The IPA's Looking Forward Podcast - A weekly podcast of debate and discussion about politics and ideas hosted by Scott Hargreaves, Editor of the IPA Review and Chris Berg of RMIT University and Fellow of the IPA
Episodes
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
The government has introduced a three-stage plan to return Australians to some form of normalcy. What are these decisions based off and is the uncertainty over the consequences small enough? (2:07-20:30) Sweden has been the most prominent and controversial example of an alternative lockdown model. How does their response shape the debate between social vs medical outcomes of pandemics? (20:30-40:42) Finally, the panel reflects on the systematic thoughts of the late Sir Roger Scruton, asking what will conservatism look like post COVID-19? (40:42-59:59) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week's picks include three new TV series: Normal People, The Last Dance and The English Game. (59:59-1:18:12)
Show Notes
Consummate Conservative; Andrew Bushnell
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/consummate-conservative
Lockdowns in SIR Models; Benjamin Moll
https://benjaminmoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SIR_notes.pdf
We Know Everything – And Nothing – About Covid; Matt Ridley
http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/we-know-everything-and-nothing/
How Pandemics End; Gina Kolata
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/health/coronavirus-plague-pandemic-history.html
No return to the policy status quo: Albanese; Phillip Coorey
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/no-return-to-the-policy-status-quo-albanese-20200510-p54rjj
Culture Picks
Normal People; TV series directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9059760/
The Last Dance; TV series directed by Jason Hehir
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8420184/
The English Game; TV series directed by Julian Fellowes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_Game
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
This week the Government focus is finally on getting Australians back to work. But with coronavirus panic still a factor, will the public take the PM’s lead or vote with leaden feet? (1:34-21:42) Daniel Andrews has self-isolated in refusing to reopen Victorian schools, but do health risks really out-weigh social and economic impacts? (21:42-34:54) With negotiations for a trans-Tasman travel bubble underway, what’s the next stage in the long history of Australia and New Zealand’s relationship? (34:54-48:09) Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by IPA Research Fellow, Dara Macdonald, to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include The Great Influenza, Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis and Randolph Churchill’s Young Statesman. (48:09-1:08:54)
Show Notes
Have a COVID-19 Plan; National COVID-19 Coordination Commission
https://pmc.gov.au/nccc/have-covid-19-plan
COVID-19 information for workplaces; Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces
This could be the start of a terrible friendship; Katrina Grace Kelly (Fair Work & JobsKeeper)
The Australian, May 2, 2020 ($)
Schools are reopening, so here’s a guide to the situation in each State and Territory; ABC
COVID-19 in schools – the experience in NSW
ncirs.org.au
New Zealand and Australian Federation; Ged Martin
https://www.gedmartin.net/australia-new-zealand-and-federation-1883-1901-c
Culture Picks
The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History; John M. Barry
https://www.amazon.com.au/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History/dp/0143036491
De Profundis; Oscar Wilde
https://www.amazon.com/Profundis-Oscar-Wilde/dp/150582480X
Young Statesman: Winston S. Churchill 1901-1914; Randolph S. Churchill
https://www.amazon.com/Young-statesman-Winston-Churchill-1901/dp/B002KZQTG2
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Over three million Australians have downloaded the COVIDSafe App but the Australian Government has a terrible record on digital security and privacy. Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by IPA Adjunct Fellow Matthew Lesh - now Director of Research at the Adam Smith Institute in London - to discuss this plus the UK's own experience of coronavirus as the Tories struggle to implement Brexit and find a coherent agenda for growth when Big Government holds sway. Plus they look at the forces pushing for and against the survival of the European Union as Eurocrats centralise more power but the struggling Euro threatens to blow up the whole financial system.
Books and Culture picks include Albert Camus' The Plague
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plague
The TV series Jack Ryan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ryan_(TV_series), and
The essay on Nassim Nicholas Taleb by Allan Farrington at Medium, A Tale of Two Talebs
https://medium.com/@allenfarrington/a-tale-of-two-talebs-1775dff3302b
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Only if we're free enough to adapt and allow entrepreneurs to create new businesses and institutions will the economy be dynamic enough for the high growth trajectory we need after the devastation of the lockdown.
A very special episode of The Looking Forward Podcast as Professor Jason Potts from RMIT University and host Dr Chris Berg join host Scott Hargreaves and the IPA’s Dan Wild to discuss their new book; Cryoeconomics: How to Unfreeze an Economy After a Pandemic. The panel discusses what the freezing / unfreezing metaphor used by Governments assumes too much and how Australia should find its way out of the social and economic crisis.
