Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 18 hours ago
This week, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg unpack China's economic strategies under Xi Jinping, from the controversial tech crackdown to the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. They explore the intricacies of international currency dynamics, dissect Ben Bernanke's pivotal role in the 2008 financial crisis, and examine the complex effects of brain drain on developing nations.
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🎙️ @ThisWontLastpodcast - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz
YouTube: youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast
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Weights & Biases Weave
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Dealcraft
🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.
Apple: link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine
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SEND US YOUR Q's FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: Econ102@Turpentine.co
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FOLLOW ON X:
@noahpinion
@eriktorenberg
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LINKS:
Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(01:02) Japan's economic revival
(03:18) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) insights
(11:27) Brain drain vs. Brain gain
(18:30) Sponsors: GiveWell | Weights & Biases
(20:38) Impact of U.S. inflation on global economies
(24:26) Countries reliance of dollar
(28:22) Future of the US dollar as a reserve currency
(30:58) China's economic stimulus and bank bailouts
(35:23) Sponsors: Alts | Dealcraft
(37:16) 2008 bank bailout
(39:02) Xi Jinping's economic and political missteps
(44:37) Belt and Road initiative
(47:15) China's internal struggles and leadership
(49:42) Strategies for China's future success
(53:25) Wrap
This week, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg unpack China's economic strategies under Xi Jinping, from the controversial tech crackdown to the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. They explore the intricacies of international currency dynamics, dissect Ben Bernanke's pivotal role in the 2008 financial crisis, and examine the complex effects of brain drain on developing nations.
--
🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: turpentinenetwork.co
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST:
🎙️ @ThisWontLastpodcast - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz
YouTube: youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast
--
SPONSORS:
GiveWell
GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us.
Weights & Biases Weave
Weights & Biases Weave is a lightweight AI developer toolkit designed to simplify your LLM app development. With Weave, you can trace and debug input, metadata and output with just 2 lines of code. Make real progress on your LLM development and visit the following link to get started with Weave today: wandb.me/cr
Altea
🚀Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at alts.co/102 and redefine your investment journey.
Dealcraft
🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.
Apple: link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine
--
SEND US YOUR Q's FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: Econ102@Turpentine.co
--
FOLLOW ON X:
@noahpinion
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
--
LINKS:
Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/
--
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(01:02) Japan's economic revival
(03:18) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) insights
(11:27) Brain drain vs. Brain gain
(18:30) Sponsors: GiveWell | Weights & Biases
(20:38) Impact of U.S. inflation on global economies
(24:26) Countries reliance of dollar
(28:22) Future of the US dollar as a reserve currency
(30:58) China's economic stimulus and bank bailouts
(35:23) Sponsors: Alts | Dealcraft
(37:16) 2008 bank bailout
(39:02) Xi Jinping's economic and political missteps
(44:37) Belt and Road initiative
(47:15) China's internal struggles and leadership
(49:42) Strategies for China's future success
(53:25) Wrap





![The New Axis, Neoliberalism, and Germany [Mailbag]
In today’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg summon their next dream guest and tackle some listener questions, including the role of economists in predicting outcomes, Chinas industrial strategy, the new axis, the state of Germany and Britain, and the legacy of neoliberalism.
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034
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🎙️ @History102-qg5oj
Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913
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SEND US YOUR Qs FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: Econ102@Turpentine.co
FOLLOW ON X:
@noahpinion
@eriktorenberg
@turpentinemedia
LINKS:
Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:26) Noahs trip to Poland
(01:31) Summoning dream guests - Sergey come on the pod!
(02:43) Mailbag Q: Why listen to economists?
(09:18) Corporate income taxes and policy
(11:59) Unrealized gains
(15:18) Chinas industrial strategy and global relations
(17:37) The New Axis
(21:25) Potential for World War III
(24:06) Sponsor: WorkOS
(25:08) Best industrial policy for small landlocked South Asian nations
(25:47) Drug prizes in the US
(27:29) Nationalistic standpoint and fiscal rules
(31:08) Controversies around national sales tax
(33:01) Geothermal energy and the future of oil industry
(35:54) Germanys energy and economic policies
(38:52) State of Britain and Immigration Issues
(47:41) The legacy of Neoliberalism
(53:13) Wrap The New Axis, Neoliberalism, and Germany [Mailbag]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6KBZw9fIO7Q/mqdefault.jpg)




