139 - Lawrence Summers: Economic Policy, Free Speech, and The Pursuit of Truth

Lawrence Summers is the President Emeritus and Charles W. Eliot University Professor at Harvard University. He also served as the 71st Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration, as Director of the White House National Economic Council in the Obama Administration, and as the Chief Economist of the World Bank. In this episode, Robinson and Larry discuss two topics close to his heart and work. First, they talk about the relationship between economic research and economic policy, both at a broad, theoretical level and with respect to cases, such as the current problem of inflation and Larry’s own work on global investments in the education of women. Second, they explore free speech and the social function of the university, including its commitments to the pursuit of truth, the promotion of opportunity, and an increase in prosperity.

Larry’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LHSummers

Larry’s Website: https://larrysummers.com/

OUTLINE

00:00 In This Episode…

01:06 Introduction

05:19 Theory, Research, and Policy in Economics

18:15 Using Research to Debunk Theory

23:00 Investing in Women’s Education

27:33 Free Speech at Harvard

34:52 Harvard and the Purpose of the University

38:17 Why Larry Ran Harvard

41:50 The STEM Revolution

54:03 Anti-Semitism in the University

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.