New EconTalk Episode with Russ Roberts: Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Work, Slavery, the Minority Rule, and Skin in the Game

Nassim Nicholas Taleb talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the manuscript version of his forthcoming book, Skin in the Game. Topics discussed include the role of skin in the game in labor markets, the power of minorities, the Lindy effect, Taleb’s blind spots and regrets, and the politics of globalization.

Link to episode: http:// www. econ talk. org/ archives/ 2017/ 08/nassim_ nicholas_1. html

Direct Download Link: http:// files. liberty fund. org/ econtalk/ y2017/ Talebgame.mp3

[PODCAST] Nassim Taleb on EconTalk: Precautionary Principle and Genetically Modified Organisms

econ-talk-library-of-economics-and-liberty-nassim-taleb

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile, Black Swan, and Fooled by Randomness, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about a recent co-authored paper on the risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of the Precautionary Principle. Taleb contrasts harm with ruin and explains how the differences imply different rules of behavior when dealing with the risk of each. Taleb argues that when considering the riskiness of GMOs, the right understanding of statistics is more valuable than expertise in biology or genetics. The central issue that pervades the conversation is how to cope with a small non-negligible risk of catastrophe.

Link: Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the Precautionary Principle and Genetically Modified Organisms

EconTalk with Russ Roberts: Taleb on Skin in the Game

econ-talk-library-of-economics-and-liberty-nassim-talebNassim Taleb of NYU-Poly talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his recent paper (with Constantine Sandis) on the morality and effectiveness of “skin in the game.” When decision makers have skin in the game–when they share in the costs and benefits of their decisions that might affect others–they are more likely to make prudent decisions than in cases where decision-makers can impose costs on others. Taleb sees skin in the game as not just a useful policy concept but a moral imperative. The conversation closes with some observations on the power of expected value for evaluating predictions along with Taleb’s thoughts on economists who rarely have skin in the game when they make forecasts or take policy positions.

Website: http:// www. econtalk. org/ archives/ 2013/ 09/ taleb_ on_ skin_i. html
Direct Link (mp3): http:// files. liberty fund. org/ econtalk / y2013 /Taleb skin. mp3
Link to the Paper: http:// papers. ssrn. com/ sol3/ papers.cfm? abstract_id= 2298292