Waaay back in Episode 22, Ron and Ed detailed the ideas behind Joel Waldfogel's book, Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays. Waldfogel makes the case that the deadweight loss to the economy from gift giving, in 2007, totaled $12 billion, out of approximately $66.5 Billion spent (about 12%) and that we should all give cash rather than presents. In this episode, we will speak with Professor Tony Gill about his ideas around Rethinking Scroogencomics and some of his other writings.
About Tony Gill
Anthony Gill (Ph.D. UCLA 1994) is professor of political science at the University of Washington and an adjunct professor of sociology at the UW. He is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion, a research affiliate at the Mises Institute (Auburn, AL), a frequent mentor at the Institute for Humane Studies, and is currently nominated for membership in the Mont Pelerin Society. He specializes in the political economy of religion, religious liberty, and is currently dabbling in the economics of culture. He is author of two books — Rendering unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America and The Political Origins of Religious Liberty — and a bunch of articles and stuff in places like the American Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Rationality & Society, and Public Choice.
Normally, you would see info here about joining us live. This is a pre-recorded episode while Ron and Ed enjoy a well deserved break.
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