Qualified Opinions

Host Veronique De Rugy is joined by Jessica Melugin, Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, for a deep dive into the shifting landscape of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The conversation explores: The Legacy of Lina Khan: How the Biden-era FTC expanded merger filing rules (HSR Act) to increase compliance burdens, and why a Texas federal court recently struck them down. The Horseshoe (or "Shoe Horse"?) Theory: A discussion on the surprising ideological overlap between the populist left and populist right, specifically regarding "America First" antitrust policies and increased government intervention. A Changing Commission: An analysis of current FTC Chair Ferguson, his ties to Vice President JD Vance, and the agency's unprecedented level of direct White House influence. Constitutional Shifts: The impact of recent Supreme Court decisions like Loper Bright (overturning Chevron deference) and the ongoing debate over the President's power to fire independent agency commissioners at will.

Vero is joined by colleagues Rebecca Lowe, a political philosopher, and Henry Oliver, a literary critic, to discuss their new project, The Pursuit of Liberalism. While the liberal order—built on free markets, free speech, and the rule of law—has delivered more for human flourishing than any other system, many feel it is currently "losing the argument". The trio explores whether this is because the defense of liberalism has been narrowed down to economics and legal theory, neglecting the deeper questions of meaning, dignity, and the human soul. Key topics discussed include: The "Vibe Contest": Why liberalism often sounds "stuffy and old-fashioned" compared to the rising influence of post-liberal and "New Right" movements. The Legacy of Adam Smith: A debate on whether Smith was a better economist or philosopher, and how his original breadth of thought (covering everything from astronomy to moral sentiments) has been lost to modern academic specialization. Specialists vs. Generalists: The costs of over-specialization in economics and why we need more thinkers who can bridge the gap between policy and culture. Pluralism and Choice: Drawing on Isaiah Berlin's idea that there are many "good" ways to live and that liberalism's true value lies in the freedom to choose between them. The Future of Freedom: Why politics is downstream of culture and the challenge of passing liberal values on to a new generation. About the Guests: Rebecca Lowe is a political philosopher and Henry Oliver is a literary critic. Both are based at the Mercatus Center and are the founders of the Substack project, The Pursuit of Liberalism.

In this episode, Vero De Rugy sits down with Paul Mueller and Dave Hebert, senior research fellows at AIER, to discuss trade and national security. The conversation dives deep into the complex—and often manipulated—tension between market efficiency and national defense. While free traders acknowledge legitimate security exceptions, the trio explores how "national security" is frequently used as a pretext for protectionist policies that come with a steep, often hidden, economic price tag. Key highlights of the discussion include: Vigilante Justice on the World Stage: Paul and Dave discuss their "Batman" analogy for current trade policy—exploring the consequences of bypassing international norms like the WTO to "dole out justice" through unilateral tariffs. The China Dilemma: A look at whether "decoupling" from the Chinese economy is a realistic goal or a demographic and logistical impossibility. The Net Assessment of the Current Administration: Vero proposes a provocative theory: Could the "background" wins in energy deregulation, AI framework, and crypto policy outweigh the "foreground" chaos of trade wars and market uncertainty? The Cost of Credibility: Why market uncertainty and capricious policy shifts might be more damaging to long-term growth than the actual tariffs themselves. Whether you are interested in the granular details of the WTO enforcement mechanisms or the broader philosophical questions of individualism versus the new collectivism, this episode offers a candid look at the trade-offs required for American prosperity in a globalized world.

As Social Security approaches its 90th anniversary, the program faces a looming identity crisis and a massive fiscal deadline. In this episode, host Veronique De Rugy sits down with Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute and co-author of Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes. Together, they dismantle the most persistent myths surrounding the U.S. retirement system, from the "lockbox" illusion to the reality of the 2032 trust fund depletion. Romina explains why a program designed in the era of the Great Depression is struggling to keep pace with modern capital markets and 21st-century life expectancy. Key topics discussed in this episode include: The Pay-As-You-Go Reality: Why 1 in 4 Americans believe they have a personal account, and the truth about intergovernmental IOUs. The 2032 Deadline: How recent legislative changes have accelerated the timeline for automatic benefit cuts. Lessons from Abroad: How countries like Sweden and Canada successfully modernized their systems by leaning into private accounts and flexible savings. Universal Savings Accounts (USAs): A proposal to fix the "double taxation" on savings and empower lower-income workers without the sting of early withdrawal penalties. This conversation offers a candid look at how we can move beyond "tweaks" to build a more secure financial future.

