- Economics
- International Affairs
- Regulation & Property Rights
- Comparative Politics
- Law & Policy
- Answering Challenges to Advanced Economies
- Determining America's Role in the World
Venezuela descended into an economic, political, and human rights disaster in the 21st century. How can Venezuela find its way back to the rule of law, human rights, democracy, and prosperity? What role should the United States play? Steven Davis asks renowned economist Ricardo Hausmann.
Recorded on February 5, 2026.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Ricardo Hausmann is the Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy and director of the Growth Lab at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. From 1994 to 2000, he served as chief economist for the Inter-American Development Bank. In 1992 and 1993, he served in the Venezuelan government as minister of state and head of the Presidential Office of Coordination and Planning and as a member of the Board of Venezuela’s Central Bank.
- Visit Ricardo Hausmann’s Website
Steven Davis is the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Hoover Institution, and Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). He is a research associate of the NBER, IZA research fellow, elected fellow of the Society of Labor Economists, and consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He co-founded the Economic Policy Uncertainty project, the U.S. Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes, the Global Survey of Working Arrangements, the Survey of Business Uncertainty, and the Stock Market Jumps project. He also co-organizes the Asian Monetary Policy Forum, held annually in Singapore. Before joining Hoover, Davis was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, serving as both distinguished service professor and deputy dean of the faculty.
RELATED SOURCES
- “Peace and prosperity in Venezuela will come from democracy, not oil, writes Ricardo Hausmann, The Economist, 5 January 2026.
- Ricardo Hausmann on Project Syndicate.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Each episode of Economics, Applied, a video podcast series, features senior fellow Steven Davis in conversation with leaders and researchers about economic developments and their ramifications. The goal is to bring evidence and economic reasoning to the table, drawing lessons for individuals, organizations, and society. The podcast also aims to showcase the value of individual initiative, markets, the rule of law, and sound policy in fostering prosperity and security.
For more information, visit hoover.org/podcasts/economics-applied.
