Hardly Working with Brent Orrell

Ben Wildavsky is a veteran higher education strategist and writer, and host of the Higher Ed Spotlight podcast. He brings decades of experience in journalism and education policy, including leadership roles at Strada Education Network, the College Board, and US News & World Report. He is the author of The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections and an award-winning expert on education-to-workforce initiatives. In this episode of Hardly Working we explore the German model of dual studies, a unique blend of vocational training and academic education, and examine its implications for the US as industries continue to evolve in the face of technological change. Ben's insights, drawn from years of leadership in education, offer valuable lessons on the future of workforce development.Mentioned in the Episode:Germany Jumps on Degree ApprenticeshipsNational Center for the Apprenticeship DegreeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing CompanyThe Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials & Connections

Robert Lerman is a research fellow at the Urban Institute and the co-founder of Apprenticeships for America, where he is dedicated to expanding opportunities for lifelong learning and ensuring that apprenticeships are a cornerstone of America’s educational landscape. Through his prolific research and advocacy, we examine the role of apprenticeships in our economy, successful policy examples in Europe, and the impact of AI and technological changes. Mentioned in the episode:Apprenticeships for AmericaSkills-Based HiringNational Apprenticeship Resource HubThe Harold W. McGraw, Jr. 2024 Prize in Education

Stuart Andreason is the Executive Director of Programs at the Burning Glass Institute where he leads efforts in research and engagement on workforce innovation, higher education, and economic mobility. Through his personal experience and his work in skills-based hiring, we look at vocation in career, skills signals, and role of technology in the hiring process.Mentioned in the episode: Burning Glass InstituteSkills-Based Hiring: The Long Road from Pronouncements to PracticeHow Advanced Data Systems Can Do More to Drive Economic Mobility

Kerry McKittrick, in her work as co-director of The Project on Workforce at Harvard, looks into different aspects of the relationship between workforce development and careers. In this episode of Hardly Working, we dive into three different reports that McKittrick has authored recently. Mentioned in the episode:The College-to-Jobs Initiative: Exploring the intersection of higher education and the workforceCollege-to-Jobs MapUnlocking Economic Prosperity: Career Navigation in a Time of Rapid ChangeWorkforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies: Governors’ Emerging Solutions

Description:This week on Hardly Working, Brent Orrell talks with David Hernandez, Vice President of Education at IPC, the Global Association for Electronics Manufacturing.Brent and David discuss domestic electronics manufacturing, workforce education and training, and the global supply chain. Mentioned During the Show:IPC International, Inc.The CHIPS and Science Act

On July 22, Brent Orrell from AEI and Tony Pipa from Brookings hosted a discussion about Casa Grande Valley Farms, an agricultural cooperative from the New Deal era that faced challenges and eventually failed. AEI's Kevin R. Kosar, who has republished a book on the project, joined the conversation to discuss the lessons this historical case offers for modern federal rural economic development, especially in the context of recent legislative investments like the CHIPS and Science Act. Mentioned in the episode:Tony Pipa (Brookings)Kevin R. Kosar (AEI)Casa Grande Valley FarmsThe Government Project by Edward C. BanfieldCooperative modelThe Great DepressionCHIPS and Science Act No Child Left BehindUSAID

Russ Roberts, President of Shalem College in Jerusalem and host of the Econtalk podcast, discusses his book, “Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us. The book discusses Robert’s approach to problems that can’t be solved with normal economics analysis. In this episode, Brent and Russ also discuss the influences Russ had growing up and the advice he has for young people today.Mentioned in the EpisodeWild Problems by Russ RobertsShalem College in JerusalemIt’s a Wonderful Loaf PoemKeynes vs. Hayek Rap BattleThe Price of Everything by Russ RobertsMaslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsKentucky Community College Using AI to Train Peer Support SpecialistsF.A. HayekMilton FriedmanDeirdre McCloskeyGary Becker

On July 8, AEI’s Brent Orrell hosted the fifth event in the “On the Front Porch” series with the Brookings Institution’s Tony Pipa featuring Stanford University Professor Keith Humphreys and AEI’s Sally Satel, two experts in opioid treatment and the societal effects of drug abuse in rural areas. They discuss the factors that led to the opioid crisis and the challenges in resolving it. Mentioned in the EpisodeTony Pipa (Brookings)Keith Humphreys (Stanford)Sally Satel (AEI)Pavlovian conditioningOrigins of the Opioid Crisis and its Enduring Impacts by Abby Alpert et. alDeath in Mud Lick Book by Eric EyreDr. Art Van ZeeDeaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism by Anne Case and Angus DeatonGolden Leaf Foundation

