66 episodes

Through long-form interviews with economists, policymakers and other guests, The New Bazaar explores how the economy is constantly altering the way we live -- and how our choices in life are reflected back into the economy. Hosted by Cardiff Garcia and produced by Aimee Keane, The New Bazaar is a production of Bazaar Audio. 
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The New Bazaar Bazaar Audio

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 254 Ratings

Through long-form interviews with economists, policymakers and other guests, The New Bazaar explores how the economy is constantly altering the way we live -- and how our choices in life are reflected back into the economy. Hosted by Cardiff Garcia and produced by Aimee Keane, The New Bazaar is a production of Bazaar Audio. 
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Immigration and the border: the real story

    Immigration and the border: the real story

    When people talk about the crisis at the border between the US and Mexico, what specifically are they referring to?
    The Department of Homeland Security keeps track of a statistic called “border encounters” at the US border with Mexico. This includes primarily the large number of people who try to cross the border without documentation, or illegally, and aren't crossing at a formal port of entry. It also includes people who do try to cross the border at a port of entry but who are then found not eligible to be admitted into the US. 
    In the past three years, under the Biden administration, the number of these border encounters each year has been more than quadruple the average of what it was throughout most of the previous decade, under the Trump and Obama administrations. 
    The system for processing all these migrants has been entirely overwhelmed. And if you’re a politician or a pundit or someone else pushing an agenda, the temptation is to make it political. To argue that this is either all Joe Biden’s fault for being "too soft" on immigration, or the fault of Donald Trump for not fixing the problem sooner, or Congress for refusing to collaborate on a bill that would address the issue.
    Today’s guest does something different altogether. Andrew Selee is the head of the Migration Policy Institute, or MPI, which is the think tank Cardiff turns to when he wants factual, nonpartisan, non-stupid commentary on immigration—but especially when he just wants to inform himself on the topic outside the nonsense of how debates on immigration tend to play out in public.
    So Cardiff speaks with Andrew about the real, fundamental reasons behind the crisis at the border, and what can be done about it.
    They also talk about legal immigration, which despite many problems has actually been a kind of quiet success of recent years.
    Other topics they discuss include the two eras of border management, the multi-layered effects of the pandemic on immigration, and a new idea for how to reform immigration to become more responsive to the needs of the US labor market.
    Related links:
    Biden at the Three-Year MarkShifting Realities at the U.S.-Mexico BorderMigration at the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Challenge Decades in the MakingA New Way Forward for Employment-Based Immigration: The Bridge Visa
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    • 55 min
    If econs could hoop

    If econs could hoop

    Who is the Magic Johnson of economics? Who was the Adam Smith of basketball?
    On this fun and oddball episode of The New Bazaar, Cardiff speaks with Tyler Cowen, economist and author of GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter?

    Inspired by the sportswriter Bill Simmons, Tyler wrote his book from the standpoint of a fan—having fun, taking sides, admitting biases, unapologetically trying to entertain the reader instead of presenting sober (boring) analysis.
    Cardiff and Tyler—both huge basketball fans—first discuss Tyler's ranking of the great economists and his lament for what economics used to be. Tyler also gives his reasons for releasing the book as a ChatGPT trained on its text, the first such book of its kind.
    Then begins the fun. They take turns finding analogs for the great economists from the history of the NBA. And they do the same in reverse for basketball's own GOATs. Which economist changed the nature of the field similar to the way Steph Curry set off the three-point revolution? Is there an economist whose comprehensive genius rivaled the ability of LeBron James to engineer exactly the outcome he wants on the court? What basketball player matched the charisma, brilliance, and even investment success of Keynes?
    And why does Cardiff argue that Tyler himself is the Charles Barkley of economists despite their differences in personality, size, and other obvious dimensions?
    All throughout the chat, Tyler and Cardiff are exploring the common traits that define greatness in both hoops, the social sciences, and perhaps other domains. A treat for fans of either economics or hoops, or who simply enjoy the virtues of fandom itself.
    Related links:
    GOATMarginal RevolutionThe Book of BasketballThe Kobe Question
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    • 53 min
    Hoop dreams of electric sheep

    Hoop dreams of electric sheep

    Seth Stephens-Davidowitz has unusually written an unusual book.
    The data analysis included in "Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions" normally would have taken Seth, a trained economist, multiple years of writing and running code. But because of new artificial intelligence tools, he finished the book in just thirty days. And he used AI tools not just for the coding, but also for the artwork, copy editing, and even to write the appendix.
    He discusses with Cardiff the lessons he learned about using AI, and what such accelerated productivity might mean for the future of the labor market.
    Then they discuss the actual findings in the book, an investigation into the backgrounds of the basketball players who make it to the NBA and succeed when they get there. How much of success is genetic? What accounts for the NBA's market failures—the traits of players who get paid too much and too little relative to their contributions? Why do some foreign countries have such astonishing success at sending players to the NBA? Does the choice of college really matter for future success?
    The answers to these questions are surprisingly revealing about the experiences of non-basketball players, and about the relationships between luck, skill, parenting, undiscovered talent, the economy, and other familiar variables.
    Related links:
    Seth's home pageWho Makes the NBA? (Amazon page)

