Ep. 10 Veronique de Rugy

Episode Title: We Made This Political – Parenting, Policy, and the French-American ExperienceHosts: Lura Forcum & Lauren HallGuest: Veronique de Rugy, Senior Research Fellow, Economist, and French-American parentAbout Our Guest:Veronique de Rugy is a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where she also holds a chair in economics. Originally from France, she earned her PhD in economics there before moving to the United States to complete her dissertation at George Mason. Veronique is a leading expert on budgetary and tax issues, government spending, and cronyism, and has worked at prominent policy organizations including the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. She is a prolific writer and commentator, known for her clear, data-driven analysis and her advocacy for free markets and limited government. In addition to her policy work, Veronique brings a unique perspective as a French-American parent raising two daughters in the US.Episode Summary:In this episode, Lura and Lauren are joined by Veronique de Rugy for a candid conversation about parenting, policy, and the cultural contrasts between French and American approaches to raising children. Veronique shares her journey from France to the US, her experiences as an economist and policy expert, and the challenges and surprises of raising two daughters in America.Timestamps & Highlights:* 00:00 – Introduction: Meet the hosts and today’s guest, Veronique de Rugy* 01:00 – Veronique’s background: From France to the US, economics, and policy work* 03:15 – Raising children in America: French heritage, language, and identity* 05:30 – French vs. American parenting: Sleep training, boundaries, and guilt* 13:00 – Navigating cultural expectations and finding a parenting style that works for everyone* 16:00 – The role of guilt, enrichment, and “doing it all” in modern parenting* 22:00 – Nature vs. nurture, resilience, and the limits of parental control* 29:00 – Implicit vs. explicit rules in families and society* 34:00 – How systems (education, healthcare) shape family life and individual choices* 44:00 – COVID-19, education, and the tension between what’s best for kids vs. the system* 54:00 – The realities of working parents, guilt, and making it all work* 1:05:00 – Adulthood, parenting through transitions, and the lifelong role of parents* 1:09:00 – The joys and challenges of parenting, declining fertility, and what we wish we could communicate to future parents* 1:13:00 – Final thoughts: Parenting as a transformative, humbling, and deeply meaningful experienceMentioned in this episode:* Brian Kaplan’s book Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids* Catherine Pakaluk’s book Hannah’s Children* The impact of COVID-19 on education and family lifeJoin us!Find something interesting? Leave us a comment and share the podcast with friends!And if you haven’t already, subscribe for more conversations about flourishing, family, and the politics of everyday life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com