This week on Hardly Working, Brent Orrell talks with AEI Senior Fellow Brad Wilcox. Wilcox’s recent book Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization explores the importance of marriage in society. Brent and Wilcox discuss how marriage promotes healthy families and why declines in marriage rates are so alarming. They also touch on how marriage and family structure impact the workforce and explore the particular challenges facing young men, such as family instability and low workforce participation.Mentioned in this episodeRichard ReevesRaj ChettyGrowing Up With a Single ParentNicholas EberstadtFatherless AmericaRichard HananiaTemporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Americans are grappling with the complexities of economic growth, technology, and their impacts on society. This week, Brent talks with Oxford University economist Daniel Susskind, who explores these themes in his latest book Growth: A Reckoning. Together, Brent and Susskind discuss the historical context of growth, the role of technological advancements, and Susskind’s views on the need for policies that better align economic incentives with social values. Mentioned in this EpisodeTax treatment of labor versus capitalJohn Maynard KeynesSimon KuznetsThe Stern Review

Americans’ views on the economy have soured in recent years, often seemingly disconnected with the realities of work and growth in incomes. One particularly pernicious meme, found on both the left and the right, is that economic growth has not translated into higher wages for American workers. This week on Hardly Working, Brent sits down with Scott Winship, who dispels this myth in his recent report, “Understanding Trends in Worker Pay over the Past 50 Years.” Brent and Scott discuss the changing dynamics of the economy, the shifting demand for skills, and how we can expand opportunity within the world’s largest and most dynamic economy. Mentioned in this EpisodeNixon ShockWagner ActOf Boys and MenKevin Corinth

In a world where the traditional boundaries of work are being redrawn, the interplay between work and personal satisfaction, a sense of purpose, and meaning is rapidly evolving. This week on Hardly Working, Brent sits down with John Tamny, editor of RealClearMarkets and president of the Parkview Institute. They discuss Tamny’s 2018 book The End of Work: Why Your Passion Can Become Your Job, which envisions a world where material abundance frees all of us up to pursue our passions at work.

Contemporary differences between rural and urban areas in America have their roots in long-term demographic, economic, technological, and social factors. Brent and the Brookings Institution’s Tony Pipa are hosting conversations “On the Front Porch” with authors of recent research on issues facing rural America. These discussions explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural America and consider policy options to promote development and opportunity. Today, we bring you a recent conversation with economist Carol Graham. Graham’s recent book The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us from Despair discusses the role that hope plays in supporting the development of individuals and communities in America.

As technology marches on, what kind of world are we moving towards? According to AEI senior fellow Jim Pethokoukis, it’s an abundant and prosperous one, at least potentially. So long as we play our cards right–and embrace what he calls an “UpWing” technology and growth policies we will reap the benefits of what many find to be destabilizing, disorienting change. This week on Hardly Working, Brent speaks with Pethokoukis about his book The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised and how we can best manage the steps toward the UpWing future.Mentioned in this episodeThe Third Century: America's Resurgence in the Asian EraNouriel RoubiniFor All MankindFaster, Please!ExtrapolationsDerek ThompsonEzra KleinLost in SpaceThe MartianInterstellarProphet of Innovation

In a world of specialists, generalists sometimes seem like people without a country. That may be changing. In an age of specialized–and increasingly powerful– AI tools, going broad rather than narrow may increasingly be valuable. Today on Hardly Working, Vikram Mansharamani returns to the podcast to discuss his personal and professional journey as a self-described generalist. His recent memoir The Making of a Generalist narrates his journey from a kid curious about everything to one of the nation’s most sought-after thinkers and advisors on questions of calling and career.  We hope you enjoy this conversation.

Divides between rural and urban America have their roots in longstanding demographic, economic, technological, and social factors. In a new event series, AEI’s Brent Orrell and the Brookings Institution’s Tony Pipa are hosting a series of conversations “On the Front Porch” with authors of recent research on issues facing rural America.These discussions explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural America and consider policy options to promote development and opportunity. Today on Hardly Working, we bring you the first of these events, a conversation with Nicholas F. Jacobs, the author of the recent book The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America, which examines the state of politics in rural America.Orrell, Pipa, and Jacobs consider the book’s central claim that rural Americans have in recent years combined a deep sense of connection to place with increasingly nationalized policy and political concerns to form a distinct voting bloc. They also discuss the history of rural America; the social, cultural, and economic forces that have affected it in recent years; and the popular notion of a stark rural-urban divide. Overall, they emphasize the importance of dispelling myths about rural America to overcome distrust and disunity.Mentioned in this EpisodeReimagining Rural Policy InitiativeGeneral Social SurveyOmaha Platform of 1892North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. VanceFederalismAmerican Exchange Project

In recent years, confidence in higher education has plummeted. This decline has prompted a vigorous debate on the role of all types of post-secondary education. In their recent book America’s Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges Can Drive Shared Prosperity, Robert B. Schwartz and Rachel Lipson make the case for the value of community colleges. Surveying five case studies across the US–in Ohio, Virginia, Arizona, Texas, and Mississippi–they argue that community colleges serve as “engines” of social mobility for individuals and communities. Their research shows that community colleges have proven remarkably effective at mitigating economic inequality and promoting social engagement and economic development.Today, Brent sits down with Lipson and Schwartz to discuss what their research means for students and policymakers.Mentioned in this episodeYear UpWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity ActPathways to Prosperity NetworkLorain County Community CollegePima Community CollegeLightcastThe Coleman ReportRaj ChettyOpportunity Insights