Show Notes
The Problem of ‘Freezing’ An Economy in a Pandemic
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3572365
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Australia has been one of the most successful countries in reducing transmission of the coronavirus. Why are the Australian infection rates so low and what does this mean for policymakers and citizens? (2:44-22:37) Virgin Australia has asked the government for a bail out, what role should the government play in restoring the economy and how should this shape policy decisions? (22:37-44:25) Joe Biden is the presidential nominee for the Democrats, what went wrong for Bernie Sanders and what does this mean for the elections in November? (44:25-1:02:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks for the week. This week’s isolation picks include the new album by The Strokes The New Abnormal, the American true crime documentary Tiger King and the Netflix Thriller Giri/Haji. (1:02:40-1:19:06)
Show Notes
Tackling Virus Risks Head On is Way Forward for Business; Scott Hargreaves
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tackling-virus-risks-head-way-forward-business-scott-hargreaves
Coronavirus Australia: Worst Year Since Great Depression, says IMF; Patrick Commins
Australia’s endgame must be total elimination of COVID-19; John Daley and Stephen Duckett
https://grattan.edu.au/news/australias-endgame-must-be-total-elimination-of-covid-19/
Culture Picks
The New Abnormal; The Strokes
https://open.spotify.com/album/2xkZV2Hl1Omi8rk2D7t5lN?si=QfZL5QDISjGEit_MoowbCQ
Tiger King
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_King
Giri/Haji
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
The government has revealed the very simple model driving their public policy response to COVID-19. With focus placed on macro modelling general claims, the government must narrow its attention to micro measures and a timeline for society's recovery (1:26-23:44) On the weekend the IPA called for a safe and responsible roll back of social restrictions, and now the debate’s started on removing petty restrictions and starting economic recovery. (23:44-36:13) Parliament has decided to sit for the last time until August, just when social and economic policy decisions need more scrutiny than ever (36:13-54:56) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA's Andrew Bushnell as they answer these questions as well as share their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include the computer game Surviving Mars, Sarah Bakewell's How to Live / A Life of Montaigne, and Demolition Man by Marco Brambilla. (54:56-1:11:01)
Show Notes
Begin to End the Lockdown Now! (with Gideon Rozner)
https://youtu.be/Nn5adebL-Co
Coronavirus: $1600 fine withdrawn for L-plater charged for breaching lockdown; Remy Varga and Rachel Baxendale
Upcoming Public Hearings (editor: what’s missing here?)
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Upcoming_Public_Hearings
PM plans staggered virus exit; Phillip Coorey
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-plans-staggered-virus-exit-20200407-p54hqp
Coronavirus: Push to let COVID-19 infect us slowly; Yoni Bashan
NSW Premier says coronavirus social distancing to stay ‘until vaccine is found'; Paige Cockburn
‘Use isolation to our advantage': Who is exempt from the hard WA border closure?; Lauren Pilat
Fortress Queensland: borders locked down as state records fourth death; Stuart Layt
Coronavirus: Call to sign up for 'Team Australia’ has fallen on a lot of deaf ears; Janet Albrechtsen
Culture Picks
Demolition Man; Marco Brambilla
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
How to Live or A Life of Montaigne; Sarah Bakewell
https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Live-Montaigne-Question-Attempts/dp/1590514831
Surviving Mars; Paradox Interactive
Friday Apr 03, 2020
Friday Apr 03, 2020
This week’s episode is brought to you from the Looking Forward remote studio! This week the Australian Government introduced the centrepiece of their corona virus crisis strategy, ‘the job keeper scheme’. How can we bring Australians back to work to unfreeze the frozen economy? (1:48-18:06) Everyday more social restrictions are emplaced on citizens, showing many what it is to live in a police state. How much power should politicians and the police have to curtail civil liberties and at what point has it gone too far? (18:06-37:38) The economic price tags for new policies have piled up, will these policies ever be reversed and how can the economy be rebuilt? (37:38-56:43) Your host Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to answer these questions and share their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include Zionism: the concise history, the TV show Modern Love and Lord Macaulay’s The History of England from the Accession of James the Second. (56:43-1:10:26)
Show Notes
Cryoeconomics: how to unfreeze the economy
https://medium.com/@cryptoeconomics/cryoeconomics-how-to-unfreeze-the-economy-a5536ee261f0
Culture Picks
Zionism: the concise history; Alex Ryvchin
https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Zionism-the-concise-history--Alex-Ryvchin_p_302.html
Modern Love (TV Series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Love_(TV_series)
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second; Lord Macaulay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_England_from_the_Accession_of_James_the_Second
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
