculation of the magnitude of the tariff. I estimated 2-5% increase in costs using (10-54% tariff range on imports which are about 20% of the magnitude of US GDP). This may be in the ballpark of the increase in prices (likely an overestimate), but it is a big overestimate on the hit to GDP since this the tariffs are largely a transfer to government revenue (taxes on imports). There is a deadweight loss to the economy (transition to less-efficient production, some consumers no longer can afford specific goods), but this is going to be significantly smaller than the 2-5% number. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 3 April 2025

    48 min

  3. MAR 28

    Patriot Games: A National(ism) Past Time (recorded with a LIVE audience)

    In a world where even waving a flag feels like picking a fight, what does it really mean to belong to a nation? Is nationalism a unifying force or a political powder keg? Come join Dr. Taylor and Dr. Hill in their first ever live recording as they try to untangle the good, the bad, and the downright weird of national identity—when it inspires, when it divides, and when it just gets awkward. Enoch and Tim record their first podcast with a live audience at Wheaton College! Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Recording Date: 20 March 2025

    1h 19m

  4. MAR 14

    What Makes a Good College?

    In this episode Enoch and Tim invite special guest and beloved colleague Denise Daniels to join them in reflecting on the question of, "What makes a good college?" Specifically, they discuss what they valued from their undergraduate experiences, what professional college ranking websites consider, and what they desire(d) regarding college selection for their children. Along the way, we hear about both Denise and Tim's college pranks and how Tim's punishment led to his favorite part of his undergraduate experience. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 16 January, 2025

    1h 4m

  5. FEB 28

    What do you know?

    Inside everybody's head is a large set of things they know. We're made out of a whole bunch of tiny little atoms, the earth revolves around the sun, if I sneeze on someone they might get sick, the sun is really, really hot, we will (not) exist after death, vaccines (do not) work. Most of this knowledge wasn't obtained through your own observations. But how can I tell from personal experience that the earth is not flat? We all would have likely believed something very different had we been born a couple centuries earlier. Given I am unlikely to unlikely to ever verify the temperature of the sun. So, how do you know what you know? Editorial note:Tim accidentally misspoke and the former NBA basketball player is Rick Barry. And his 90% free throw shooting was the best in the NBA at the time of his retirement in 1980. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 12 December 2024

    1 hr

  6. FEB 14

    Agreeable Disagreement

    Most of us would agree that the art of disagreeing well is a dying one. In this episode Enoch and Tim discuss what it means to effectively navigate different perspectives. In the process, they discover that, in the quest to disagree better, the stakes are far greater than they expected. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 24 October 2024

    1 hr

  7. JAN 31

    Trading Places: Tariffs and the Economics of Protectionism

    Will imposing tariffs, a tax on imports, benefit the economy? World history is rife with suspicion of international trade, but barriers to trade fell after World War II so that global markets have been fairly open throughout our lifetimes. As voters and politicians view trade with pessimism, Enoch and Tim discuss the nature and use of tariffs. How “America First” is blocking imports from our neighbors and who benefits (or loses) from international trade? Stories are told and theories are explained to help us all choose better. Reference: Frédéric Bastiat, The Candlemakers’ Petition. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 5 December 2024

    1 hr

  8. JAN 17

    History’s Greatest Hits: A Conversation with Jason Long on the Most Important Moments in Economic Development

    What are the greatest inventions in history and how should we think about gains for human wellbeing? Join Enoch and Tim alongside special guest Dr. Jason Long, an economic historian at Wheaton College, as they discuss the greatest moments for growth and standards of living in economic history. In this episode, we explore key technologies and inventions that have fundamentally improved human lives and made daily existence healthier, safer, and more connected. The conversation concludes with a look at future innovations and how they might continue the legacy of these “greatest hits”. Credits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drew Elliot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (music) with additional thanks to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recording Date: 13 November 2024

    1h 2m
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    5
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    About

    Conversations about wacky ideas, economics, and the art of living well.

    Information

    • Creator
      Enoch Hill and Tim Taylor
    • Years Active
      2023 - 2025
    • Episodes
      35
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Enoch Hill and Tim Taylor
    • Show Website
      Choosing Better

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