Alex Tabarrok on how ideas trump crises

http://www.ted.com The "dismal science" truly shines in this optimistic talk, as economist Alex Tabarrok argues free trade and globalization are shaping our once-divided world into a community of idea-sharing more healthy, happy and prosperous than anyone's predictions.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Alex
• Tabarrok
• TEDTalks
• TED
• talks
• economics
• economist
• Marginal
• Revolution
• financial
• crisis
• globalization
• free
• trade
• ideas

[atrickpay11]

Social cooperation ftw! Fuck nationalism and socialism.

[TheCapitalistdog]

@resourcebasedeconomY

"I say whatever i want,"

Why are you using the term "I". It's like you're speaking as an individual, and claiming your individual right to free speech.. I thought Individualism was bad?

[htedrom]

..logic says we should all just share the tech, but that doesn't work out as great as it sounds

[htedrom]

problem is when they light their candle off yours, then snuff your candle. this facile j

[arobwyo]

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is he referring to when he says Kurzweilian terms??

[aydarsh]

At first, I get encouraged by all the exciting TED talks. But then I look at the comments...

[TheCapitalistdog]

@resourcebasedeconomY

funny how you throw in individualism like it's a bad thing.

But alas, you are a zeitgeister and probably don't grasp basic economics.

[vNorilor]

@MultiMarou Peak oil hysteria is ridiculous. People within that cranky movement have made incorrect predictions over and over again.

[vNorilor]

88 people don't understand economics.

[infinitehumanstupid]

We are heading for a global ecological disaster... how will growth fix this? This guy is so mislead and believes in false economy... not all aspects of globalization are great. African nations have many times been hit by removing trade barriers...

[MultiMarou]

This looks as an outdated video : it is not addressing the concept of growth in a finite world. Growth cannot go on for ever, as the physical resources are running out. (See peak oil, etc). Read Tim Jackson's Prosperity without growth.

I addition, the US is far from a role model at all: the education system, healthcare, life expectancy statistics do not show very good results. Even Cuba has a higher life expectancy. And when it comes to education you are better off choosing Netherlands.