Cowen (9:21:29 AM): some are, some aren't. people "feel" more libertarian, for sure. they are more liberal socially, in the good sense. but is the American public ready to tackle its convenient self-deception and face up to the tough issues, and take some policy actions that not everyone will like? I don't think so. People are in a way more comfortably ensconced in the status quo than ever before.
reason (9:22:19 AM): what's next for mr. tyler cowen (i won't add, "ph.d." since you write, "If a book lists 'Ph.D.' after the author's name, be wary....It usually means the author is not used to interacting with peers, is appealing to the gullible, or is making questionable claims")?
Cowen (9:23:23 AM): I'm writing a popular text on economics—a Principles text—with my colleague and co-blogger Alex Tabarrok. And I am starting to think about the book to follow after Discover Your Inner Economist. I have many ideas there, but haven't yet settled on which one. I will soon.
I should add I have an unpublished book manuscript on the foundations of a free society. I will revise that and get back to it, but not right away. I want to think about it for a few more years. The goal of that book is to show the ultimate compatibility between utilitarian and liberty-based thinking. that's a tough thing to do.
reason (9:25:09 AM): i used to write for some rock and heavy metal mags, back before the berlin wall fell (sometimes i think it got smashed because soviet rock was so godawful that the kids in the east bloc couldn't take it any more). we used to end each interview with the query: "message to your fans?" economists are the new rock stars. so: message to your fans?
Cowen (9:26:10 AM): I am "your fan(s)," that is my message to whomever is reading this.
reason (9:28:23 AM): here's a bonus question for garden state readers: i think we've discussed this before, but you're from new jersey. i'm from new jersey. milton friedman was from new jersey. my predecessor at reason (and yours at the new york times, where you write a column every few weeks in the business section), virginia postrel, went to school there. is there something specific about new jersey—the disproportional number of superfund sites?—that turns out libertarians like so many C.H.U.D.s (cannabalistic humanoind underground dwellers)?
Cowen (9:29:35 AM): very intellectual state, in part because of population density, proximity to nyc and philly, and an irreverent sense of humor and dynamic ethos. that's what I think. there are many other names you left out, I don't remember them all but once we compiled a very long list. maybe that would make a good, short reason article!
reason (9:29:50 AM): all short articles are better than long ones, ceteris paribus. thanks very much.
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SIV|8.10.07 @ 12:57PM|#
Cowen advises not to tip more than 15% AND to order the organ meats? Livin' dangerous.
Stephen The Goldberger|8.10.07 @ 1:04PM|#
THE DIRTY JERZ REPRESENT
|8.10.07 @ 1:08PM|#
"Given that this is reason, perhaps you pay him to smoke pot!"
Now that's below the belt!
|8.10.07 @ 1:19PM|#
reason (8:55:55 AM): you love mises but didn't name your book "the inner praxeologist"...
Cowen (8:56:26 AM): my publisher advised against that idea.
Ah, economics humor..
Jim Henley|8.10.07 @ 1:56PM|#
Good interview! Nothing much to say beyond that.
tomWright|8.10.07 @ 2:07PM|#
I grew up in, and am in, NJ right now. I can tell you there are not very many libertarians here, Big, small or half-small "L".
If there were, I wouldn't need to ask permissionf from the town or state every time I cut down a tree, dig a hole in my yard and I could pump my own gas.
The NJLP is essentially moribund, the NJ Republican Party is a rubber-room where NJ Democrats send their more disagreeable members.
The real conservatives are in the Conservative party, that has even less relevance than the LP does.
Libertarians in NJ? Nope, not here.
Franklin Harris|8.10.07 @ 2:11PM|#
Yes, he left out the third part of that, which is "never eat at the same restaurant twice."
VM|8.10.07 @ 2:17PM|#
Fun interview.
Any reference to Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers is AWESOME!!!!!
|8.10.07 @ 2:31PM|#
Oh VM. You lose some cool points for calling him Richmond instead of Richman.
VM|8.10.07 @ 2:40PM|#
*bites self on taint to Egyptian Reggae
|8.10.07 @ 3:01PM|#
Notice the New Jersey libertarians they name fled at the soonest possible chance for better areas and DC.
SxCx|8.10.07 @ 3:12PM|#
Nick, were you ever into Exodus?
Gabe Haris|8.10.07 @ 3:23PM|#
Bama, northern virginia and New Hampshire have more libertarians....the reasons? Mises Institute, George Mason and the Free State Project.
Enjoyed the interview.
|8.10.07 @ 3:27PM|#
"Cowen advises not to tip more than 15% AND to order the organ meats? Livin' dangerous."
Not at all (at least with respect to the latter action). Weston Price's landmark studies found organ meats to be far more nutritious than other types of meat.
SIV|8.10.07 @ 3:52PM|#
Jason C,
Then you lose cool points too.
they were just called "The Modern Lovers" on that record.
VM|8.10.07 @ 3:55PM|#
SIV is just the ol' Roadrunner.
This is, after all, the modern world.
:)
|8.10.07 @ 4:02PM|#
Hey, I was just correcting the spelling of the name. I knew they were just Modern Lovers (there is no "The". The Modern Lovers is the name of the record). I do believe I win "pedant of the day".
|8.10.07 @ 9:10PM|#
Jeez, how do they write so fast? Freaky
Jeff Smith|8.11.07 @ 9:22AM|#
Very nice interview!
Nick must have moved if there is grass to be cut.
What does paying for sex have to do with love?
Jeff
Joshua Holmes|8.11.07 @ 1:07PM|#
THE DIRTY JERZ REPRESENT
Word up!
roger selbert|8.11.07 @ 8:11PM|#
There are no libertarians in NJ because we all have left. Another Jersey free-market guy: check out anxietycenter.com