As artificial intelligence (AI) bounds ahead, many are rightfully concerned about the risks and ethical issues it raises. Perhaps some of the most practical of these is the potential that AI will be biased against minority populations because of deficiencies in the data used to build it. If true, this would have serious implications for human resources and hiring. Today, Brent sits down with Keith Sonderling, a commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC. Sonderling delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of AI into the workplace, particularly in hiring and employment decisions. And he emphasizes the complexity of AI and the difficulty – yet necessity – of regulating it so that it can benefit everyone.We hope you enjoy this conversation.Mentioned in this EpisodeEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Fair Labor Standards ActFamily Medical Leave ActGoldman Sachs on AI’s Impact on the Labor MarketWorld Economic Forum on AI’s Impact on the Labor MarketNew York Local Law 144European Union AI ActOffice of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

Many urban Americans have come to believe that there’s a growing chasm separating urban and rural America. While urban America bounds ahead, rural America, many assume, is being left behind, struggling with material and spiritual impoverishment, and cultural confusion. This week on Hardly Working, Brent talks with University of Southern California professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, who dispels some of the myths about the so-called urban-rural divide. Currid-Halkett and Brent discuss her fantastic book The Overlooked Americans: The Resilience of Our Rural Towns and What it Means For Our Country, which Brent reviewed for the Dispatch in September. As you’ll hear, rural America is doing a lot better than you might think. Mentioned in this episodeJane JacobsUniversity of Chicago General Social SurveyRaj ChettyPosse FoundationAmerican Exchange ProjectTimes/Siena Poll on Trump's advantage in battleground states

Regrettably, the debate about post-secondary education has devolved into just another culture war issue with one camp saying “everyone go to college” and another saying “skip college learn a trade.” Today, Brent sits down with Ben Wildavsky, a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, who challenges this false dichotomy. In his recent book “The Career Arts,” Wildavsky argues that education, job, and career success require integrating broad-based skills (such as those acquired through a liberal arts and social science education) with more narrow, technical skills (such as those acquired through credential programs). Such integration, Wildavsky contends, supports well-rounded and resilient workers who can more easily adapt to an unpredictable and rapidly changing economy. Mentioned in this EpisodeStrada Education FoundationCollege wage premiumLarry KatzTony CarnevaleGeorgetown Center on Education and the WorkforceProject BastaClimb HigherWestern Governors UniversityPoint Loma Nazarene UniversitySeth Bodnar, president, University of MontanaSociety for Human Research ManagementSkills-based hiring

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at breakneck speed. Michael Chui, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), leads research on how this technology is reshaping business, the economy, and society more broadly. According to MGI, the next wave of AI-generated productivity improvements will send shockwaves through the labor market as it reaches–and surpasses–human-level ability across a wide range of skills but ultimately make the entire world wealthier and healthier. We hope you enjoy this conversation.Mentioned in this EpisodeMcKinsey Global Institute (MGI)MGI report: The Economic Potential of Generative AIAccenture report: Strategy at the Pace of TechnologyStudy on AI's capacity for theory of mindJohn Maynard Keynes

Today, we continue to explore Appalachia with Chris Stirewalt, a senior fellow at AEI. Stirewalt, who grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, speaks to Brent about the unique culture and values of Appalachia, the role that strong families and institutions play in the region’s success, and potential solutions to the region’s challenges, from its opioid epidemic to educational “brain drain.” He also takes us through much of the history of the region, offering deep insight into the region’s identity. As you’ll hear, Stirewalt is optimistic about Appalachia and confident that the region can overcome its most difficult challenges.Mentioned in this EpisodeMore than a PaycheckDeaths of despairAnne Case and Angus DeatonJay RockefellerRobert ByrdBig White Ghetto by Kevin WilliamsRandy MossWest Virginia Hills by Reverend David King

The media has told us a very straightforward, and depressing, story about Appalachia: it is a region that is being left behind as the rest of the U.S. economy chugs on; it’s a destitute, hopeless place without good jobs, and filled with communities in decline. In his recent report on the region, Aaron M. Renn, a senior fellow at American Reformer, a Protestant nonprofit, complicates this picture. Appalachia, Renn shows, is no monolith (it consists of a diversity of areas with their challenges and identities); it has a rich cultural heritage, especially in music and the arts and natural beauty; and, while it faces its share of problems, it has tremendous opportunities for growth and several trends working in its favor. Today, Brent speaks with Renn about this much-maligned region, offering an insightful perspective on a region that has a crucial role to play in boosting social mobility for millions of Americans.Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Future of Appalachia by Aaron RennJoel KotkinJoelkotkin.comOpen and Closed NetworksAppalachia on Our Mind by Henry ShapiroHillbilly Elegy by J.D. VanceSystemic DisadvantageOur Kids by Robert Putnam

