Words & Numbers

CiVL
  • 4.8 (361)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Words & Numbers touches on issues of Economics, Political Science, Current Events and Policy. Each Wednesday we'll be sharing a new Words & Numbers podcast featuring Antony Davies Ph.D and James Harrigan Ph.D talking about the economics and political science of current events. Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcasts, learn more at civl.com

  1. Episode 484: Geezer Presidents

    21H AGO

    Episode 484: Geezer Presidents

    In this episode, we examine what actually counts as a victimless crime and why the term is so often misused, using examples ranging from seatbelt and helmet laws to drugs, prostitution, and software piracy. We discuss how insurance markets price risk more effectively than regulation, and why many so-called crimes are really paperwork violations with no direct victims. We also look at the limits of automation through recent failures in self-driving technology, and highlight the Foolishness of the Week involving ideological monocultures in academia and the incentives that sustain them. The conversation then turns to the main topic of whether there should be an age limit for the presidency, weighing cognitive decline, longevity, institutional incentives, and why existing safeguards like the 25th Amendment rarely function as intended. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:29 What Counts as a Victimless Crime? 01:38 Insurance, Risk, and Who Really Pays 04:36 Drugs, Prostitution, and True Victimless Crimes 06:26 Regulatory Crimes vs Real Human Harm 07:53 Software Piracy and Intellectual Property 12:38 Waymo, Power Outages, and Self-Driving Failures 14:49 Foolishness of the Week: Academic Monocultures in Academia 17:10 Personal Stories of Academic Censorship 20:39 Main Topic: Should Presidents Have an Age Limit? 21:41 Biden, Trump, and Cognitive Decline 24:39 Living Longer, Dementia, and Modern Leadership Risks 29:34 Age Limits in Other Professions 33:00 The Age of Past Presidents When Initially Elected 37:35 Which Presidents Would Have Survived a Term Age Limit? 39:33 The 25th Amendment and Why It Rarely Works 40:57 Incentives, Power, and Presidential Succession 43:53 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    49 min
  2. Episode 483: We Love Inequality

    2D AGO

    Episode 483: We Love Inequality

    In this episode, we look at what happens when artificial intelligence is put in charge of real-world systems, starting with an experiment in automated pricing and what it reveals about incentives, scarcity, and control. We turn to Denmark’s decision to shut down its national postal service, using it to examine the decline of physical mail, environmental tradeoffs, and why government monopolies struggle to compete with private delivery. We highlight the week’s “foolishness,” including the rise of competitive spreadsheet championships, before turning to a broader discussion about inequality. We examine IQ distributions, bell curves, and why inequality is often confused with poverty, exploring the limits of measures like the Gini coefficient, the difference between snapshot and lifetime earnings, and the role of incentives, envy, and value creation. We close by contrasting equality of opportunity with equality of outcome and asking what societies should actually care about when assessing fairness and prosperity. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:27 AI Runs a Vending Machine at the Wall Street Journal 01:52 When AI Meets Communism and Price Controls 03:52 Why AI Isn’t Replacing Humans Anytime Soon 04:32 Denmark Shuts Down Its Postal Service 06:11 Is Physical Mail Environmentally Absurd? 07:39 Why the Postal Service Can’t Compete 11:43 The Foolishness of the Week: Excel World Championships 13:25 Are Spreadsheets More Important Than Football? 15:08 Main Topic Setup: Should We Care About Inequality? 16:13 IQ, Bell Curves, and Random Distributions 23:05 Why Inequality Is Not the Same as Poverty 25:36 The Gini Coefficient and Its Limits 28:57 Sports, Superstars, and Value Creation 38:00 Taxes, Transfers, and the Illusion of Inequality 41:57 Lifetime Earnings vs Snapshot Inequality 45:14 Equality of Opportunity vs Equality of Outcome 49:30 Envy, Incentives, and Human Motivation 53:38 Closing Thoughts on Inequality and Society Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr
  3. Episode 482: The Evolution of Crime

