Jul 3, 2026

In this episode, we explore the challenges of multi-party negotiations and why reaching agreement becomes exponentially harder as more stakeholders enter the room. Our guest Lawrence Susskind explains the principles of the Mutual Gains Approach and we discuss applications ranging from local disputes over renewable...

Jun 22, 2026

In this episode, we explore what it really means to make a “good” prediction. Starting with something as ordinary as a weather forecast, we discuss why forecasting poses deep economic and game theoretic questions. Together with our guest Rakesh Vohra, we unpack the concept of calibration, examine how forecasts can...

Jun 8, 2026

In this episode, we explore how digital platforms transformed markets by dramatically reducing search costs and information asymmetries. Together with Sarah Auster, we dive into the “digital paradox” of endless choice, the unintended consequences of frictionless search, and what this means for the future design of...

May 25, 2026

In this episode, we discuss zero-sum games and zero-sum thinking with our guest, Nageeb Ali. We begin by looking at the broader picture of how zero-sum thinking has become increasingly prominent in today’s public debate and how it relates to Akerlof’s classic “lemons” problem.

Drawing on ideas from economics and...

May 13, 2026

In this episode, we speak with Thilo Klein about daycare allocation in Germany – a problem that is still mostly run by uncoordinated offers, even though it is well understood in matching theory. The gap isn't theory; it's the missing layer that turns academic mechanisms into systems municipalities can actually run....