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    • 1 hr
    A glimpse inside Biden’s CEA

    A glimpse inside Biden’s CEA

    Martha Gimbel and Gopi Shah Goda were formerly economists within the White House Council of Economic Advisors, or CEA. 
    They look back on their time inside an important economic policymaking institution, telling Cardiff about:

    Their favorite projectsToughest assignmentsThe relationship between CEA and other economic policymakersThe difference between academia and policy work What they might change about itCommon misconceptions about the work of economists
    And Martha clears up a big misunderstanding about an infamous graph controversy. All this and more!


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    • 1 hr 4 min
    Angus Deaton on life in America

    Angus Deaton on life in America

    Angus Deaton—Scottish immigrant, Nobelist, and one of Cardiff's favorite economists—has written a new, forthcoming book titled Economics in America: An Immigrant Economist Explore the Land of Inequality.
    It’s great, if also hard to categorize.
    Partly it’s a memoir, about his humble origins in Scotland, where he was born; his studies at Cambridge with better-heeled peers; and his subsequent decades as a Princeton University, Nobel Prize winning economist.
    The book is also partly a reflection on a lifetime of practicing economics, and the good and bad of the economics profession. There's plenty of both.
    And finally it’s a series of observations about the American economy, including a fascinating self-analysis of his own ambivalence towards the US, his adopted country—the many great things here, including the lives that he and his family have led; and also, yes, some of the devastatingly grim things about life here for so many others. 
    Related links:
    Economics in America, by Angus Deaton (available for pre-order)The Great Escape, by Angus DeatonMortality and the economy, featuring Anne Case and Angus Deaton

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    • 1 hr 12 min
    Malcolm Gladwell's Next Chapter

    Malcolm Gladwell's Next Chapter

    Last summer, Cardiff interviewed Malcolm Gladwell for another podcast that he hosts called The Next Chapter, by American Express Business Class. 
    On that show, Cardiff interviews bestselling book authors (like Gladwell) to find out what they’ve been up to since their earlier book was published, and to learn what they would add to it now that some time has passed—hence the “Next Chapter” of the title.
    And in the case of Gladwell, what he’s been up to in the last few years is podcasting. Specifically, he co-founded Pushkin Industries, a podcast production company for which he hosts his own excellent show, called Revisionist History, and has written an audiobook, The Bomber Mafia.
    As it happens, Gladwell and Cardiff have the same favorite dead economist, Albert O Hirschman. And since Hirschman comes up a few times in their chat, and because the chat also covers a number of fascinating economic themes generally, it's the perfect episode to also air on The New Bazaar. The chat was recorded at Gladwell’s offices in Hudson, New York, last year. 
    And if you like the episode and want to hear more of these interviews, please consider subscribing to The Next Chapter on your podcast app of choice. There you'll find other interviews hosted by Cardiff with guests like Adam Grant on how to think creatively; David Epstein on why it’s good to be a generalist; Susan Cain on introversion; and Mashama Bailey and John O Morisano on entrepreneurship and partnership in business. 
    Here's a few places where you can find the show: 
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ILMYVnqfO0g9aVkFFqfa2?si=4eef0597c6f4466d
     
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-chapter-by-american-express-business-class/id1627810508
    Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-next-chapter-by-american-express-business-class
    Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9aODFMX0ZldA

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    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
254 Ratings

254 Ratings

SaulMcCall ,

Succinct, insightful, and amazing clear

This is a really insightful podcast. First, I’ll confess, I’m not an economist. I do, however, seek to understand the world we live in. The New Bazaar arrived at the right time for me - conflicting economic projections, inflation, recession, etc. - and I feel like I need to thank Cardiff Garcia. I find the topic selection to be unique but consequential. His analysis is succinct and penetrating. His conversations and his guests provide real insight into the complex issues that shape our world. Issues that I readily admit I need help hacking through. This podcast goes a long way in helping me fill in my intellectual blindspots, and has given me support when seeking to understand the huge economic forces that influence my daily life. Can’t recommend it enough.

EMB Reviewer ,

Fascinating topics & deep questions, while still being accessible

This podcast really stands out from the crowd. Such incisive interviews. You can tell how much prep Cardiff must put into the interviews - his questions are always incredibly thoughtful, full of context, and teach me something in and of themselves while also eliciting gold from the guests. Best long form economics podcast!

kcollett ,

Top Quality

I thought Cardiff was an amazing co-host of The Indicator. I was sad to hear he was leaving that show, but The New Bazaar more than makes up for it. His choice of guests and topics is excellent; I especially love how his questions help tease complicated subjects apart in a way that makes them easier to understand. And the production is top-notch. Well worth your time.

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