Listening to Oren Cass promote his new book on the Brian Lehrer show on WNYC.
Here is the AUDIO of a Brian Lehrer interview on Public Radio station WNYC in New York
Here is his webpage
Summary
Started off strong, got the problem right, but then faded when asked for solutions. Put forth a proposal for a wage subsidy then got side tracked bashing environmental regulations. Kind of long winded even to someone who really into this topic.
Here are some highlights
The US model of capitalism could be defined as supporting growth at all costs with a safety net for those who are left behind. This has been the US model since FDR. Both left and right agree on the model.
The model has flaws. It is based on material needs and wants only, not overall happiness. We analyze economic activity through the lens of the consumer: how much stuff can you buy? How cheap is it? What is your material living standard?
Our goal as a society should be a labor market that can support families and communities that allow people to lie healthy lives and to flourish
However, if you look at what drives peoples life satisfaction, their health, and their families health; it’s not about how much we consume, it's about the health of the labor market. Are people find satisfying jobs, are they good jobs. Can I support a family? Can they save for the future?
All long-term employment trends are bad. And the trends get worse each business cycle. We have the largest number of prime-age men outside the labor force. Wage growth is low. Both are on a downward slope.
Happiness studies show people recover from almost every life event but unemployment which leads to a permanent decrease in happiness.
Then he pretty much dies on air….
He discusses happiness measures. Two important measures are the number of people who can make ends meet. Savings rate. I really like the savings rate one.
He proposes a wage subsidy.
Get trapped in discussing less environment regulation and then run out of time
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