The Darwin Economy

Watch Professor Robert Frank as he argues that in the next century Charles Darwin will unseat Adam Smith as the intellectual founder of economics.

Listen to the full event: http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2011/the-darwin-economy

Category:

Education

Tags:

• the rsa
• rsa
• royal society of arts
• rsa events
• 21st century enlightenment
• talk
• debate
• discussion
• Robert Frank
• economics
• finance
• Charles Darwin
• Adam Smith
• money

[MarkoKraguljac]

@ipwnorcs Ill educate you for free. Final goal of participants in unregulated, chaotic system (as through history) is not profit but power and control over others (due scarcity). Enemy of our wellbeing is scarcity, nothing else. What you perceive as capitalism is just an attempt to channel human activity (through "carrot" of profits). Sporting events do the same for physical aggression. It was useful for awhile but now is logically losing its ground in high tech, automated economy. Wake up.

[mba2ceo]

Adam Smith was right ONLY if everyone has the same opportunity even without the same resources.

[NicosMind]

@2leet2c Its a great wee book. Only around 50 pages but its a must read for anyone. Its hosted free online if you can read off the screen or its cheap enough off Mises.

I think many dont hold the views for two reasons. Theyre brainwashed by state that if they hand over a large portion of their wage theyll live for "free". But this always costs much more and is a poorer service. 2nd is none of them know what capitalism is. Again brainwashed to think its big business rather than the peoples choice

[2leet2cheet]

@NicosMind While I've never read Frederic Bastiat, I have heard that quote. Great quote and I will be adding "The Law" to my reading list. Again I completely agree, yet I find myself frustrated by the fact that far too few hold these views.

[NicosMind]

@2leet2cheet Have you ever read Frederic Bastiat's The Law? To paraphrase that "How can any law be just, that allows people to do through government, that which would be considered illegal or immoral when done individually"

Also youve got a great wee miny description of capitalism there. Peoples money are their votes and what they spend it on decides whats built and whats needed. Thats the most democratic way of doing things rather than government give money to special interests

[NicosMind]

@DavidBy 2 comments of yours i never seen. "professional economists". Well i dont get paid for it but id say im a dam sight better than many. Last count i had 60 books in my library and probably have about 80 now. And to give you a clue how dedicated i am im reding Herbert Hoovers Memoirs the Great Depression Years because theres 2 versions of history and im interested in finding out the truth.

Ive replied about research in the other comment but heres a little extra ?v=R8DwAM9OAbw

[NicosMind]

@David Your comment came up as spam and i never saw it. You have to also consider that much of goverment research is done for private companies, and they even do stuff themselves to retard research in order to keep out competition. Im talking here about owning the patent to marijuana(im not joking) so pharma doesnt have to worry about small players cutting in on their business.

Google this number and see what i mean 6630507

Many businesses have done research for the hell of it too

[2leet2cheet]

@NicosMind Absolutely right, I find it a complete outrage that he can say he follows Adam Smith, yet he believes the "votes" of the collective consumers are somehow wrong. Capitalism is democratic at its very roots and anyone who believes otherwise is most certainly an arrogant left wing academic who believes they can run our society top down.

[2leet2cheet]

Why is fractional reserve lending not at the heart of all these conversations? Protecting people from fraudulent activity is supposed to be the job of government. Yet, government continues to allow banks to lend money they do not have to people who do not deserve to have it. Until we can end fractional reserve lending the "elite" will always have an advantage. People keep pointing to the symptoms of our economic troubles, without looking at the root cause, being the exponential rise of credit.