Words & Numbers
Words & Numbers
Free the People
Episode 494: The Dark Ages Never Went Away
1 hour 3 minutes Posted Feb 3, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
Introduction and Overview
Land Acknowledgment
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Teaspoons
What Teaspoons Teach Us About Prices and Resources
China Executes Online Scammers
When Capital Punishment Expands Too Far
Foolishness of the Week: Mandatory Land Acknowledgments
Free Speech, Property Theory, and a Faculty Lawsuit
Andrew Heaton Joins the Show
Economics Thinking That Never Escaped the Dark Ages
Zero-Sum Thinking and the Origins of Envy
Why Humans Think in Proportions, Not Absolutes
Inequality vs. Poverty
Greed, Merchants, and Medieval Economics
Why Price Controls Never Work
Theology vs. Economics
Why Profit Caps Backfire
Supply and Demand Is Not Optional
Systems Thinking vs. Witch Hunts
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Show notes
In this episode, we explore everything from missing teaspoons and land acknowledgments to capital punishment and medieval economic thinking. We examine what everyday shortages reveal about prices and incentives, debate China’s use of executions for online scams, and unpack why symbolic gestures like mandatory land acknowledgments often collapse under scrutiny. We’re also joined by Andrew Heaton, host of The Political Orphanage podcast, to discuss zero-sum thinking, inequality versus poverty, and why so many economic intuitions still haven’t escaped the Dark Ages. Along the way, we look at profit caps, price controls, and the persistent temptation to treat economics like theology rather than systems thinking.
55:01 Why Bad Incentives Create Bad Outcomes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices