Qualified Opinions

Veronique de Rugy
  • 5.0 (12)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Qualified Opinions is an intellectual salon that illuminates the challenges facing free markets, liberalism, and the political climate of today. Join host Veronique de Rugy, a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center, and her guests for enlightening discourse. Qualified Opinions is a production of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

  1. APR 27

    Recovering the Soul of Liberalism

    Vero is joined by colleagues Rebecca Lowe, a political philosopher, and Henry Oliver, a literary critic, to discuss their new project, The Pursuit of Liberalism. While the liberal order—built on free markets, free speech, and the rule of law—has delivered more for human flourishing than any other system, many feel it is currently "losing the argument". The trio explores whether this is because the defense of liberalism has been narrowed down to economics and legal theory, neglecting the deeper questions of meaning, dignity, and the human soul. Key topics discussed include: The "Vibe Contest": Why liberalism often sounds "stuffy and old-fashioned" compared to the rising influence of post-liberal and "New Right" movements. The Legacy of Adam Smith: A debate on whether Smith was a better economist or philosopher, and how his original breadth of thought (covering everything from astronomy to moral sentiments) has been lost to modern academic specialization. Specialists vs. Generalists: The costs of over-specialization in economics and why we need more thinkers who can bridge the gap between policy and culture. Pluralism and Choice: Drawing on Isaiah Berlin's idea that there are many "good" ways to live and that liberalism's true value lies in the freedom to choose between them. The Future of Freedom: Why politics is downstream of culture and the challenge of passing liberal values on to a new generation. About the Guests: Rebecca Lowe is a political philosopher and Henry Oliver is a literary critic. Both are based at the Mercatus Center and are the founders of the Substack project, The Pursuit of Liberalism.

    1h 1m

  2. APR 13

    Navigating Trade, National Security, and the Real Costs of Protectionism

    In this episode, Vero De Rugy sits down with Paul Mueller and Dave Hebert, senior research fellows at AIER, to discuss trade and national security. The conversation dives deep into the complex—and often manipulated—tension between market efficiency and national defense. While free traders acknowledge legitimate security exceptions, the trio explores how "national security" is frequently used as a pretext for protectionist policies that come with a steep, often hidden, economic price tag. Key highlights of the discussion include: Vigilante Justice on the World Stage: Paul and Dave discuss their "Batman" analogy for current trade policy—exploring the consequences of bypassing international norms like the WTO to "dole out justice" through unilateral tariffs. The China Dilemma: A look at whether "decoupling" from the Chinese economy is a realistic goal or a demographic and logistical impossibility. The Net Assessment of the Current Administration: Vero proposes a provocative theory: Could the "background" wins in energy deregulation, AI framework, and crypto policy outweigh the "foreground" chaos of trade wars and market uncertainty? The Cost of Credibility: Why market uncertainty and capricious policy shifts might be more damaging to long-term growth than the actual tariffs themselves. Whether you are interested in the granular details of the WTO enforcement mechanisms or the broader philosophical questions of individualism versus the new collectivism, this episode offers a candid look at the trade-offs required for American prosperity in a globalized world.

    58 min

  3. MAR 19

    The Social Security "Lockbox" Myth with Romina Boccia

    As Social Security approaches its 90th anniversary, the program faces a looming identity crisis and a massive fiscal deadline. In this episode, host Veronique De Rugy sits down with Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute and co-author of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes. Together, they dismantle the most persistent myths surrounding the U.S. retirement system, from the "lockbox" illusion to the reality of the 2032 trust fund depletion. Romina explains why a program designed in the era of the Great Depression is struggling to keep pace with modern capital markets and 21st-century life expectancy. Key topics discussed in this episode include: The Pay-As-You-Go Reality: Why 1 in 4 Americans believe they have a personal account, and the truth about intergovernmental IOUs. The 2032 Deadline: How recent legislative changes have accelerated the timeline for automatic benefit cuts. Lessons from Abroad: How countries like Sweden and Canada successfully modernized their systems by leaning into private accounts and flexible savings. Universal Savings Accounts (USAs): A proposal to fix the "double taxation" on savings and empower lower-income workers without the sting of early withdrawal penalties. This conversation offers a candid look at how we can move beyond "tweaks" to build a more secure financial future.

