Penn Initiative for the Study of Markets

01/24/2024

📚 Explore the rich tapestry of markets as social institutions in our 8-session online course starting this March! 🌐 Unpack historical evolution and philosophical foundations, critically examining critiques by economists, philosophers, sociologists, and social scientists. Tailored for advanced undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students in social sciences. Also ideal for professionals in policy-oriented organizations. Gain a profound understanding of economic history, ethical dilemmas, and alternative systems. Enroll now for an enlightening journey: https://www.market-critics.org/ 📖🧑‍🎓

Week 1: Main Lecture by Jesús Fernández-Villaverde (UPenn) on Understanding Markets & Plenary Lecture by Mike Munger (Duke) on Markets as a Cooperative Arrangement.

Week 2: Delve into The Morality of Markets with Fernando Arteaga's (UPenn) Main Lecture & Jason Brennan's (Georgetown) Plenary on Do Markets Promote Selfishness?

Week 3: Iván Luzardo's (UPenn) Main Lecture on Are Markets Stable?

Week 4: Jacob Hall's (UPenn) Main Lecture on Are Market’s Outcomes Fair? & Cléo Chassonnery-Zaïgouche's (UBologna) Plenary on Social and Economic Inequality.

Week 5: Jacob Hall (UPenn) explores Are Markets Efficient? & John Cochrane's (Hoover Inst) Plenary on Fundamental Theorem of Welfare Economics.

Week 6: Andrej Svorenčík's (UPenn) Main Lecture on Alternatives to Markets & Olessia Kirtchik's (CESSP) Plenary on Utopic and Scientific Socialism.

Week 7: Fernando Arteaga's (UPenn)Main Lecture on The Role of the State & Malte Dold's (Pomona) Plenary on Market Interventions.

Week 8: Conclude with Jesús Fernández-Villaverde & Deirdre McCloskey exploring The Future of Markets.

Tailored for advanced undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students in social sciences. Enroll now for an in-depth exploration: [Link to the course] 📖🧑‍🎓

Course Overview

04/17/2023

"Too much money spent chasing too few goods" is the preferred explanation that most people think about when discussing the causes of inflation. But how generally applicable is said argument to our modern economy? Today we will be talking with Dr. John Cochrane, who will speak about his most recent book, The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level, where he argues that changes in price levels depend rather on the expectations of the ability of governments to repay their debt. https://kite.link/anxNTaS

10/04/2022

What happens when our measurement estimates are wrong? We are joined by Timothy Guinnane to discuss how inaccurate the world's historical population estimates are and the general implications for economics, demography, and social sciences. https://kite.link/wOLVkGP

05/02/2022

Global concerns about comparative economic development, growth, and inequality cannot be adequately assessed without attending to the core foundations that have shaped human history. Today, Oded Galor joins us to discuss his most recent book on this topic: The Journey of Humanity. We talk about why a unified approach to economic growth is needed, why population size, population composition, and technological change matter, and why we can be hopeful about humanity's future. discusses his most recent book: The Journey of Humanity. We talk about why a unified approach to economic growth is needed, why population size, composition, & technological change matter, and why we can be hopeful about humanity's future. https://kite.link/dPwuO5i

04/25/2022

Nathan Nuinn joins us to discuss his most recent paper delivered during the 2022 AEA Distinguished Lecture. We talk about why culture matters, how beliefs are formed, and why and when relying on tradition may pay off. https://kite.link/l6y4aIG

04/03/2022

Most recent demographic projections suggest humanity will reach its population peak by the end of the century. What lies ahead is uncertain as it will be a first for our world. Today, Professor Jesús Fernández-Villaverde joins us to discuss the challenges and the opportunities that may come with the end of the world's demographic transition. https://kite.link/1DsOTGV

03/07/2022

Good managerial practices may help nations and firms increase productivity by rearranging resources into more efficient production processes. Mismanagement, however, can squander any growth potential. Today we are joined by Michela Giorcelli to discuss the importance of management. https://kite.link/nvMuYPT

02/21/2022

Innovation is heralded as an essential trait of success in modern firms and societies alike. What are the broader institutional underpinnings that facilitate it? TodayMike Andrews (UMBC) will talk to us about it https://kite.link/wrK9qhn

02/08/2022

Human societies are inherently prone to recurring shocks that constantly disrupt their organization. How can we effectively manage these shocks? How can we build better societal mechanisms to cope better and assure us a return to normalcy? Today Professor Markus Brunnermeier will help us understand the severity of the issue.

01/31/2022

Human societies are inherently prone to recurring shocks that constantly disrupt their organization. How can we effectively manage these shocks? How can we build better societal mechanisms to cope better and assure us a return to normalcy? Today Markus will help understand the severity of the issue.

12/06/2021

How historical patterns of land ownership have contributed to social conflict and women's empowerment in Thailand. Jessica Vechbanyongratana talks to us about it. https://kite.link/VsEybrG

12/06/2021

Southeast Asia has historically been the land of spices and riches to Westerners. To Asians, it was the buffer zone of conflict where Indian Buddhism and Chinese Confucianism collided. A geographical area where highlands and rain forest create the ideal spot for huge, diverse societies to emerge. To...