In this episode, Veronique de Rugy and Luke Foster peel back the layers of the "French political soul," and explore the intellectual roots of the Franco-American relationship.  Foster, a professor and co-founder of Academia Tocqueville, argues that Tocqueville's emphasis on civil society as a check on central power remains the ultimate diagnostic tool for modern governance. De Rugy and Foster also discuss the high stakes of 21st-century geopolitics, centered on Foster's recent critique of the NATO alliance, "We Need Friends, Not Flatterers." They dissect the Gaullist concept of strategic autonomy, questioning whether the American security umbrella has inadvertently stunted European state capacity and led to a "crowding out" of defense spending by the welfare state.  From France's nuclear grid to the surprising efficiency of its fiscal bureaucracy, De Rugy and Foster challenge the assumption that the American model is always more efficient, ultimately calling for a partnership built on honest realism rather than convenient dependence.  

Host Veronique De Rugy is joined by Peter Boettke to discuss his recent work on the "marvel" of the market and why modern economics has lost its way. Centered on F.A. Hayek's landmark essay, The Use of Knowledge in Society, this episode explores how prices serve as a vital vehicle for learning and coordination that no top-down planner can replicate. They discuss the transition of economics from a tool for "social understanding" to a failed instrument of "social control" and the dangerous consequences of treating economic science like "social physics".

This episode of Qualified Opinions features a provocative discussion with Russ Greene on the topic of "Total Boomer Luxury Communism." It's a system where wealth is systematically transferred from younger, less affluent generations to the most prosperous cohort in US history through entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.  Vera and Russ dive into the structural unfairness of age-based benefits, explaining how the pay-as-you-go system, coupled with misleading "property rights" language, burdens current workers with debt, inflation, and a compounding housing crisis—all to sustain benefits for seniors, regardless of their net worth. Discover the hidden mechanics behind this intergenerational transfer and why many Americans are shocked by the reality of these programs.  

Dive into a provocative discussion with host Veronique De Rugy, John Cochrane, author of The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level, and Tom Hoenig, a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Veronique and guests challenge the notion of Federal Reserve independence, arguing that independence is not an absolute virtue, but a limited grant tied to obeying strict rules—namely, sticking to inflation and employment. They explore the history of independence, arguing its true purpose is a pre-commitment against the temptation to print money to monetize government deficits. You'll hear why restoring the Fed's limited mandate may be more crucial than its independence alone. Hoenig and Cochrane provide a crucial historical perspective, detailing how the Fed has "failed in many ways and exceeded its authority." Hoenig argues the Fed violated its primary mandate by effectively monetizing massive government debt through quantitative easing and keeping interest rates at zero, enabling increased fiscal spending and resulting in widespread inflation (including asset inflation). The episode draws parallels to the 1951 Fed-Treasury Accord as a past example of reestablishing boundaries. Learn how the current refusal of the Fed leadership to address fiscal policy and the deficit echoes a dangerous pattern, and why the solution must come from Congress being crystal clear about the Fed's limited role.

As the Supreme Court reviews one of the most consequential economic and constitutional cases in decades, questions loom over how the president can wield emergency powers to reshape trade policy. At the center of this debate is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPA) and its use by President Trump to impose tariffs. Today, Veronique sits down with Donald J. Boudreaux, Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center and economics professor at George Mason University, and Scott Lincicome, Vice President of General Economics at the Cato Institute and adjunct professor at Duke Law School. Together, they explore what is truly at stake: not only the future of U.S. trade policy, but the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.

Today, Brian Albrecht joins Qualified Opinions to discuss his recent writings on tariffs, why economists find them uniquely frustrating, and how simple supply and demand principle still does a remarkable job at predicting the effects of policies. Brian Albrecht is the Chief Economist at the International Center for Law & Economics.

