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The Answer Is Transaction Costs

Michael Munger
Transaction Costs
Economics
Property Rights
Debt
Haggling
Liquidity
Baseball
Pricing Strategies
Cybersecurity
Energy Economics
Ransomware
Money As a Clearing Mechanism
Market Dynamics
Corner Crossing
Wrightsville Beach
5G Technology
Friedrich Hayek
Coase Theorem
Distributed Energy Resources
Smart Grid Technology

"The real price of everything is the toil and trouble of acquiring it." -Adam Smith (WoN, Bk I, Chapter 5)

In which the Knower of Important Things shows how transaction costs explain literally everything. Plus TWEJ, and answers to letters.If YOU have questions, submit them to our email at taitc.email@gmail.com There are two kinds of episodes here: 1. For the most part, episodes June-August are w... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes68Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for The Answer Is Transaction Costs

Latest Episodes

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We explore why money became the default middleman and how a modern platform can make barter practical by slashing the costs of search, matching, and trust. Founder Jassim Baqer shares the story behind Tbadel, what people actually trad... more

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Tracing out Adam Smith’s Book IV, chapters 1–6, to show how mercantilism mistakes money for wealth, how protection creates monopolies at home, and why free exchange raises real prosperity. Smith defends two narrow exceptions—defense a... more

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We trace how Adam Smith solves a historical puzzle: why Europe’s path to prosperity inverted the “natural order,” and how commerce quietly dissolved feudal power to make room for liberty. The story follows incentives, from primogenitu... more

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A conversation with Andrew Wagner, production and manufacturing engineer, now in aerospace, but with experience also in the auto industry.

We trace how transaction costs shape production, from Adam Smith’s pin factory to Toyota’s SME... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Wagner
A manufacturing engineer with 25 years of experience in aerospace.
Episode: Little's Law: The Transaction Costs of (Re)Drawing Lines
Chris Cornette
Longtime securities trader and financial market expert
Episode: The Innovation is the Exchange Itself!
Mikayla Novak
Senior fellow at the Mercatus Center with a background in economics and public finance.
Mercatus Center
Episode: Commerce and Sociology: Novak on Entangled Political Economy
G. Patrick Lynch
Senior Fellow at Liberty Fund, expert in public choice theory
Liberty Fund
Episode: The Paradox of Political Rationality: Lynch
John Green
Political scientist from Duke University's Political Science Department
Duke University
Episode: Curation Bubbles, Verification, and the Splintering of Ideology: Green
Peter Bettke
Distinguished university professor of economics at George Mason University, expert in the Soviet Union's economic history.
George Mason University
Episode: The Socialist Generation Debate: Boettke
Shruti Rajagopalan
Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center and Fellow at the Classical Liberal Institute at New York University School of Law.
Mercatus Center
Episode: Transaction Costs and Constitutions: India's Balancing Act, with Shruti Rajagopalan
Randall Holcombe
Professor at Florida State University, public choice scholar
Florida State University
Episode: Political Capitalism and the Power of Elites: Randall Holcombe
David Skarbek
A tenured professor in the political science department at Brown University and a scholar in the political economy tradition.
Brown University
Episode: Prison Gangs and Governance: David Skarbek

Host

Mike Munger
Knower of Important Things, Professor specializing in economics, particularly transaction costs and their implications in political economy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 115 ratings
  • Magnificent Munger

    Love his passion and ability to communicate economic ideas and theory so transparently.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Buchangus
    United States4 months ago
  • Love the Show; Don’t Change a Thing

    Love the show, Mike. And don’t listen to anyone who says you or your guests get too far off in the economic weeds sometimes: I learn so much and get a greater appreciation for the dismal science with every episode. Being a non-economist TAITC fan, it’s definitely a mental challenge to sort through the…intense…terminology use sometimes, but what an enlightening challenge it is.

    Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Agmcvet
    United States6 months ago
  • Incredibly thought provoking!

    I absolutely love TAITC. Numerous times have I gone out of listening to it with so much curiosity for the topics discussed. Almost every time I would read the title of the episode and be excited about the knowledge about to be imparted on me. Would highly recommend. Mike has influenced my thinking plenty of times!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon Blöthner
    Germanya year ago
  • Hunger for the munger

    I would love to see an avengers-style buddy action hero movie starring Mike Munger and Russ Roberts fighting against… well I don’t even know what but something where they explain everyday economics principles and wear capes! Love the podcast we need more Mike on the mic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jjiusbbbdhag
    United Statesa year ago
  • Munger Transactions Are Best

    You don’t want to miss this show with Munger making concise arguments for the importance of transaction costs in all we do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vance Ginn
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback highlights the depth of knowledge provided, although some have pointed out occasional audio quality issues. Overall, the audience seems to value the educational aspect of the discussions and the practical implications of transaction costs in understanding economic dynamics.
Listeners appreciate the clarity and engagement with complex economic topics, often citing Munger's ability to simplify intricate ideas. Many express admiration for his humor and unique style of connecting economics to everyday life. The show's format, alternating between short insights and longer interviews, keeps content fresh and appealing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Innovation is the Exchange Itself!
Q: How do you view the transition from specialist firms to high-frequency traders?
Cornette critiques the shift to HFT, noting that it has created a less ethical marketplace, lacking human interaction and trust.
The Innovation is the Exchange Itself!
Q: What was the problem that the exchange was an answer to?
Cornette explains that the exchange was established to organize the chaotic trading environment, improving the quality of transactions through exclusivity and rules.
The Innovation is the Exchange Itself!
Q: Chris, can you tell us about your background, where you grew up, and how you first encountered the Wall Street financial markets?
Chris shares that he was born on Staten Island, with his father working in various roles related to finance, eventually becoming a controller at a Stock Exchange specialist unit.
The Price of Pennies: Make or Buy?
Q: Why is grass seed so expensive?
Grass seed is more expensive than wheat due to factors like high germination rates, cultivar control, lower yield per acre, specialized harvest techniques, and more complex packaging and shipping.
Commerce and Sociology: Novak on Entangled Political Economy
Q: What inspired your journey to the Mercatus Center?
Mikayla described her connections and experiences leading to the opportunity, highlighting her desire to engage more deeply with political economy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Answer Is Transaction Costs

What is The Answer Is Transaction Costs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the concept of transaction costs, the content shed light on various economic principles, particularly those derived from Adam Smith's work. Episodes provide a blend of short insights and in-depth discussions, often featuring interviews with experts and scholars. Topics include political economy, mercantilism, the role of institutions, and the applications of economic theories in everyday life. The unique approach to discussing complex topics is both accessible and entertaining, appealing to listeners across different backgrounds with a keen interest in economics and decision-making processes.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Answer Is Transaction Costs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Answer Is Transaction Costs:

1. EconTalk
2. The Marginal Revolution Podcast
3. Conversations with Tyler
4. Macro Musings with David Beckworth
5. "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

How many episodes of The Answer Is Transaction Costs are there?

The Answer Is Transaction Costs launched 3 years ago and published 68 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Answer Is Transaction Costs?

Recent guests on The Answer Is Transaction Costs include:

1. Andrew Wagner
2. Chris Cornette
3. Mikayla Novak
4. G. Patrick Lynch
5. John Green
6. Peter Bettke
7. Shruti Rajagopalan
8. Randall Holcombe

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