Ep 9 - Mark Paul - The Ends of Freedom: A Deep Dive into Economic Inequality

In this episode, we delve into a profound discussion with economist Mark Paul about his book, "The Ends of Freedom," and his vision for an Economic Bill of Rights. We explore the concept of an economic bill of rights that has a long history from FDR to MLK the role of government in providing essential services, and the importance of progressive taxation. We also discuss the need for affordable childcare and its impact on women's participation in the labor force. The conversation touches on the historical context of GDP calculation, the importance of including home labor, and the implications of excluding it. We also discuss the cost of higher education and the potential benefits of making it universally accessible. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how to pay for these social programs, the role of broad-based taxation, and the importance of considering future productive capacity rather than focusing solely on the national debt.

The Paper Mentioned in the Show

- Children as Public Goods by Nancy Folbre, The American Economic Review 1994 - https://www.proquest.com/docview/233027518

Recommended books based on this episode:

1. "The Ends of Freedom" by Mark Paul - https://bookshop.org/a/94644/9780226792965

2. "The Value of Everything" by Mariana Mazzucato - https://bookshop.org/a/94644/9781541758247

3. "The Deficit Myth" by Stephanie Kelton - https://bookshop.org/a/94644/9781541736191

4. "The Case for a Maximum Wage" by Sam Pizzigati - https://bookshop.org/a/94644/9781509524921

Topics discussed:

• Economic Bill of Rights
• Maximum and Minimum Income
• Government's Role
• Progressive Taxation
• Affordable Childcare
• Women's Labor Force Participation
• GDP Calculation
• Higher Education Cost
• Social Programs Funding
• Future Productive Capacity

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Music by Jeffrey Anthony