In cities across America, homelessness, poverty, crime, addiction, and mental illness are perennial, and deeply intertwined, problems. The New York City-based Doe Fund, however, has made real progress on these challenges. Emphasizing work and personal responsibility, the fund has served struggling and at-risk individuals for nearly 40 years. In this episode, Brent sits down with the Doe Fund’s outgoing President and CEO, Harriet McDonald, and its incoming leader, Jennifer Mitchell. They discuss the Fund’s model and track record of success, offering valuable lessons for government, nonprofits, and individuals who aspire to support vulnerable populations. Mentioned in this EpisodeGeorge McDonaldReady, Willing, and AbleSector-based training

From tech companies to healthcare providers and fast food services, organizations are deploying AI technologies to boost productivity and improve service. As these technologies filter into the economy and workplace, a host of questions are arising: will AI replace human labor? How will new technology affect the nature of work? How can we equip workers for the future and help them adapt to change?In their recent book Working with AI: Real Stories of Human-Machine Collaboration, management and technology experts Tom Davenport and Steven Miller explore these questions through real-world case studies. Pushing back against the growing anxiety over AI’s impact on work, Davenport and Miller contend that AI will not be a job destroyer, but a job-enhancer, a tool that will largely make work better–not only more productive but also more fulfilling and even more accessible–for most workers.In this episode, Davenport and Miller join Brent to discuss their book, offering a vision of the future of work in which AI and other “smart” technologies complement human labor–and make us richer and more productive in the process.Mentioned in this EpisodeAI life insurance underwritingSalesforceEuropean AI RegulationLump of labor fallacyDBS Bank's use of generative AIEric Brynjolfsson

From Elizabeth Warren to former president Trump, actors on both the political left and right show increasing willingness to expand the role of government in the country’s economic affairs. Skepticism of free markets, long confined to the left, is now in vogue across the political spectrum, fueling a renewed interest in industrial policy and trade protectionism. Samuel Gregg, a distinguished fellow in political economy at the American Institute for Economic Research and an Affiliate Scholar at the Acton Institute, pushes back against these trends and what he calls “state capitalism.” In this episode, Gregg joins Brent to discuss his recent book The Next American Economy, which is a forceful defense of free markets and the moral and historical foundations of economic policy in the broader context of American values and history.Mentioned in this EpisodeAdam Smith’s moral and political philosophyThe Theory of Moral SentimentsThe Wealth of NationsMichael NovakPatrick DeneenSohrab Ahmari

As AI permeates our world, many are forecasting transformational impacts on work and the economy. With AI, the future is highly uncertain, but it's imperative that we prepare workers to the best of our ability today. In this episode, we bring you a live event with Brent and Shane Tews, a nonresident senior fellow at AEI and head of AEI’s Tech Policy Center, on the intersection of AI, skills, and the workforce. Here, Brent and Shane speak to AEI’s 2023 Summer Honors students and offer advice on how future workers like them can thrive in an AI-driven world.Mentioned in the EpisodeUPenn/OpenAI 2023 study on exposure to AIClaude ChatGPT Bard Dr. Nouriel RoubiniOECD Employment Outlook 2023: AI and the Labor MarketPolanyi’s paradoxStanford University 2023 study on use of AI in call centersThe Age of AI: And Our Human Future (2021 book)Precautionary principleMcKinsey & Company 2023 study on generative AI

In this episode, we invite you to listen in on a recent AEI event on the book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot (Harper Academic, 2021). On June 22, 2023, AEI’s Brent Orrell and Shane Tews were joined by Rob Reich of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Jeremy M. Weinstein of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies to discuss their book, which they co-authored along with their fellow Stanford professor Mehran Sahami.The panelists discuss the challenges that Big Tech in the 21st century—particularly artificial intelligence—poses to democracy. They explore the dangers of the "optimizing" mindset that competition in technology encourages; the trade-offs between the values of privacy, safety, agency, and productivity; the rise of misinformation and disinformation; and issues of power concentration and regulatory capture in the technology sector.Mentioned in the EpisodeSystem Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can RebootRob ReichMehran SahamiJeremy WeinsteinFreeman Spogli Institute for International StudiesStanford Institute for Human-Centered AI“Get Rich U.” in the New YorkerDoNotPay - Your AI Consumer ChampionFacebook “Connect the World” MemoSen. Schumer’s SAFE Innovation FrameworkAI Bill of RightsNIST AI Risk Management FrameworkThe Precautionary PrincipleEU AI Act

In this episode, we invite you to listen in on a Workforce Futures Initiative (WFI) event from February 2023. WFI is a collaboration between&nbsp;the American Enterprise Institute,&nbsp;the Brookings Institution, and the&nbsp;Harvard Kennedy School&nbsp;Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy that analyzes the latest research on various aspects of the&nbsp;workforce development&nbsp;system to inform policy at the federal, state, and local levels. In this event, Brent Orrell is joined by leading workforce experts Harry Holzer, Greg Wright, and Rachel Lipson to discuss the&nbsp;Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), sector-based training programs, community colleges and their connection to the workforce, and&nbsp;labor market&nbsp;data information.&nbsp;Mentioned in the EpisodeWorkforce Futures InitiativeWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)Harry HolzerGreg WrightRachel Lipson Year UpPer ScholasProject QuestCHIPS ActTrade Adjustment Assistance for Community College ProgramGood Jobs ChallengeSocial Innovation FundMatt Sigelman, Burning Glass InstituteJulia Lane, NYU Rich Hendra, MDRCASAP program, CUNYAnne Kress, Northern Virginia Community College<a...

For our 100th episode, we look back at some favorite moments in our podcast's history.You'll hear clips from conversations about the future of work with Jamie Merisotis; male worklessness with my colleague Nicholas Eberstadt; happiness and civic engagement with my colleague Ryan Streeter; thinking for yourself with author and Harvard lecturer Vikram Mansharamani; and identifying talent with renowned economist Tyler Cowen. Whether you're a new member of our community or you've been with us since the start, we know you'll love these clips. We hope this look-back inspires you to revisit episodes or dive into them for the first time. One hundred episodes in the books; here's to 100 more!

Joe Fuller, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at AEI and Professor at Harvard Business School, discusses two new reports, Delivering on Degrees and The Partnership Imperative. The first examines the effectiveness of programs that facilitate the transition from postsecondary education to employment and finds programs such as career coaching and experiential coursework can improve persistence in training and employment outcomes. The second report explores how partnerships between community colleges and employers can help address the skills gap.Mentioned in the EpisodeJoseph B. Fuller AEI ProfileJoseph B. Fuller HBS ProfileManaging the Future of Work Project at Harvard Business SchoolDelivering on Degrees Report Workforce Futures InitiativeProf. Raj Chetty’s Work on Economic MobilityOf Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It by Richard V. ReevesThe Partnership Imperative: Community Colleges, Employers, and America’s Chronic Skills GapWake Tech Community CollegeSan Jacinto CollegeMonroe Community CollegeValenciaCollege Partnership with Walt Disney World ResortDisney Aspire - Disney’s Education Benefit Program

The Republican Party has been the main political vehicle for American conservatism over the past 100 years. Periods of tension between the intellectual/elite faction and the grassroots faction have defined the party’s history. Matt Continetti, senior fellow at AEI, has spent his career studying the Republican Party and the American conservative movement in the 20th century, in particular the tug-of-war between the party’s factions and how this has shaped national politics.Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Right: The Hundred-Year War for American ConservatismPlato’s RepublicThe Politics of Rage: Why do They Hate Us?The Washington Free BeaconGeorge Wallace 1968 Presidential CampaignTrump: “I love the poorly educated.”House Passes Debt Limit BillCHIPS Subsidies Come with Lots of StringsRoe v. WadeWhat is Compassionate Conservatism?

Responses to the sudden emergence of widely available artificial intelligence tend to swing between those who believe these technologies will deliver a utopia of unlimited growth and opportunity or inflict a robot-dominated dystopia of human obsolescence. In the space between those two polls, some are engaged in serious ethical reflection that attempts to weigh out the possible impacts of AI in light of the preexisting social trends. One of the more thoughtful, and fair-minded critics of emerging technologies is Evan Selinger, a professor of philosophy at Rochester Institute of Technology. In his research, Dr. Selinger asks how technology has affected our personal obscurity in society (the right not to be known), and how mass surveillance and optimization affects human work.&nbsp; Mentioned in the EpisodeDon Ihde Patrick GrimWoodrow Hertzog Social obscurity paper Digital doubles – in production and manufacturing Reengineering Humanity TaylorismFrederick Winslow Taylor Brett Frischmann

Scott Lincicome is the Vice President of General Economics and Trade at the CATO Institute, where he works to keep the economy open to innovation and change while preserving safety and opportunity for families, communities and the economy. In this episode, we discuss the intra-conservative debate over how to balance the need for stability in the market with openness to the innovation and change that have been the hallmarks of American development and prosperity throughout the nation’s history. Lincicome discusses these and other themes as they are laid out in his recent edited volume, “Empowering the New American Worker”.Mentioned in the EpisodeEmpowering the New American Worker CATO Institute – Scott Lincicome University of Virginia Law SchoolLibertarianismLiya Palagashvili interview CATO Trade Policy Bracket Challenge Scott Lincicome Atlantic column on the Jones Act Scott Lincicome Dispatch column – egg prices Scott Lincicome Twitter

In this episode of Hardly Working, I speak with Liya Palagashvili, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University as she walks us through her professional journey and research into nontraditional workers. Also known as independent workers, nontraditional workers can be defined as workers who make income outside of traditional employment and who are legally classified as independent contractors or self-employed. She describes different aspects of this rapidly expanding sector of the economy and what its future could be. Our conversation also explores what Palagashvili calls the two policy buckets often used to address challenges for independent workers and their possible repercussions.Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Rise of the Creative Class The Gig EconomyForm 1099-MISCEtsyAB-5 Worker status: employees and independent contractorsCalifornia Proposition 22Department of Labor regulatory guidance on worker classification rulesEmployee Classification Tests.Utah Portable Benefit Plan

