The Economist Next Door

What does commerce have to do with civilization? More than economics. In this episode of The Economist Next Door, Paul Mueller is joined by AIER President Sam Gregg and Senior Research Fellow Julia Cartwright to explore the deeper cultural and moral foundations of commercial society. Drawing on Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek, and others, they discuss how markets, private property, the rule of law, social norms, and entrepreneurship have helped create the conditions for human flourishing. The conversation also examines what makes a civilization flourish, why some societies experience remarkable "golden ages," and why those periods cannot simply be planned into existence. From eighteenth-century Scotland to early twentieth-century Vienna, the guests consider the institutions and habits that allow ideas, creativity, and commerce to thrive. What can the past teach us about preserving and renewing a free society today, and can new technologies help create the conditions for another golden age?

What is post-liberalism, and why has it gained influence on the American right? In this episode of The Economist Next Door, host Paul Mueller speaks with James M. Patterson and Thomas D. Howes, authors of Why Post-Liberalism Failed. They explore the intellectual roots of post-liberalism and its connections to Catholic integralism and European reactionary thought. The guests discuss the movement's critique of liberalism and the role of figures such as Patrick Deneen and JD Vance. They also examine the movement's relationship to conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism, economic nationalism, and historical authoritarian movements. What can the history of post-liberalism teach us about the future of liberal democracy and the changing ideas of the American right? Listen to the full conversation to find out.

Why is housing so expensive in America? On this episode of The Economist Next Door, Paul Mueller sits down with AIER scholars Julia Cartwright and Jason Sorens to unravel the mystery behind America's housing crisis. They explore how supply and demand, zoning restrictions, building regulations, local "busybodies," and federal housing policies have combined to make housing increasingly expensive. They also examine whether gentrification is really the problem, why communities often resist new development, and how restrictions on housing construction can affect everyone from renters to homeowners. So where is the solution? Cartwright and Sorens explain why the most promising answers may not come from Washington, but from states and local communities willing to rethink how housing gets built.

Before 1953, almost nobody called themselves a "conservative." In this episode of The Economist Next Door, host Paul Mueller sits down with Jeff Nelson, director of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal, at Kirk's historic home in Mecosta, Michigan. They explore how Russell Kirk's landmark book The Conservative Mind gave shape and name to a tradition that stretched back through the Founding, examine Kirk's friendships and sparring partners — from Hayek and Buckley to T.S. Eliot and Ray Bradbury — and dig into his views on free enterprise, tradition, and the "principle of variety." Along the way, they share personal stories about Kirk's eccentric life in Mecosta, his legendary hospitality, and why his ideas on civil society still matter for anyone thinking about economics, culture, and freedom today.

What happens when a political movement abandons ideas for power? Stephanie Slade, senior editor at Reason and author of Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right, joins Paul Mueller to discuss the conservative philosophy that shaped the twentieth century—and why it is now under attack. They explore the Fusionist tradition, the relationship between liberty and virtue, the rise of Trumpism and the dissident right, the temptation of authoritarian politics, and the importance of the classical liberal institutions that limit power. They also discuss why young people are increasingly drawn to radical ideas and what defenders of liberty must do to win the battle of ideas.