As the pandemic rises, government must make decisions based on uncertainty. What trade-offs are we making and what values are defining these trade-offs? (2:00-22:20) It’s the 'short sharp shock' model of shutdown versus the 'flatten the curve' approach, which should guide Australian policy? (22:20-34:44) The pandemic has put extreme pressure on job loss and the economy, how are governments all over the world responding and what are the long term consequences? (34:44-50:30) Your hosts, Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA's Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks including the film John Wick 3, the new Spanish Netflix movie The Platform and Michael Petroni's film The Messiah. (50:30-1:04:08)
Show Notes
Stop with the fatalism: Don't flatten it, Crush The Curve on Coronavirus; JoNova
Culture Picks
John Wick 3; Chad Stahelski
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6146586/
Messiah; Michael Petroni
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7671598/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
The Platform; Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down. Whilst governments all around the world scramble for solutions, what are the policy affects for citizens? (3:25-16:10). Different countries' approach to the pandemic response highlight complexities of decision making, and the importance of sensibly drawing on rather than deferring to experts. (16:10-26:50) The virus has pricked open many underlying economic issues, is the performance of presenting stimulus packages enough to save Australians? (26:50-45:22) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg, are joined by the IPA's Gideon Rozner and Kurt Wallace to discuss these questions and share their culture picks including the computer game Plague Inc, the streaming series Star Trek: Picard, Tim Shipman's All Out War and Abraham Kuyper's Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto. (45:22-1:12:46)
NB: The promoter of the Benedict Option was identified in the episode as Patrick Deneen, however the author is Rod Dreher.
Show Notes
Dutch embrace 'herd immunity' as dire death warning prompts UK to change course; Bevan Shields
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/dutch-embrace-herd-immunity-as-dire-death-warning-prompts-uk-to-change-course-20200317-p54arv.html
While other countries lost precious time, Taiwan mobilised to keep COVID-19 at bay; Ben Hurley
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/while-other-countries-lost-precious-time-taiwan-mobilised-to-keep-covid-19-at-bay-20200316-p54ah8.html
Coronavirus spreads quickly and sometimes before people have symptoms, study finds; The University of Texas at Austin
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200316143313.htm
Cut the 'crapshoot politics', Mr Morrison, and cut the red tape to set business free; Janet Albrechtsen
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/cut-the-crapshoot-politics-mr-morrison-and-cut-the-red-tape-to-set-business-free/news-story/a92411aad8976f0e5c053ffd6daee597
World Health Organisation Boot-Licks China, With Deadly Results; Time Andrews
https://thefederalist.com/2020/03/17/u-s-funds-world-health-organization-that-boot-licks-china-with-deadly-results/
Diamond Princess Mysteries; Willis Eschenbach
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/03/16/diamond-princess-mysteries/
Culture Picks
Plague Inc; Ndemic Creations
https://www.ndemiccreations.com/en/22-plague-inc
Star Trek: Picard
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8806524/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
All Out War; Tim Shipman
https://www.amazon.com/All-Out-War-Britains-Political/dp/0008215154
Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto; Abraham Kuyper
https://www.amazon.com.au/Our-Program-Christian-Political-Manifesto-ebook/dp/B0199BCHKG
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
It’s the Looking Forward Podcast’s first special episode of 2020! This week our focus is on what’s wrong with our Universities, featuring special guest Dr Phil Magness from the American Institute for Economic Research and co-author of Cracks in the Ivory Tower.
Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg, are joined by the IPA’s Dr Bella D’Abrera to discuss with Phil Magness the pathologies evident in university teaching, research and social activism, in the USA and in Australia.
The panel goes inside Phil’s book and its application of public choice economics to explain bloated university administrations, rising costs, useless courses, and rent extraction by second-rate academics.
The panel asks when did higher education become a moral mess? Why are students fleeing politicised disciplines? And is the use of social media by academics corrupting the history profession?
Due to technical issues video of Dr Magness during the interview was not available.
Purchase your copy of Cracks in the Ivory Tower here:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Cracks-Ivory-Tower-Higher-Education-ebook/dp/B07NYT5P7C
Show Notes
Cracks in the Ivory Tower; Phillip Magness and Jason Brennan
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/cracks-in-the-ivory-tower-9780190846282
My Most Notable Articles of 2019; Phil Magness
https://www.aier.org/article/my-most-notable-articles-of-2019/
Here is Proof that the Leftist Tilt on Campus Has Gotten Dramatically Worse; Phil Magness
The Rise of Identity Politics: An Audit Of History Teaching At Australian Universities In 2017; Bella d’Abrera
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/research-papers/rise-identity-politics