Graduate student unions are on the rise, and they're not like the workers' unions of the 1950s and 1960s—they are something all their own. At the heart of these unions sit many of the issues sending our universities into decay: social justice activism, radical politics, and woke culture. Jon Hartley joins to discuss the battle against these institutions. Jon Hartley is an economist specializing in finance, labor economics, and macroeconomics. He is currently a Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution, an economics PhD Candidate at Stanford University, a Research Fellow at the UT-Austin Civitas Institute, and an Affiliated Scholar at the Mercatus Center. Jon is also the host of the Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century Podcast, an official podcast of the Hoover Institution

Free market ideas are waning on both sides of the aisle in modern American politics, but the justifications for this sit on shaky ground. In The Triumph of Economic Freedom, Donald Boudreaux and Phil Gramm debunk seven economic myths about American Capitalism. Donald Boudreaux joins the show today to discuss. Donald Boudreaux is a Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center, Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and one of the most compelling public defenders of free market principles.

How much do people understand about the budget? How about the tax system, or Social Security? With new budget proposals being unveiled and John Thune eager to get a budget passed before July 4th, Vero sits down with Danny Heil and Tom Church from the Hoover Institution to break through the noise about this complicated process. Danny Heil is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution whose focus is on the federal budget, tax policy, and the federal antipoverty programs. Tom Church is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution. He studies health care policy, entitlement reform, income inequality, poverty, and the federal budget.

If you've ever wondered why the federal government is in the business of running your local school district from 3,000 miles away, you're not alone. In fact, the idea that education policy should be dictated by Washington, DC, rather than parents, teachers, and communities was never a given in American life and most of our nation's history. It wasn't fully a reality until 1980, when the Department of Education was established. However, a new Trump administration proposal to eliminate the Department of Education could change this. Lindsey Burke joined the show to discuss the prospect of the federal government taking a backseat in American education and how they took the driver's seat to begin with. As Director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Lindsey Burke oversees Heritage's research and policy on issues pertaining to preschool, K-12, and higher education reform.

When we think of the gig economy, we think of its compartments. We might imagine an Uber driver shuttling people around town, or the DoorDash delivery person who brings us our Chinese food. But is it more complicated than this? Who are the people behind these careers? Are policymakers missing the mark when building legislation around independent workers? Liya Palagashvili joins Veronique to discuss. Liya Palagashvili is a senior research fellow and director of the Labor Policy Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

From grant cutting to staff firing, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has made a lot of noise in recent weeks. But there is another side of DOGE, one committed to deregulation. Joining the podcast today to discuss is James Broughel. Dr. James Broughel is a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Dr. Broughel is an accomplished economist whose expertise lies in regulatory institutions and the impact of regulations on economic growth.

Across the political spectrum, free enterprise is under seige. From the left, we see calls for wealth redistribution, aggressive regulation, and ever-expanding entitlement programs. From the right, we are witnessing growing trade protectionism and government intervention in the economy. Today, we are diving into the most pressing economic issue of our time: the future of free markets in America. Joining Qualified Opinions today is Dr. Samuel Gregg and Richard Reinsch to discuss. Samuel Gregg is the Friedrich Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic History at the American Institute for Economic Research. He has a D.Phil. in moral philosophy and political economy from Oxford University, and an M.A. in political philosophy from the University of Melbourne. Richard M. Reinsch II is editor-in-chief of the Civitas Institute's Civitas Outlook. He was the founding editor of the online magazine Law & Liberty. Before joining Civitas, he was the editor in chief and director of publications of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). ‍

Earlier this month, Donald Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada, along with their retaliatory tariffs, were paused for one month after a deal was made. But with that month coming to an end soon, tariffs will be back on the table.  Today, Veronique de Rugy sits down with Erica York to discuss the economics of these tariffs. Erica York is Vice President of Federal Tax Policy with Tax Foundation's Center for Federal Tax Policy. She previously worked as an auditor at a large community bank in Kansas and interned at Tax Foundation's Center for State Tax Policy.

