Nowhere was the economic shutdown caused by the spread of the coronavirus more apparent than in the nation’s the major cities that became the early epicenters of the pandemic. When cities reopen, will the people and businesses who left come back?

This episode of Hardly Working is an interview Brent Orrell did with Bob Zadek from the Bob Zadek Show. They discuss the changes cities underwent during the virus, the history of cities in times of pandemics, and reflections on what happens next in our urban centers.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, people across the nation have been urgently calling for meaningful police reform, and better treatment of minority groups by law enforcement.

Brent talks to Harry Holzer, the LaFarge SJ Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University and Nonresident Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution on the quantitative evidence surrounding racial disparities, crime, and policing. They also discuss the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis, and what the path towards recovery looks like.

What started as working from home for a few weeks to flatten the curve of COVID-19, has instead turned into months of telecommuting with no end in sight. While working remotely has presented both benefits and challenges, many workers and employers are asking themselves, is this a permanent change in how we work?

Brent talks to Clive Thompson, a science and technology journalist, about his recent New York Times Magazine article, “What If Working From Home Goes On…Forever”. They discuss the academic research and anecdotal evidence on recent boosts in productivity, feelings of isolation, and challenges in implementing watercooler-style talk when your colleagues are no longer across the hall, but through a screen.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning in recent decades has had a ripple effect throughout the economy. As the economic landscape continues to change, we are once again asking ourselves about what the future of work looks like, and, when it comes to computers exactly who will be working for whom.

Brent talks to Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute and author of several books, including “The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity”. They discuss the uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence, its impact on how we work, and the importance of a liberal arts education in remaining competitive in a changing economy.

Millions of youth are neither in school nor working, falling through the cracks of the various systems put in place to help them transition into adulthood. The spread of COVID-19 will become another barrier in these young people’s lives as they pursue economic independence.

On this episode, Brent talks to Anne Kim, author of “Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth and the Crisis of Disconnection”. Together, they discuss the runway to adulthood, the role of public policy, and the potential impact of a global virus on emerging adults.

People are natural problem solvers. When we work with low-income families to identify and tap into their resources and communities, we are laying the foundation for generational community change. It is time to develop alternative solutions in the fight against poverty that will empower people to become change agents in their own lives.

Brent talks to Mauricio Miller, author of “The Alternative: Most of What You Believe About Poverty is Wrong” for a conversation about focusing on people’s strengths, supporting “positive deviance”, and lifting up poor communities during COVID-19.

As the labor market evolves, so do skills demands. While average Americans have access to good education and training opportunities to help them build their skills, other populations struggle. Those with mental and physical impairments, people with criminal records, older workers and others struggle with access to training and employment. So, how can we ensure everyone in the modern economy has access to the training needed to find meaningful work?

Brent talks to Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries International and the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Together, they discuss the dignity of work, the impacts of COVID-19, and the changing nature of the labor market.

Technology and robotics have been transforming the global economy for decades, particularly in manufacturing. Recent technological advances like artificial intelligence, ‘big data’, and internet communications are now exposing other sectors of the American economy to foreign competition. What does this mean for current and future workers?

Brent talks with Richard Baldwin, a professor of international economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, for a discussion on his latest book “The Globotics Upheaval: Globalization, Robotics, and the Future of Work (Oxford University Press, 2019)”.

Can the writings of an 18^th century philosopher help the modern person find meaning and purpose? Before he wrote the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote another book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, which helps us understand how a good life, one marked by both prosperity and personal happiness, is achieved.

Join Brent Orrell and Ryan Hanley, a professor of political science at Boston College, for a discussion of his latest book “Our Great Purpose: Adam Smith on Living a Better Life (Princeton University Press, 2019)”.

Family is the seedbed of skill development for young children: relationships within the family influence a child’s development in all areas of their life. Furthermore, as family structure has morphed and shifted over the past few decades, so have the economic outcomes for children.

In this episode, Brent Orrell hosts Alan Hawkins of Brigham Young University and W. Bradford Wilcox of AEI to discuss marriage, family life, and the economics of family formation. Join us as they discuss the impact of family structure on long-term outcomes for kids.