Backstory: Nathan Nunn on Zero-Sum Environments, the Evolution of Beliefs, and Development

Join Riccardo as he talks to Nathan Nunn about his paper “Zero‑Sum Environments, the Evolution of Effort‑Suppressing Beliefs, and Economic Development.” They explore how Nathan’s idea‑generation process has evolved over the years, the value of reading beyond economics, and the challenges and rewards of bringing insights from other disciplines into economic research. Nathan also offers a behind‑the‑scenes perspective on what it’s like to break new ground in economics and how that shapes both the questions we ask and the way we measure them. Finally, he shares insights from his role as an editor at the Quarterly Journal of Economics, sharing tips about the publication process.Here is a link to the working paper, coauthored with Augustin Bergeron, Jean-Paul Carvalho, Joseph Henrich, & Jonathan L. Weigel: https://www.nber.org/papers/w31663