    59 min

  4. MAR 5

    Modern Diplomacy and French Political Thought with Luke Foster

    In this episode, Veronique de Rugy and Luke Foster peel back the layers of the "French political soul," and explore the intellectual roots of the Franco-American relationship.  Foster, a professor and co-founder of Academia Tocqueville, argues that Tocqueville's emphasis on civil society as a check on central power remains the ultimate diagnostic tool for modern governance. De Rugy and Foster also discuss the high stakes of 21st-century geopolitics, centered on Foster's recent critique of the NATO alliance, "We Need Friends, Not Flatterers." They dissect the Gaullist concept of strategic autonomy, questioning whether the American security umbrella has inadvertently stunted European state capacity and led to a "crowding out" of defense spending by the welfare state.  From France's nuclear grid to the surprising efficiency of its fiscal bureaucracy, De Rugy and Foster challenge the assumption that the American model is always more efficient, ultimately calling for a partnership built on honest realism rather than convenient dependence.

    1h 1m

  5. JAN 23

    A Travesty of Economic Ignorance with Peter Boettke

    Host Veronique De Rugy is joined by Peter Boettke to discuss his recent work on the "marvel" of the market and why modern economics has lost its way. Centered on F.A. Hayek's landmark essay, The Use of Knowledge in Society, this episode explores how prices serve as a vital vehicle for learning and coordination that no top-down planner can replicate. They discuss the transition of economics from a tool for "social understanding" to a failed instrument of "social control" and the dangerous consequences of treating economic science like "social physics".

    1h 4m

  6. 12/23/2025

    Total Boomer Luxury Communism

    This episode of Qualified Opinions features a provocative discussion with Russ Greene on the topic of "Total Boomer Luxury Communism." It's a system where wealth is systematically transferred from younger, less affluent generations to the most prosperous cohort in US history through entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.  Vera and Russ dive into the structural unfairness of age-based benefits, explaining how the pay-as-you-go system, coupled with misleading "property rights" language, burdens current workers with debt, inflation, and a compounding housing crisis—all to sustain benefits for seniors, regardless of their net worth. Discover the hidden mechanics behind this intergenerational transfer and why many Americans are shocked by the reality of these programs.

    47 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    What's So Great About Fed Independence?

    Dive into a provocative discussion with host Veronique De Rugy, John Cochrane, author of The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level, and Tom Hoenig, a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Veronique and guests challenge the notion of Federal Reserve independence, arguing that independence is not an absolute virtue, but a limited grant tied to obeying strict rules—namely, sticking to inflation and employment. They explore the history of independence, arguing its true purpose is a pre-commitment against the temptation to print money to monetize government deficits. You'll hear why restoring the Fed's limited mandate may be more crucial than its independence alone. Hoenig and Cochrane provide a crucial historical perspective, detailing how the Fed has "failed in many ways and exceeded its authority." Hoenig argues the Fed violated its primary mandate by effectively monetizing massive government debt through quantitative easing and keeping interest rates at zero, enabling increased fiscal spending and resulting in widespread inflation (including asset inflation). The episode draws parallels to the 1951 Fed-Treasury Accord as a past example of reestablishing boundaries. Learn how the current refusal of the Fed leadership to address fiscal policy and the deficit echoes a dangerous pattern, and why the solution must come from Congress being crystal clear about the Fed's limited role.

    58 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    IEPA, Tariffs, and the Future of Executive Power with Donald J. Boudreaux & Scott Lincicome

    As the Supreme Court reviews one of the most consequential economic and constitutional cases in decades, questions loom over how the president can wield emergency powers to reshape trade policy. At the center of this debate is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA) and its use by President Trump to impose tariffs. Today, Veronique sits down with Donald J. Boudreaux, Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center and economics professor at George Mason University, and Scott Lincicome, Vice President of General Economics at the Cato Institute and adjunct professor at Duke Law School. Together, they explore what is truly at stake: not only the future of U.S. trade policy, but the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.

    1h 4m
See All (56)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Qualified Opinions is an intellectual salon that illuminates the challenges facing free markets, liberalism, and the political climate of today. Join host Veronique de Rugy, a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center, and her guests for enlightening discourse. Qualified Opinions is a production of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

Information

  • Creator
    Veronique de Rugy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Qualified Opinions

You Might Also Like