In this episode I’d like to explore the impacts of the precautionary principle in public policy. Many people think that the precautionary principle is the safest way forward. We shouldn’t use a tool until we’re sure that it won’t harm us. This just makes sense, doesn’t it? The application of the precautionary principle in European energy policy, for example, has lead to the shut down of Germany’s nuclear fleet, strong labelling laws for GMO products, and many other decisions of which I am not yet aware. Today I’ll be interviewing an economist who has a unique interdisciplinary perspective on the environment, health, and labor economics to get an expert opinion on this topic. I came across his insightful work as references in a Freakonomics podcast episode titled, “nuclear energy isn't perfect. Is it good enough?’.
Matthew Neidell is an economics professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. He is also a faculty member with the Earth Institute and the Columbia Population Research Center. Neidell received his PhD in economics from UCLA and has performed policy work for various organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Institute of Medicine, Rockefeller Foundation, and World Bank
He specializes in environmental, health, and labor economics, applying the latest empirical methods to examine the relationship between the environment and a wide range of measures of well-being, including worker productivity and human capital, and how human behavior affects these relationships.
Support more penetrating public policy perspectives at patron.podbean.com/therationalview
Join the Facebook discussion @TheRationalView
Twitter @AlScottRational
Instagram @The_Rational_View
#TheRationalView #podcast #precautionaryprinciple #nuclearpower #publicpolicy #environment #energytransition #greenenergy #atomicenergy
Nuclear Reactors in a Warzone
Professor Lee McIntyre on Talking with Science Deniers
The Rational Art of War for Social Media Warriors
Summary of Evolution and Creationism
Controversial questions in genetics with Razib Khan
Teaching the Controversy with Professor Lynne Honey
Professor Niles Eldredge on Evolution
Paleovirology and Evolution with Dr. Welkin Johnson
Dr. S. Joshua Swamidass on Genesis and Evolution
Evolution and Genetics
Dr. Jessica Lovering is changing public perception of nuclear energy
What about the waste?
What about Fukushima?
Dr. Jan Blomgren on God and science
Science and Religion with Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ
Summary of the linear-no-threshold controversy
Dr. Blake Walters on cancer radiotherapy
A Brief History of CANDU Reactors with Chris Adlam and Tom Hess
Farzad Khosravi and Cicero--a rational social media option
Professor Don Gurnett on the Voyager Missions
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Freakonomics Radio
Criminal
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World