What we’re about
Do you like to read books on history, politics, or economics--preferably a mix of all three? You don't have to be an expert, just someone who likes good conversations and stimulating reading. There are a lot of great books out there to geek out on. Let's have a chat about them with like-minded people over a beer.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Let's Read "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers"Away Day Brewing, Portland, OR
Let's read Inflation: "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" by Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli. (Amazon, Audible, Powells)
I chose this book because inflation has recently been an important issue, Mark Blyth's book on Austerity was a hit a few years ago in this group, and this one was also requested by a member a few sessions back. Blyth, a very amusing Political Economist, partnered with economist Nicolò Fraccaroli for this book.
The authors discuss their book here:
https://rhodes-center-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/why-we-think-what-we-think-when-we-think-about-inflationDescription:
"A fresh, revealing, and myth-busting guide to the ins and outs of inflation from two leading political economists.
Inflation is back, and its impact can be felt everywhere, from the grocery store to the mortgage market to the results of elections around the world. What's more, tariffs and trade wars threaten to accelerate inflation again. Yet the conventional wisdom about inflation is stuck in the past. Since the 1970s, there has only really been one playbook for fighting inflation: raise interest rates, thereby creating unemployment and a recession, which will lower prices. But this simple story hides a multitude of beliefs about why prices go up and how policymakers can wrestle them back down, beliefs that are often wrong, damaging, and have little empirical basis.
Leading political economists Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli reveal why inflation really happens, challenge how we think about it, and argue for fresh approaches to combat it. With accessible and engaging commentary, and a good dose of humor, Blyth and Fraccaroli bring the complexities of economic policy and inflation indices down to earth.
Policymakers around the world may have pulled off a so-called "soft landing," but Inflation warns they must update their thinking. Now tariffs, climate shocks, demographic change, geopolitical tensions, and politicians promising to upend the global order are all combining to create a more inflationary future, making a new paradigm for understanding inflation urgently necessary. Astute, timely, and engaging, Inflation is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping our economy and politics."
