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Unintended Consequences

Unintended Consequences

By: Cato Institute
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Unintended Consequences is the podcast of Regulation magazine, produced by the Cato Institute. Hosted by Peter Van Doren and Paul Matzko, the show explores how government interventions can have surprising—and often negative—consequences. Drawing from Regulation's in-depth policy analysis and cover stories, each episode unpacks the gap between policymakers’ intentions and the real-world outcomes that follow.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato Institute
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • “Make New York Like Houston?”: Housing and Induced Demand
    Dec 11 2025

    You might’ve heard that building more roads to reduce traffic doesn’t really work because of induced demand, the way in which building new infrastructure simultaneously creates more demand. In this episode, Peter and Paul discuss a similar effect for housing, which could make it harder to reduce housing inflation. In addition, they examine a counterintuitive finding: the cheaper a rental housing unit is, the higher the profit margins. That is the opposite of profits for new home construction, where higher-end housing commands larger margins.


    In conjunction with Regulation Magazine Fall 2025 edition.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    24 mins
  • A Nuclear Renaissance?
    Nov 13 2025

    Four decades ago, America stopped building new nuclear power plants. Some economists have even linked that decision to the era of lost economic growth known as the “Great Stagnation.” But now demand for energy is exploding, given the need for data centers to service AI, the electrification of cars, and other energy-thirsty applications. Nuclear energy boosters have declared an incipient nuclear renaissance, but, as Peter and Paul discuss, Steve Thomas’ cover article for Regulation Magazine, “The Next Nuclear Renaissance,” questions whether a nuclear energy production boom is actually coming to a reactor near you any time soon.


    In conjunction with Regulation Magazine Fall 2025 edition.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 mins
  • A Food Fight at the Bureau of Labor Statistics
    Oct 9 2025

    President Trump recently fired the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), claiming that the downward revision of employment numbers was evidence of some kind of conspiracy to make the administration look bad. Paul and Peter unpack what it is that the BLS actually does, why it’s constantly revising its estimates, and the potential negative consequences of politicizing economic data collection.


    In conjunction with Regulation Magazine Fall 2025 edition

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
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This is an interesting and informative podcast on the unintended consequences of government intervention from the leading libertarian think tank

Interesting and informative podcast on the unintended consequences of government intervention

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