    DEC 18

    Episode 482: The Evolution of Crime

    In this episode, we revisit the debate over restricting social media access for children, responding to listener feedback and examining why parental responsibility alone can’t address the scale of the problem. We discuss proposals for age verification, the risks of digital ID systems, and how privacy and surveillance concerns are often dismissed with the claim that people have “nothing to hide.” We then turn to California’s energy situation, looking at refinery closures, the Jones Act, and why state climate policies have little impact on global emissions while driving higher fuel costs. We examine a lawsuit involving Donald Trump and the BBC, followed by the week’s “foolishness” surrounding the Oscars’ move to YouTube. Our main discussion explores the concept of victimless crime, how outdated laws persist long after society moves on, what entrepreneurship signals about obsolete regulations, and why enforcement-heavy approaches to poverty, drugs, and everyday behavior continue to fail. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:02 Listener Feedback on Social Media Bans for Kids 02:06 Why Parenting Alone Cannot Solve the Social Media Problem 03:16 Age Verification and the Push Toward Digital ID 04:43 Privacy, Surveillance, and Why “Nothing to Hide” Fails 06:45 How Governments Can Abuse Data in the Future 07:20 California Refinery Closures and Energy Reality 08:13 The Jones Act and Why California Imports Fuel from Abroad 11:02 Why California’s Climate Policies Barely Affect Global CO2 13:00 Trump’s Lawsuit Against the BBC 14:27 Why Trump Would Have to Testify Under Oath 15:34 Foolishness of the Week: The Oscars Move to YouTube 17:42 Main Topic Setup: Victimless Crime and Enforcement 18:36 Entrepreneurship as a Signal That Laws Are Obsolete 20:47 Blue Laws, Alcohol, and How Societies Outgrow Bad Rules 24:27 Are There Any Victimless Crimes Left? 28:42 Speed Limits and Everyday Criminality 31:28 Is Government the Evolution of Crime? 34:31 The Cash Benchmark Test Explained 36:20 Why the War on Poverty Failed 40:16 The True Cost of the War on Drugs 43:55 Why Freedom No Longer Drives Policy 45:31 Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    49 min
  4. Episode 481: California Screamin’

    DEC 16

    Episode 481: California Screamin’

    In this episode, we discuss the growing role of humanoid robots in everyday life, why new technologies always reach the wealthy first, and how falling costs eventually make innovation accessible to the middle class. We turn to global efforts to restrict social media access for children, examining the real harms platforms create, why enforcement rarely works, and how questions of consent and freedom apply differently to minors. We highlight the week’s “foolishness,” including exaggerated tariff claims and the political incentives behind economic misinformation, before looking at how public discourse has deteriorated as cruelty and performative outrage become normalized. We then examine California’s accelerating business exodus, focusing on energy companies leaving the state, the consequences of heavy regulation and taxation, the limits of government control over capital-intensive industries, and what these trends reveal about tradeoffs, governance, and long-term economic sustainability. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:37 Humanoid Robots as Household Tools, Not Job Killers 02:31 Robots as Productivity Multipliers for the Middle Class 04:14 Why Wealthy People Will Always Get New Tech First 05:57 Technology Gets Cheaper, Better, and More Accessible Over Time 08:46 The Inevitable Cultural Direction of Robot Technology 09:17 Social Media Bans for Minors Go Global 11:13 The Real Harm Social Media Does to Children 14:25 Foolishness of the Week: Trump’s $18 Trillion Tariff Claim 17:15 Why the Tariff Math Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test 18:23 Political Incentives, Lies, and Follower Frenzy 21:09 Trump’s Rob Reiner Statement and the Collapse of Decorum 23:45 When Leaders Normalize Public Cruelty 26:09 Why Businesses Are Fleeing California 28:53 Taxes, Regulations, and the Real Price of Gas 33:14 Environmental Tradeoffs and Global CO2 Reality 38:50 California’s Plan to Nationalize Oil Refineries 40:53  Why Government Cannot Run Capital-Intensive Businesses 44:44 Diminishing Returns and Regulatory Overreach 47:23 Pareto Optimality and Why Tradeoffs Matter 55:06 The Economic Death Spiral of Business Exodus 57:32 Is California Too Big to Govern Effectively? 01:02:07 Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 10m
  5. Episode 480: The War on Drugs (Continued)

