Published Dec 15, 2008

Robert Higgs on the Great Depression

Russ Roberts and Robert Higgs delve into the economic ramifications of World War II and the Great Depression, exposing how government interventions in consumer markets and policy changes under the New Deal created distortions that masked true economic conditions and prolonged hardship.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

Related Episodes

Eric Rauchway on the Great Depresson and the New Deal
Answers 383 questions
David Kennedy on the Great Depression and the New Deal
Answers 383 questions
Amity Shlaes on the Great Depression
Answers 383 questions
Douglas Irwin on the Great Depression and the Gold Standard
Answers 383 questions
John Nye on the Great Depression, Political Economy, and the Evolution of the State
Answers 383 questions
Thomas Rustici on Smoot-Hawley and the Great Depression
Answers 383 questions
Robert Hall on Recession, Stagnation, and Monetary Policy
Answers 383 questions
Robert Barro on Disasters
Answers 383 questions
David Beckworth on Money, Monetary Policy, and the Great Recession
Answers 383 questions
Lee Ohanian on the Great Recession and the Labor Market
Answers 383 questions
James Hamilton on Debt, Default, and Oil
Answers 383 questions
Robert Solow on Growth and the State of Economics
Answers 383 questions
Larry White on the Clash of Economic Ideas
Answers 383 questions
John Quiggin on Zombie Economics
Answers 383 questions
Edmund Phelps on Unemployment and the State of Macroeonomics
Answers 383 questions

Dexa/Russ Roberts

Robert Higgs on the Great Depression

Topics covered

Popular Clips

The Economic Impact

War and Unemployment

Misconceptions of 1940s Economy

Unemployment Rates

The New Deal's Impact

Roosevelt's Impact

The Great Escape

Economic Uncertainty

Consumer Well-being During War

Government Takeover

The Wartime GDP Dilemma

Distrust and Regime Uncertainty

The Great Duration

War Economy Insights

Episode Highlights

Consumer Welfare During War

Wartime Economy Analysis

New Deal Policies

Related Episodes

Eric Rauchway on the Great Depresson and the New Deal

David Kennedy on the Great Depression and the New Deal

Amity Shlaes on the Great Depression

Douglas Irwin on the Great Depression and the Gold Standard

John Nye on the Great Depression, Political Economy, and the Evolution of the State

Thomas Rustici on Smoot-Hawley and the Great Depression

Robert Hall on Recession, Stagnation, and Monetary Policy

Robert Barro on Disasters

David Beckworth on Money, Monetary Policy, and the Great Recession

Lee Ohanian on the Great Recession and the Labor Market

James Hamilton on Debt, Default, and Oil

Robert Solow on Growth and the State of Economics

Larry White on the Clash of Economic Ideas

John Quiggin on Zombie Economics

Edmund Phelps on Unemployment and the State of Macroeonomics

Robert Higgs on the Great Depression

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Consumer Welfare During WarRobert Higgs examines the impact of World War II on consumer goods, highlighting how war efforts led to quality deterioration and rationing effects. He argues that government interventions distorted markets, resulting in arbitrary pricing and limited access to goods.

Consumer Welfare During War

Wartime Economy Analysis

New Deal PoliciesRobert Higgs examines how New Deal policies under Franklin D. Roosevelt created a climate of uncertainty that prolonged the Great Depression. He argues that distrust in government and frequent policy changes discouraged investment, delaying economic recovery.

New Deal Policies

Related Episodes