Economist and author Gary Shiffman of Georgetown University talks about his book, The Economics of Violence, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Shiffman argues that we should view terrorism, insurgency, and crime as being less about ideology and more about personal expression and entrepreneurship. He argues that approaching these problems as economists gives us better tools for fighting them.

In September, a group of residents in Fort Worth, Texas, decided to do something to combat growing hunger in their city. They placed a refrigerator on a city street and stocked it with food that anyone in need could take and eat. For free. Months later, though, their efforts are in jeopardy due to an unwelcome combination of outdated laws and overzealous regulators.

Central banks across the world have pumped in excess liquidity to help the global economy tide over the coronavirus pandemic. While the U.S. Federal Reserve has assured that it will not withdraw this support anytime soon, a rollback whenever it happens, according to Raghuram Rajan, may lead to ‘taper tantrum’.

Did a genuine realignment occur in 2020 or will the 45^th president’s impact fade away?