    DEC 11

    Episode 480: The War on Drugs (Continued)

    In this episode, we look at the story of a young boy who found purpose working for the DC Metro and later became a transportation engineer, and we examine a proposal for the U.S. to screen tourists’ social media accounts before entry, highlighting the logistical and constitutional problems such a system would create. We cover the week’s “foolishness,” including In-N-Out removing order number 67 from its queues and a Montreal lottery winner who chose a disastrous payout option, and discuss what these cases reveal about human judgment and bad incentives. We also explore the Mandela Effect and why memory often fails us. Later, we’re joined by Todd Huntley to talk about U.S. drug interdiction on the high seas, the legal gray zone between warfare and law enforcement, the risks of escalating conflicts with countries like Venezuela, and the constitutional limits on presidential war powers. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:30 The DC Metro Kid Who Became an Engineer 02:44 U.S. Plans to Screen Tourists’ Social Media 05:43 Foolishness of the Week: In-N-Out Removes Order #67 08:10 Foolishness Part Two: The Montreal Lottery Payout Disaster 11:16 The Psychology of Bad Financial Decisions 12:34 The Mandela Effect and Faulty Memory 14:36 Reunions and Remembering the Past 18:24 Guest Introduction: Todd Huntley on Drug Boat Strikes 20:16 How U.S. Drug Interdiction Changed with Drone Warfare 23:08 Is This War or Law Enforcement? The Legal Debate 26:44 International Waters, Venezuela, and Escalation Risks 30:13 Regime Change in Venezuela 32:45 The Positive Case for Blowing Up Boats 36:42 The Negative Case for Blowing Up Boats 41:11 Who Is Conducting the Strikes? 43:40 Congress, War Powers, and Constitutional Limits 48:57 Closing Thoughts with Guest 52:10 Outro Banter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  6. Episode 479: The NPCs Among Us

    DEC 9

    Episode 479: The NPCs Among Us

    In this episode, we look at a series of recent arrests tied to online posts, comparing Britain’s policing culture and firearms laws with American norms and examining how “feeling threatened” has become a legal standard. We discuss Alaska’s new AI-driven digital identity system and the fears surrounding automated benefits, digital currency, and government control. We highlight the week’s “foolishness” involving a racist outburst at a Cinnabon, and then turn to market news as Bitcoin drops and DJT stock continues to collapse. Our main topic explores whether AI can ever be sentient, what genuine inquisitiveness looks like, how people project humanity onto algorithms, and why the real risks stem from human psychology rather than runaway machines. We close with a discussion of how AI affects relationships, personal responsibility, and why students shouldn’t rely on it to think for them. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:01 British Man Arrested Over Social Media Post 02:46 Police Overreach and “Feelings as Law” 05:14 Global Jurisdiction and Ridiculous Laws 06:51 Alaska’s AI-Driven Digital Identity System 07:35 AI Applying for Benefits on Your Behalf 09:17 Digital Currency and Government Control Fears 12:11 Foolishness of the Week: The Cinnabon Racism Incident 13:22 Why Do Racists Get GoFundMes? 14:30 Bitcoin’s Drop and the DJT Stock Collapse 19:36 Can AI Become Sentient? 22:05 The Inquisitiveness Test for Consciousness 26:31 Will AI Replace Human Relationships? 30:30 What Long-Term Interaction Reveals About AI 36:46 Asking AI About Sentience 40:00 Real Risks: Errors, Psychology, and Human Behavior 43:15 AI as a Mirror of Human Behavior 45:02 Practical and Realistic Uses of AI 50:18 Why Students Shouldn’t Rely on AI for Schoolwork 53:40 Drug-fueled Observations on Human Behavior Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 3m
  7. Episode 478: No Socials for Sheila

    DEC 4

    Episode 478: No Socials for Sheila

    In this episode, we examine why arts education often maintains higher standards even as liberal arts programs shrink in schools and universities, and what students lose when curriculum narrows to job training. We discuss how platforms like X are adding country-of-origin labels to identify foreign influence and bot activity, and highlight the “foolishness of the week” involving the controversy over the “world’s strongest woman” and the broader questions it raises about biology and competitive fairness. We turn to Australia’s proposal to ban social media for kids under sixteen, exploring the practical limits of age verification, the tension between parental authority and government regulation, and why teens remain vulnerable to algorithmic manipulation. We close by considering where society should draw age boundaries, how platforms shape behavior, and what genuine responsibility looks like in the digital age. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:29 The State of Arts Education Today 02:57 Why Liberal Arts Are Disappearing From Schools 05:45 What a Liberal Arts Education Actually Provides 06:59 X Adds Country-of-Origin Labels 09:56 Foolishness of the Week: “World’s Strongest Woman” 11:31 Biology, Fairness, and Competition in Sports 17:51 Age Rules and Arbitrary Lines 20:53 Australia’s Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s 23:21 Why Age Verification Won’t Work in Practice 26:08 Should the Government Regulate Children’s Social Media Use? 27:32 Algorithmic Bubbles and Teen Vulnerability 33:45 96% of Australian Children Ages 10-15 Use Social Media 34:55 Where to Draw the Line: 13, 16, or 18? 39:34 Parental Responsibility vs. Government Control 46:34 Closing Thoughts on Freedom, Parenting, and Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    52 min
  8. Episode 477: Your Future Self Hates You

    DEC 2

    Episode 477: Your Future Self Hates You

    In this episode, we open with a look at how news coverage distorts public perception of danger, from shark attacks to terrorism, and why our instincts so often fail to match the data. We analyze the betting markets in regards to potential 2028 GOP presidential candidates. We discuss Ohio’s new proposal to offer paternity testing at birth, raising deeper questions about truth, family, and whether the state should standardize knowledge people may prefer not to have. We explore what consent really means in modern politics, how taxation relates to self-ownership, and whether withdrawing consent is even possible inside a democratic system. We dig into the philosophy of “future selves,” weighing whether personal choices today can violate the rights of the person we eventually become, and how this idea might reshape debates about children, drug laws, responsibility, and property rights. We wrap with the growing implications of deepfake technology, including one startling clip that hits very close to home. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:31 America’s Real Causes of Death vs. Media Coverage 04:54 Heart Disease, Suicide, Homicide: Comparing Risk to Headlines 07:47 Terrorism Coverage and the Outlier Problem 09:27 Why Our Brains Misread Danger 11:48 New Ohio Bill on Paternity Testing 13:59 The Ethics of Mandatory vs. Optional Paternity Tests 17:05 PolyMarket Odds for 2028 GOP Presidential Candidates 21:48 What Yoga Can Teach Economists About Property Rights 23:31 Self-Ownership, Labor, and the Logic of Markets 27:01 Voting, Consent, and Withdrawing From the Regime 34:13 Environmental Ethics and “Not Stealing From the Earth” 36:23 Can You “Steal” From Your Future Self? 37:25 Identity Over Time: Are You the Same Person Decades Later? 42:08 Do Children Have Full Rights? And When Should They? 43:42 Drug Laws, Nanny States, and Personal Autonomy 45:21 Age Restrictions and the Problem of Arbitrary Lines 50:34 Should Your Future Self Be Considered a Separate Entity? 56:28 AI Voice Impersonation and AI Safety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 1m
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4.8
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About

Words & Numbers touches on issues of Economics, Political Science, Current Events and Policy. Each Wednesday we'll be sharing a new Words & Numbers podcast featuring Antony Davies Ph.D and James Harrigan Ph.D talking about the economics and political science of current events. Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcasts, learn more at civl.com

Information

  • Creator
    CiVL
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    489
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The show is a part of CiVL's network published with Creative Commons attribution.
  • Show Website
    Words & Numbers

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