More on the NewsHour

by Russ Roberts on December 17, 2009

in Monetary Policy, Music, State of Macro, Stimulus

A number of folks have asked me (Sam Grove in the comments to this post, for example) for my impression of how the piece on the NewsHour came out relative to the actual interview, its fairness, etc.

First, I thought I got decent air time. The segment was about Keynes and one of the guests (not me) wrote a magesterial three volume biography on Keynes. So he got a lot of attention. No surprise there. I was there as a counterpoint to Skidelsky and I got to raise some relevant points.

Second, the segment was never planned to be about Hayek. They only brought Hayek in because of the rap video I’m doing with John Papola, that the NewsHour liked. It was wonderful that Hayek got into it at all. In our rap and video by the way, it’s pretty much half Keynes and half Hayek. More on that soon.

Third, I spent 90 minutes taping the interview with Paul Solman and Robert Skidelsky. They used maybe 5 minutes of it. I am hopeful that the whole conversation will be made available. I thought it was fascinating. Lots of good back and forth. Not surprisingly, they used parts that showed us confronting each other. That makes for good TV and is again, unsurprising.

Fourth, I got the last word, sort of. I got to say that it’s possible that the stimulus has worsened confidence because of the increase in the debt. I’m sure I had more to say on this topic in the 85 minutes that were left on the cutting room floor, but that’s life. For TV, I thought this was a very high level conversation.

Fifth, John Papola and I will be launching a website (next month most likely), EconStories.tv that will have the rap video plus interviews with leading economists, including Skidelsky and much more. F. A. Hayek will get plenty of exposure on that site. So will Keynes. Stay tuned.

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  • Mike@pvl
    Russ, new site sounds good, but please don't tell me that means you'll be switching away from EconTalk's audio-only format.
  • russroberts
    Plan on doing both, Mike. I appreciate the encouragement.
  • Marcus
    "Fourth, I got the last word, sort of."

    No you didn't. They put that there so the host could close with, "But Skidelsky says that Keynesian spending DOES increase confidence."
  • I noticed the same. It was almost as though that was the final determination, too.
  • Methinks1776
    Russ, I think you're wrong about confidence.

    Personally, my confidence has been steadily rising since Stimulus I and Stimulus III or XI (I forget which is the latest) has cemented my confidence at positively stratospheric levels.

    I am now highly confident (to borrow from Michael Milken) that most of everything I work to earn in the future will be confiscated by the state to pay for all the invaluable dog parks being built around the country today.

    In my state, along bucolic CT 15, a sign proudly proclaims that stimulus money is being spent to dig up the existing lush foliage and replanting to make it look like it did 50 years ago. Obviously, this crucial project is what I would have invested in had the government not already done so on my behalf. Obviously, since this project is now already getting funded, I will no longer need to earn the the money I would have invested in it and I can enjoy a lot more free time. Even more free time is coming my way when I can stop earning enough to pay for my health care since it will be free soon. The best news is that thanks to political pressure, I no longer have to actually pay my mortgage to live in my house. Hell, that's a better deal than renting.

    I look forward to a bright future of free healthcare, housing, electric cars and dog parks. Continuing to work, employ people and risk my capital every day of the week will soon be superfluous because most of the benefit will not flow to me anyway, so I plan to steadily cut that wasteful activity from my life. Of that, I am most confident.
  • vidyohs
    I like your vision, lady.

    When they stimulate me all the way to the mountain cabin of my dreams, as I sit on the porch overlooking that valley which will be exclusively mine, thanks to muirduck's contributions and efforts, I will lift a glass of good Spanish brandy in salute to you before I toss it back. :-D
  • Marcus
    "In my state, along bucolic CT 15, a sign proudly proclaims that stimulus money is being spent..."

    The stimulus was apparently quite the boon for sign production!
  • Methinks1776
    Oh yes. And the chic white lettering on a forest green background with that strip of police tape yellow that assaults your eyeballs is a design only a government could love.
  • MnM
    You have a rap?

    You need a hip-hop name.

    How about the Pro-fessor?
  • Methinks1776
    Pro-fessah
  • MnM
    Pro-fe$$ah
  • Methinks1776
    ooohhhh...now, you're cooking with gas!
  • I must admit, I had never heard Keynes pronounced before last night, and was surprised to hear "Kanes." That's what I get for just reading about economists. :-)
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