Russ Roberts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russ Roberts
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| Born | September 19, 1954 |
| Institution | Shalem College |
| School or tradition |
Chicago School Austrian School |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina (B.A.) University of Chicago (Ph.D.) |
| Influences | Gary Becker Friedrich Hayek Milton Friedman Adam Smith Ayn Rand |
Russell David "Russ" Roberts (born September 19, 1954) is an economist from the United States who also lives in Israel. He works as a researcher at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He is also the president of Shalem College in Jerusalem. Russ Roberts is well-known for explaining complex economic ideas in ways that are easy to understand. He does this especially as the host of his popular podcast, EconTalk.
Contents
About Russ Roberts
Russel Roberts, known as Russ, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. He later moved to Israel and now lives in Jerusalem.
His Education Journey
Russ Roberts studied economics at two major universities. In 1975, he earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from the University of North Carolina. Later, in 1981, he received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. For his Ph.D., he wrote about how government programs that help people are designed.
Russ Roberts' Career
Russ Roberts has taught economics at several universities. These include George Mason University, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Rochester, Stanford University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Sharing Economic Ideas
Beyond teaching, he often talks about business and economics on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. He has also written articles for well-known newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Leading Shalem College
In November 2020, Russ Roberts was chosen to be the third president of Shalem College. He started this role in March 2021. The college chose him because of his strong belief in a "liberal arts education." This type of education helps students learn broadly about many subjects, not just one specific field.
Books by Russ Roberts
Russ Roberts has written books that teach economic ideas in unique and interesting ways. He often uses stories to make these ideas clear.
The Invisible Heart
In 2001, he published a novel called The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance. This book explains economic ideas through conversations. It features two teachers at a high school: one teaches economics and believes in free markets, and the other teaches English and worries about capitalism without rules.
The Price of Everything
His 2008 novel, The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity, tells the story of Ramon Fernandez. Ramon is a university student and tennis player whose mother escaped from Cuba. Through Ramon's experiences and talks with others, the book explores economic concepts. These include how prices work, how order can appear without anyone planning it, and what happens when prices go up a lot during emergencies.
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life
In 2014, Roberts wrote How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness. This book looks at the ideas of Adam Smith, a famous economist. Instead of focusing on Smith's well-known book about wealth, Roberts explores Smith's earlier work. This earlier book is about human nature and how people make moral choices, which is a bit like modern behavioral economics.
Russ Roberts' Beliefs
Russ Roberts describes himself as a classical liberal. This means he believes in limited government and that people should take personal responsibility for their lives. He often says that spending money unwisely is not a good way for a country to become rich.
Debates on Economic Policy
He has discussed economic policies with other famous economists. For example, he had a long conversation with Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman. They disagreed on whether government spending helps the economy. Roberts believes in smaller government, while Krugman supports government actions to stabilize the economy.
Being Skeptical of Predictions
Russ Roberts also encourages leaders and economists to be careful about what they claim. He thinks that politicians should not make exact promises about how many jobs a new policy will create or how much the economy will grow. He believes such claims are often unreliable.
See also
In Spanish: Russ Roberts para niños
- Fear the Boom and Bust – a 2010 music video that shows a fun debate between economists John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek.
