Smart phones and social media, Smithian patriotism, and lots of resources for teaching and learning.

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** Econlib Newsletter
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August 2024
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Welcome to our August newsletter! We’re excited to have you join our community of learners and thinkers. For many, this month marks the dawn of a new academic year. For many not beholden to an academic calendar, the Back-to-School season can still elicit a frisson of excitement- it’s a new year, after all!

As every month, we’re happy to introduce you to our new collection of Articles, and to highlight some of the new content across the Econlib site. We’d also like to (re)introduce you to some of the resources in our family of sites that we hope can contribute to a great year of teaching and learning.

Econlib Guides ([link removed])
Discover a wealth of resources designed to help you navigate economic concepts and theories. Our guides offer curated reading lists, supplementary materials for popular textbooks, and a variety of topics that cater to teachers, students, and anyone interested in economics. Whether you’re looking for definitions, basics, or in-depth discussions, there's something for everyone.

Adam Smith Works Educational Resources ([link removed])
Dive into the world of Adam Smith with our ever-evolving collection of teaching materials. From toolkits on trade and the division of labor to seasonal readings and virtual reading groups, we provide engaging ways to bring Smith's ideas into your classroom or personal study. Our resources are designed to foster deep discussions and critical thinking, making economics accessible and relevant!

Be sure to explore the latest content at econlib.org ([link removed]) . In addition to the new Articles we highlight below, EconLog has new posts every day, and we continue to add new ONLINE ONLY entries to the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, like this updated entry on Occupational Licensing ([link removed]) .

Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to sharing knowledge and insights with you! Happy exploring!


** NEW Econlib Articles
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August 2024

Better Economic Maps

By Arnold Kling

This month, Arnold Kling looks at the world of agent-based modeling in his review of Making Sense of Chaos. Such models, while they often provide valuable information, may yet be inferior to mainstream economics. Writes Kling, “If economists are going to adopt agent-based modeling, they are going to have to develop ways to articulate, explain, and justify the choices they make in constructing the models.”
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Nature by the Numbers

By Maria Pia Paganelli

How do you price scarce and valuable resources that are not traded in a market? Before answering that question, one may need to ask: why do we want to price those resources?

These are the two most important questions environmental economists can ask, according to H. Spencer Banzhaf. These are the same questions considered by Maria Pia Paganelli on her review of Banzhaf’s work.
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Patriotism and Universal Benevolence: Are They Consistent?

By Erik W. Matson

How have political economists addressed the issue of patriotism? Is it a positive or negative sentiment? How does it affect international relations, including international trade? Erik Matson takes us back to the Scottish Enlightenment in this fascinating historical exploration.

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What's a Parent to Do?

By Jeremy Horpedahl

Jonathan Haidt’s book on the damage social media inflicts on teenagers has caused quite a sensation. In this review, Jeremy Horpedhal digs into the evidence underlying Haidt’s claims.

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** EconTalk: Conversation for the Curious
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The Ever-Present Challenge of Escaping Poverty

with Noah Smith

The universe, points out economist Noah Smith ([link removed]) , is always trying to kill us, whether through asteroids hurtling through space or our every-few-hours hunger pains. Why, then, should we expect anything but a gravitational pull toward poverty? Listen as Smith explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts ([link removed]) why he believes that poverty will always be our "elemental foe," and how what he calls "industrial modernity" is key to keeping poverty at bay. They also discuss Smith's impatience with the "degrowth movement," which he thinks jeopardizes our gains in the fight against the elemental foe.

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More Recent Episodes & Extras:
* Sam Harris on Jew-Hatred, Radical Islam, and the West ([link removed])
* Mike Munger Extra: Bureaucracy Without Romance ([link removed])
* Does Parenting Make You a Better Person? (with Erik Hoel) ([link removed])
* Lessons from Lincoln, Then and Now (with Diana Schaub) ([link removed])
* Reading, Writing, and Fighting (with Mark Helprin) ([link removed])
* Zvi Mowshowitz Extra: Artificial Intelligence and the Man of System ([link removed])


** Upcoming Virtual Reading Groups
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To see all our upcoming Virtual Reading Groups, click here ([link removed]) .


** Buchanan's Natural and Artifactual Man
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**
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September 24, 2024

Pre-registration is required.

In this essay, which was first published by Liberty Fund in 1979, Nobel Laureate James Buchanan examines the significance of what he describes as man’s ‘artifactual’ nature. As understood by Buchanan, the term ‘artifactual’ refers to man’s capacity for “becoming different from what he is”, to the fact that “we can, and do, construct ourselves as individuals, from the base constructed for us by our forebears.” Buchanan explores the relationship between this aspect of human nature and rule-following behaviour, before going to consider the significance of the concept of artifactual man for economic theory in general and constitutional political economy in particular. This VRG will explore Buchanan’s account of artifactual man and investigate what Buchanan takes to be its implications for arguments in favour of a society of free and responsible individuals.

Click here to register. ([link removed])

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