The Nixon administration is renowned for their surprising consideration of differing social and welfare policies and the internal conflict and debate that this created within the Republican party it led.In this episode of Hardly Working, I am joined by John Roy Price, special assistant to President Nixon during the contentious time period of 1969-71 and author of “The Last Liberal Republican: An Insider’s Perspective on Nixon’s Surprising Social Policy.” We discuss, joined by Robert Doar (President of AEI) and Scott Winship (Director of the AEI Center for Opportunity and Mobility) perspectives on the Nixon Administration, social and welfare policy, the history of the Republican party, and learn a little more about John Doar, Robert’s esteemed father. Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Last Liberal Republican: An Insider’s Perspective on Nixon’s Surprising Social PolicyJohn Roy PriceRobert DoarScott WinshipJohn Doar Donald Rumsfeld Richard NixonPat Buchanan Arthur Burns Nixon’s Family Assistance PlanNegative Income Tax

Workforce preparation is a crucial task that all community institutions – from families, to schools, to civic organizations – contribute to. It takes a village to make a good employee. However, few organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofits have adopted as well-rounded of an approach as the Urban Assembly, a nonprofit that equips schools to deliver social-emotional learning to students.In this episode of Hardly Working, I speak with David Adams, CEO of Urban Assembly as he explains his journey of moral and vocational formation, including how it sparked his passion for the social-emotional and educational success of students. In doing so, he describes some of the unique initiatives that have made Urban Assembly successful, despite the numerous challenges public education experiences today. Our conversation also illuminates policy options for improving opportunity and equity across racial and socioeconomic divides. Mentioned in the EpisodeDavid AdamsSocial and Emotional Learning – The Urban AssemblyTheory of Moral Sentiments by Adam SmithUrban AssemblyWhite House Recognizes International Social Emotional Learning DaySELday – Social Emotional Learning Day Urban Assembly School for Collaborative HealthcareEnlightenment Now by Steven PinkerHillbilly Elegy William Julius Wilson solving Black inner-city poverty Brown v. Board of EducationNeil Postman

Economic mobility has been a trademark of the American Dream since its inception, but over time generations have found that social and economic mobility in the pursuit of such a Dream has gradually become more difficult. For writer and non-profit leader Alissa Quart, the problem of mobility is worthy of attention, as are the individual’s stories who are in pursuit of that American Dream. She has written numerous books and articles on the subject through the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, or EHRP. In this episode of Hardly Working, I talk to Alissa about her views on current state of the workforce, the struggles of economic mobility in America, the future of automation in journalism, and her upcoming book Bootstrapped.Mentioned in the episode: Alissa QuartEHRPCUNY SystemRaj ChettySqueezed Uberfication Bootstrapped The Social Workplace Report Barbra Ehrenreich SNAP Syracuse Veterans Center Bobbi DempseySector Based TrainingThe Middle PrecariatThe Great Resignation

Every day, thousands of decisions alter the course of our economy and the world. Economists are responsible for tracking these decisions analyzing them. Many endure long educational pathways to gain expertise to comment on economic affairs, but this expertise isn’t always necessary to gain a following or disseminate valuable information. For Joseph Politano, recent graduate of George Washington University and author behind the Apricitas.io Substack, has made the most of his undergraduate education to build a following of loyal subscribers. In this episode of Hardly Working, I talk with Joseph about his nascent career in Economics, building a following as an independent journalist, and his views on the most pressing issues facing our labor market. Mentioned in the Episode The George Washington University - EconomicsApricitas Peace Corps AgribusinessBureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Training Administration Department of Labor DopamineNick Bunker BuzzFeed Article on Laid-Off Tech Workers

As President of Burning Glass Institute and former CEO of Emsi Burning Glass (now Lightcast), Matt Sigelman is a leading expert in real-time labor market information. This makes him particularly able to speak to workers preparing for an uncertain future with the skills required to rise in the modern economy. In this episode, Sigelman provides insight from his career in data and business, as well as findings from Burning Glass’ new American Opportunity Index to give workers a realistic picture of what they can do to advance in their careers.Mentioned in the episodeMatt SigelmanPrinceton Microsoft Access Water cooler effectThe Social Workplace studyAmerican Opportunity IndexLightcastEmsi/Burning Glass merger Burning Glass Institute Technical vs. Non-cognitive skills German educational model Joe Fuller Harvard Business School

Turn on the news, and you’ll be accosted with narratives of societal decline and tempted to despair. Dr. Eric Reinhart is one voice fighting for hope in the disadvantaged communities of Chicago, Illinois. With a kaleidoscope of degrees and credentials, Dr. Reinhart works to address both the symptoms of poverty and disadvantage by addressing their root causes. In this episode, he explains the factors that influenced his multifaceted career, how he views the empathy and the nihilistic impulses of society, and how restoring public trust through accompaniment could help us reconnect with one another. Mentioned in the EpisodeEric Reinhart Harvard History of Science – Charles Rosenburg, Allan Brandt, Jeremy Greene Paul Farmer Arthur Kleinman Community health worker systems Jim Kim, Ophelia DahlBrigham Women’s Hospital Carl Bell Accompaniment Immanuel Kant Empathy vs. Sympathy 68,000 people die per year due to lack of health coverage Eric Reinhart on nihilism Long term decline of male labor force participation Deaths of despair Bullshit jobs book Slate piece on gun control

Stephen Moret is a leading expert in the connection between education and work. In this episode, Dr. Moret shares lessons and successes from his many years leading state and local economic development efforts, educational fundraising efforts, and his new role as CEO of Strada Education Network, a social impact organization helping all students access and make the most of their educational opportunities. Mentioned in the episodeStrada Education NetworkStephen Moret Student Body President LSU FoundationVirginia Economic Development PartnershipStephen Moret Dissertation Huey LongSt. John’s CollegeVirginia Talent Accelerator Program Georgia Quick Start ProgramLouisiana Fast Start Program – Economist ArticleTim BartikVirginia Office of Education – VOEEStrada Institute for the Future of Work – New Learning Ecosystem KYStats Non-technical skills in career development Increase in Master’s degrees 1 counselor for every 1000 students Joe May

In their short, shared history, electrical and computing technology have fundamentally altered the way we live and work. Documents are sent in a flash, and goods are produced more efficiently than ever. While that efficiency tends to increase productivity, raise wages, and create new jobs, it also imposes costs in transitions for workers in affected industries. In this episode of Hardly Working, I am joined by Clinton Smith, co-founder of RIOS, a company that delivers robots-as-a-service to manufacturing companies. RIOS seeks to alleviate labor shortage and reduce human wear and tear, especially in fields like manufacturing. We discuss Clinton’s path to industry as well as the benefits and challenges created by his company’s product in on our increasingly-automated economy. Mentioned in the EpisodeGeorgia Tech Computer SciencePrinceton Electrical EngineeringClinton SmithClinton Smith DissertationPARCSPIR Grant ARPA, DARPA, IARPA Grants IOT Distributed Sensing McKinsey Report: A Future that Works Bernard Casse – RIOS Co-founderHapticsMechanoreceptors, in fingersDeep LearningRIOS Website RIOS Case Study: Hit Promotional ProductsRIOS VULCAN Robot Workcell shows the possibilities of Pack Out to Box<a...

Erik Brynjolfsson’s paper “The Turing Trap: The Promise and Peril of Human-Like Artificial Intelligence” argues that the “imitation game” of creating tech that mimics humans has increased productivity and living standards, but does not exist without costs. Those costs make up “The Turing Trap” which happens when humans not involved in creating AI cannot compete with the productivity and efficiency of the robots designed to do their jobs, and lose control of their economic and political futures. The Turing Trap sits at the center of contemporary labor force struggles, including the Great Resignation, the fight for “good jobs” and cratering male labor force participation. Michael Strain, who directs AEI’s Economic Policy Studies, joins Dr. Brynjolfsson and I to discuss what economic policy can do to encourage more innovators aim higher and create machines that augment rather than replace human labor, and how that effort is crucial to the American Dream. Mentioned in the episode Erik BrynjolfssonUtopia Paperback by Thomas MoreFoundation Mass Market Paperback by Isaac AsimovHeilbronner’s Worldly Philosophers Doug HofstadterThe Turing Trap by Erik BrynjolfssonMichael R. StrainThe American Dream is Not DeadThe High School MovementPigouvian TaxConsumption TaxTax Reform Act of 1986Greg Mankiw Pigou Club

Economic changes bring prosperity, but not without cost. The globalization of how we produce and consume has left many American workers in dead end jobs without prospects for advancement. Some critics of this change have argued for the necessity of walls to protect American industries from global competition and labor exploitation. In his new book The Wall and The Bridge: Fear and Opportunity in Disruption’s Wake, Glenn Hubbard argues for bridges to economic opportunity. We discuss themes from his book in today’s episode. Glenn HubbardThe Wall and the BridgeThe Road to Serfdom by F. A. HayekKen WhiteEagle ScoutThe Wealth of Nations by Adam SmithAdam Smith Works - Liberty FundThe Theory of Moral SentimentsSmith’s Idea of Mutual SympathyLaissez-Faire EconomyDignity at Work by Brent OrrellPresident Bush's High Growth Job Training InitiativeBlock-Granting Entitlement ProgramsGrowing Fairly by Stephen Goldsmith and Kate Markin ColemanOne Counselor for Every 1,000 students - Northern VirginiaCommunity College SystemPersonal Reemployment AccountsAmerican IndustrializationMexican Truck Drivers SituationTrade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program Trade Expansion Act of 1962<a...

