An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update)

从一支会说话的铅笔学到的经济学课(更新版)

Freakonomics Radio

2025-06-11

39 分钟
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单集简介 ...

A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making  can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy.   SOURCES:Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide.Matt Ridley, science writer, British viscount and retired member of the House of LordsTim Harford, economist, author and columnist for the Financial TimesJim Weissenborn, former CEO of General Pencil CompanyThomas Thwaites, freelance designer and associate lecturer at Central Saint Martins.  RESOURCES:"When ideas have sex," by Matt Ridley (TED, 2010)."How I built a toaster — from scratch," by Thomas Thwaites (TED, 2010)."Look on this toaster, ye mighty, and despair!" by Tim Harford (Financial Times, 2009)."I, Pencil," by Leonard Read (Foundation for Economic Education, 1958).  EXTRAS:“Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job,” by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
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  • Hey there, it's Stephen Dubner.

  • We've all been hearing a lot lately about international trade and especially the restrictions on trade in the form of tariffs.

  • President Trump defending his tariff policy on Meet the Press said that restricting trade means Americans will have to make do with less stuff,

  • but that that's OK.

  • I don't think a beautiful baby girl needs that's 11 years old needs to have.

  • 30 dolls.

  • I think they can have three dolls or four dolls.

  • They don't need to have 250 pencils.

  • They can have five.

  • Most economists think that tariffs are a bad idea.

  • They argue that restricting trade has more downsides than upsides.

  • Elon Musk, back when he was still the president's first buddy,

  • was in that camp and he reportedly urged Trump to reverse the tariffs.

  • Musk also posted an interesting video on X, formerly known as Twitter.

  • There's not a single person in the world who could make this pencil.

  • Remarkable statement?

  • Not at all.

  • There's a lot more to be said about tariffs and free trade,

  • and we will get into that over time.

  • But for now, here's a simpler question.