Episode Details

Mike talks with Richard Robb, a professor of professional practice in international and public affairs at Columbia University and CEO of the investment firm Christofferson, Robb & Company, which he co-founded in 2001. They discuss his recent book Willful: How We Choose What We Do.

After the interview, Kristin joins Mike for a conservative perspective.

Topics Richard and Mike cover include:

• the rational choice paradigm
• behavioral economics
• purposeful, ‘for itself’ action
• how and why we pick beliefs that appeal to us
• the four-step process of belief formulation
• Pareto efficiency and public policy
• if policymakers have enough skin in the game
• choosing over time
• the critical need for authentic challenges with real stakes and uncertain outcomes

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