Amidst widespread talk of income inequality and the rise in working women, many American men have retreated from the labor force steadily since 1965. Nicholas Eberstadt, AEI’s Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy, noticed this trend in 2014 and began work on a project tracking men who lie outside the reach of traditional measures of unemployment since they are not working or looking for work. That project culminated in Men Without Work: America’s Invisible Crisis.In 2022, Eberstadt released a Post-Pandemic Edition of Men Without Work, which forms the backbone of today’s discussion. We discuss who the men without work are, how they spend their time, and how to convince society that work as an institution is a worthy investment of time. Mentioned in the Episode Harvard University Roger Revelle – AAASAmerican Enterprise InstituteMen Without Work: America’s Invisible Crisis Men Without Work: Post-Pandemic Edition NILF (Not in Labor Force) Rate BLS Definition of Employed - 1 hour per weekUS Marriage Rates US Family Structure 1965 to nowUS Religiosity 1965 to now<a...

The unlimited choices we face in modernity make us restless, which is why Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Jenna Storey wrote Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment. The book explores ideas by those who have thought about and written on contentment and the application of those ideas today. Benjamin also shares about his own quest for knowledge and how it culminated in this book. Mentioned in the episodeBenjamin StoreyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillDr. Larry GoldbergCommittee on Social Thought - The University of ChicagoMichel de MontaigneFurman UniversityThe Tocqueville ProgramSocial, Cultural, and Constitutional StudiesYuval LevinJoseph EpsteinMajoring in Fear by Mark ShiffmanMachiavellianismHertog FoundationPlatoHerman MelvillePermanent Crisis: The Humanities in a Disenchanted AgeRoss DouthatThe Decadent SocietyRenaissance HumanismThe Classical School MovementWilliam James and the Great PragmatistsRadical SkepticismWhy We Are Restless <a href="https://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/aristotle/#:~:text=According%20to%20Aristotle%2C%20happiness%20consists,the%20enrichment%20of%20human%20life." rel="noopener noreferrer"...

How can employers find workers that fit and elevate their organizations? Where are the “diamonds in the rough” that everyone else is missing? In his book Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives and Winners Around the World, Economist Tyler Cowen and entrepreneur Daniel Gross point out helpful strategies for hiring managers to find job seekers to who aim to be noticed by the right people. Tyler also dives into his journey into economics, sharing his takes on AI, skills, modern hiring practices, and the many projects that occupy his day-to-day.Mentioned in the episode Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the WorldTyler Cowen chess prodigyMarginal Revolution Blog Fee Seminar economics The Incredible Bread Machine Henry Hazlitt - Economics in One LessonHayek – Use of Knowledge in SocietyFriedmanRothbardMisesAyn RandAdam Smith - Wealth of Nations, Theory of Moral SentimentsWalter Grinder - Center for Libertarian Studies, Institute for Humane Studies Daniel Gross Emergent VenturesAllen Iverson<a...

Throughout America’s history, its people formed churches, social and fraternal organizations, and neighborhood groups at an astonishing pace. When we talk about “American exceptionalism” this is what we’re really talking about: the self-organizing community that solves its own problems.In second half of the 20th century, however, scholars and pundits have pointed to a decline in American neighborliness and propensity for joining civic organizations. Church attendance is down, social organizations are dissolving, and two-parent families are declining. What can the data on American attitudes toward community tell us about why this is happening?Today, I am pleased to welcome Ryan Streeter and Dan Cox to discuss the state of American communities. Streeter is a Senior Fellow and Director of Domestic Policy Studies at AEI. He studies topics of civil society, community, localism and religion. Dan Cox is the Senior Fellow in Polling and Public Opinion at AEI and the Director of the Survey Center of American Life. He specializes understanding American attitudes toward politics, youth culture, identity, and religion. We discuss highlights from AEI’s fall American Community survey, which can be found on the AEI website. We’ll also discuss their vocational journeys and professional lives and the role of civic engagement in building a happy and fulfilling life.&nbsp; Mentioned During the EpisodeRyan StreeterDan CoxAmerican Community Survey Stephen GoldsmithAdam Smith David Hume Social network analysis Pew Research CenterPublic Religion Research Institute Karlyn BowmanThe Moral Sense- James Q. WilsonIrving Kristol Michael NovakTo Empower PeopleThermostatic OpinionSam Abrams on public libraries

This episode is a rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes! We hope that bringing it back now will allow the content to find new listeners. Enjoy! ~Hunter Dixon (podcast producer, Hardly Working)We live in times marked by the omnipresence of the internet and instantaneous access to the accumulated knowledge of humanity. This leads us into relying on quick, narrow answers to large, complex questions. Are we going too far in our reliance on experts and, in the process, forgetting how to think for ourselves?Brent talks to Vikram Mansharamani, a lecturer at Harvard University and the author of “Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in An Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence”. They discuss the need to reduce our reliance on experts living in the silos of their own professional fields, the importance of a liberal arts education, and the importance of staying focused on your mission.&nbsp;&nbsp;