With some provisions of the 2017 tax cuts set to expire in 2025, legislators are scrambling to make sure their preferred cuts are getting an extension. Add to that Donald Trump's demand for no taxes on tips and you are left with a very uncertain future for taxation policy. What should we expect? Adam Michel joins to discuss. Adam N. Michel is director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, where he focuses on analyzing the economic and budgetary effects of taxation in the United States.

For the first time since Grover Cleveland, Donald Trump has been sworn in for his second non-consecutive term—and in many ways, he is off to a much different start than his first administration. What do these initial days tell us about what to expect over the next four years? Joining the show today is Dominic Pino to discuss. Dominic is a Thomas J. Rhodes Journalism Fellow at the National Review Institute and host of AIER's Econception podcast.

Healthcare spending is the single largest item in the federal budget and the fastest-growing one, too. It is the main driver of our future debt. Reform isn't just necessary but urgent. Vero is joined today by two of the sharpest minds in healthcare policy to discuss solutions. Michael F. Cannon is the Cato Institute's director of health policy studies. Washingtonian magazine named Cannon one of Washington, DC's Most Influential People in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Cannon was previously a domestic policy analyst for the US Senate Republican Policy Committee, where he advised the Senate leadership on health, education, labor, welfare, and the Second Amendment. Brian Blase, Ph.D., is the President of Paragon Health Institute. Brian was Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the White House's National Economic Council (NEC) from 2017-2019, where he coordinated the development and execution of numerous health policies and advised the President, NEC director, and senior officials.

It can be intimidating to wrap your head around the relationship between healthcare, government, and the economy. From finances to regulation, the web is complex and wide-spanning. Joining Qualified Opinions today to make better sense of this is Michael F. Cannon. Cannon is the Cato Institute's director of health policy studies. Washingtonian magazine named Cannon one of Washington, DC's Most Influential People in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The Department of Government Efficiency is being tasked with reining in the frivolous government spending we have all grown to know as "the norm." But where should those cuts be made? Alex Nowrasteh and Chris Edwards joined the show to discuss a new report from the Cato Institute that outlines where the waste is and how to cut it. Alex Nowrasteh is the vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute.  Chris Edwards occupies the Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies at the Cato Institute and is the editor of Down​siz​ing​Gov​ern​ment​.org.  Read the report.

At the end of 2024, the United States' national debt has ballooned to $36 trillion, and the budget deficit hovers over $2 trillion. With spending only having the prospect of going up, the U.S. financial situation to be even more dire in 10 years, likely climbing another $22 trillion. Is there any way out of this crisis? Economic economist Joshua Rauh and policy researcher Jack Salmon joined Vero today to discuss. Joshua Rauh is the Ormond Family Professor of Finance at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He leads the Hoover Institution State and Local Government Initiative. Jack Salmon is the director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable. In Jack's current role, he supports the Policy and Government Affairs team with research, commentary and analysis on issues facing the charitable sector and philanthropic freedom.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are coming to Washington, DC, intending to cut $2 trillion in wasteful federal spending. Together, they will form the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This ambitious project opens up many questions, and Tom Church and Danny Heil are joining Vero today to discuss. Tom Church is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he studies health care policy, entitlement reform, income inequality, poverty, and the federal budget. Daniel Heil is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution whose focus is on the federal budget, tax policy, and federal antipoverty programs.

AIER Director of Research Samuel Gregg joins Qualified Opinions to discuss the fracturing of the conservative and libertarian movements, where free markets and ordered liberty go from here, and his new book, The Next American Economy.

Donald Trump's win marks the first time a Republican has won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. What does this decisive election mean? How closely related are the political and policy realities? What can we expect under a Trump administration, and will Democrats make significant shifts in their own policy initiatives? Join Veronique de Rugy, Dominic Pino, and Akash Chougule break down the election and what we can expect under the new Trump administration.

Of the cherished liberties of a free society, economic liberty holds a special place. Personal choice, voluntary exchange, and the protection of private property sustain our political and civil liberties. Matt Mitchell joins the show today to discuss economic freedom and a new index from the Fraser Institute that maps economic freedom around the world. Matthew D. Mitchell is a Senior Fellow in the Centre for Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute. Prior to joining the Fraser Institute, Mitchell was a long-serving senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he remains an affiliated senior scholar.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely already heard of Project 2025—but what is actually in it, should you care about it, and how much of it would a potential Republican government actually be capable of executing? Stephanie Slade recently wrote an article for Reason breaking it down, and today, she joins Veronique to discuss it. Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason, the magazine of "free minds and free markets," and a fellow in liberal studies at the Acton Institute. Her writing has appeared in America magazine, The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, the Online Library of Liberty, and elsewhere. She covers the intersection of religion and politics. Project 2025 Is No Match for MAGA Dysfunction

Though there have been several union wins in recent years, union membership is at historic lows. Where do unions fit in the future of America? Will they continue to decline, or will they see a comeback? How will automation play a role? Vinnie Vernuccio joins Qualified Opinions to discuss. Vincent Vernuccio, president and co-founder of the Institute for the American Worker, brings over 15 years of expertise in labor law and policy. Vernuccio holds advisory positions with several organizations, including senior fellow with the Mackinac Center.

Many Americans have forgotten about Grover Cleveland—but William Ruger believes Cleveland's legacy of bridging the gap between populism and classical liberalism is increasingly relevant to today's polarized political climate. William Ruger serves as the President of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off this week in the second Presidential Debate—and it was as lively as you'd expect. But when we cut through the noise, what do we see in terms of policy and programs? What policy direction would each candidate take the country? National Review Institute fellow Dominic Pino and Americans for Prosperity Vice President Akash Chougule join Veronique to break it down on this special episode of Qualified Opinions.

Joining the show today is Vance Ginn. Vance is the founder and president of Ginn Economic Consulting, where he leverages data-driven insights to shape economic policy discussions across the nation.  Over the course of the show, Veronique and Vance discuss state and local government spending, federal spending, and the connection between the two.

The right and the left seem to have a lot of opinions about women and fertility, most of them not super productive. What would be a productive way to approach these conversations? Veronique is joined by Clara Piano, Susannah Barnes, and Anna Claire Flowers to discuss.

For all the buzz about the Harris Walz 2024 campaign, the policy substance of the campaign has been light to non-existent thus far. What would policy look like under a Kamala Harris presidential administration? In this special episode of Qualified Opinions, Veronique sits down with Dominic Pino and Akash Chougule to break down the potential policy direction of Harris and what we saw at the DNC this week. Dominic Pino is Thomas L. Rhodes Journalism Fellow at the National Review Institute and the host of AIER's Econception Podcast. Akash is the Deputy Director of Policy at Americans for Prosperity.

As we navigate an era where corporate influence and political power are more intertwined, scrutinized, and tense than ever, Veronique de Rugy dives into the fascinating intersection of politics and business with her guest, Tevi Troy. Tevi Troy is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a best-selling author. See his latest book, released August 20th, The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a debate dividing conservatives. One side views IVF as a family-supporting technology that helps couples struggling with fertility, while the other side argues that IVF raises moral concerns about the sanctity of human life. What should we make of the debate? Vanessa Brown Calder joins Veronique de Rugy to discuss in this episode of Qualified Opinions. Vanessa Brown Calder is director of opportunity and family policy studies at the Cato Institute, where she focuses on policies that support family and increase opportunity.

What are the preconditions for a functional liberal democracy? How have our institutions lost their way? How can our divisive culture be put on the right track again? Yuval Levin joins the show to discuss. Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founder and editor of National Affairs, he is also a senior editor at The New Atlantis, a contributing editor at National Review, and a contributing opinion writer at New York Times.

Randy Barnett joins host Veronique de Rugy today to discuss the future of originalism, individual liberty, and his latest book, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist. Randy E. Barnett is the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at the Georgetown University Law Center and is the Faculty Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution.

The attempt on Donald Trump's life has shocked the country—so much so that the Director of the Secret Service has resigned. The shock and fear are understandable, given this is the first major assassination attempt since Ronald Reagan. But how does the modern period compare to the rest of American history? What can we learn from assassination attempts in the past, and how do they differ from now? Tevi Troy joins Veronique de Rugy to discuss. Tevi Troy is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and a best-selling presidential historian. Show Notes: Article: Another Chapter in a Grim History Book : Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump  

With protectionist policy on the rise both to the left and the right of American politics, we are left with a burning question: What happened to the free trade consensus? This week, Veronique de Rugy sits down with Scott Lincicome to discuss the modern state of trade policy and global economics. Scott Lincicome is the Cato Institute's Vice President of General Economics and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies. 

Joining Qualified Opinions today is Nancy French, who discusses the changing political landscape, her career path, and being the writer behind the name. Nancy French is a best-selling ghostwriter and author of her memoir, Ghosted: An American Story. 

To expand or not to expand the child tax credit is a key issue that consumes a lot of ink on the right and on the left. What is the best path forward? Kevin Corinth sits down with host Veronique de Rugy to discuss. Kevin Corinth is a senior fellow and the deputy director of the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he researches economic mobility, poverty, safety net programs, homelessness, social capital, and other issues.

Is inflation really the product of greed? Do greater economic means equal less incentive for competition? What is the right approach to antitrust policy? Veronique de Rugy sits down with Brian Albrecht to discuss. Brian Albrecht is Chief Economist of the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE), which he joined in February 2022. In his role, he is responsible for the application and integration of theoretical and empirical economic methodologies into ICLE's research.

America's economic dynamism attracts immigrants from all over the world and has served as a beacon of hope for decades—however, today, Americans are more pessimistic about the future than ever. What can be done about it? Host Veronique de Rugy sits down with Jeremy Horpedahl to discuss. Dr. Horpedahl is the Director of ACRE and an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas. His research has been published in Econ Journal Watch, Constitutional Political Economy, the Atlantic Economic Journal, Public Choice, and Public Finance and Management.

The New Right and the Old Right are increasingly the major factions of conservatism today. Where do they diverge? And are there seldom spoken areas of convergence? Joining Veronique de Rugy is Charles Kesler, who will explore the landscape of American conservatism today.  Charles Kesler is a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, Editor of the Claremont Review of Books, host of Claremont's The American Mind video series, and the Dengler-Dykema Distinguished Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College.

With Social Security and Medicare set to become insolvent in less than 10 years, the federal government is becoming increasingly desperate for new sources of revenue. The new big idea is to raise money by ending the tax treatment of 401k and other tax-deferred retirement plans. Veronique de Rugy sits down with Jason Fichtner to discuss the threat this poses to America's future retirement savings.  Jason J. Fichtner is Chief Economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center and Executive Director of the Retirement Income Institute, Alliance for Lifetime Income.    

How real is greedflation? Do women actually pay a pink tax? Do price controls actually help make things more affordable? These are the questions Ryan Bourne seeks to answer with Veronique de Rugy on this episode of Qualified Opinions. Ryan Bourne is the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at Cato and is the author of several books, including Economics In One Virus and The War on Prices. He also writes in many notable publications on topics including fiscal policy, inequality, minimum wage, infrastructure spending, the cost of living, and rent control.

In a world increasingly tangled in regulatory red tape and bureaucratic inertia, many across the country have stood up to address the issue of housing shortages and affordability. The "Yes in My Back Yard" (YIMBY) movement is gaining momentum across the country, and Bryan Caplan's new book Build, Baby, Build captures its essence. Listen as Veronique de Rugy and Caplan discuss. Bryan Caplan is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center and a professor of economics at George Mason University. Caplan is also the author of The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies, named "the best political book of the year" by the New York Times.

Being middle class in America used to mean something. It was something socially transformative and even revolutionary. What happened? These are the ideas Christine Rosen writes on in her recent article for Commentary, "The Elite War on the American Middle Class—and How to End It."  Christine sits down with host Veronique de Rugy to discuss what has happened to America's middle class and how we can turn the tide. Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on American history, society and culture, technology, and feminism.