Dr Alice Evans and leading experts discuss growth, governance, & gender inequalities. Alice is a Senior Lecturer at King's College London, and Faculty Associate at the Harvard Kennedy School.
…
continue reading
Podcast by Patrick Jones @patrick_e_jones about the things that scare us and how to deal! Pure Spectrum CBD: Promo code AnxietyPod for 15% off! purespectrumcbd.com/ANXIETYPOD
…
continue reading
"Flow is a moment, when suddenly, life is simple. It’s fun, it’s being close to nature, and it stimulates focus – which when combined can achieve clarity like no other. This is where moments of realisation are born” ... Or at least, that is how we describe it. Presented by Tara Howell, Co-Director of luxury adventure and world first Tasmanian tourism mountain biking business, Blue Derby Pods Ride, where Experiences are curated to help their guests ‘experience the flow’. Tara applies her real ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Netflix and Change: Tracking Cultural Flux in Autocracies
36:39
36:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:39
“Vikings is no. 1 from all the Saudi men 😂”.Leila chuckled as we browsed top hits on Netflix. For only 30 Riyals (8 USD) a month, Saudis can tune into stories about uncovered pagans. A global feast of delights are now on offer - from Western films to women’s football.Rapid cultural change is afoot in Saudi Arabia, a unique experiment in top-down se…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Culture isn't a fossil, it's a fist-fight!
33:29
33:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:29
Culture is not a static inheritance, but a dynamic arena of ongoing struggle. From the mosques of Jakarta to the classrooms of Louisiana, from TikTok feeds to university lecture halls, ideological warfare rages. This podcast explores the complex interplay of several crucial factors shaping our cultural landscape:Contestation: Culture is a battlefie…
…
continue reading
Imagine: Elon Musk's tweet causes a cryptocurrency frenzy. Kim Kardashian’s outfit becomes an overnight fashion sensation. Daron Acemoglu and colleagues’ paper on settler mortality reshapes economic thinking. The Pope’s words influence millions globally. What links these diverse events? They’re all powerful manifestations of prestige bias.Psycholog…
…
continue reading
Senior management remains heavily male, and honestly I’m not entirely sure why.Economist Ingrid Haegele finds that junior men are more likely to apply for promotions, primarily due to a greater desire for team leadership.Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.07750.pdfHaegele: https://www.ingridhaegele.com/…
…
continue reading
During the World War I, the US federal government was short on civil servants and actively recruited women. Abhay Aneja, Silvia Farina, and Guo Xu find that men with multiple female colleagues were subsequently more likely to marry working women and father careerist daughters! Crucially, the effect is larger when men have many female colleagues and…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"Mission-Driven Bureaucrats": Dan Honig
1:30:56
1:30:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:30:56
How can we improve government capacity and public services?In “Mission-Driven Bureaucrats”, Dan Honig argues that civil servants are often deeply committed, yet hobbled by strict rule books. Trapped by top-down strictures, civil servants may even become disillusioned. Unable to help, they quit.Government ministries can be so much more effective if …
…
continue reading
Imagine a world where love knows no boundaries, where two people can marry regardless of their gender. Now open your eyes. In some parts of the globe, this is reality. In others, it's a distant dream.Twenty years ago, a mere 26% of Americans supported same-sex marriage. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to 69%. That is extremely rapid cultural cha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Islamic Revival: Professor Aaron Rock-Singer
1:29:12
1:29:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:29:12
Aaron Rock-Singer is a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative. He has published two fantastic books, “Practicing Islam: Egypt’s Islamic Revival” and “In the Shade of the Sunna: Salafi Piety in the Twentieth-Century Middle East”. Aaron is truly brilliant, connecting both the macro and the micro. By examining structural shifts …
…
continue reading
The Ten Commandments must now be displayed in all Louisiana’s public school classrooms. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, requires poster-sized copies with easily readable text.Why is this happening? Is it unprecedented?Actually, it echoes the 1970s global religious revival. Threatened by liberal modernity, conservatives worldwide…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"Islam And Citizenship in Indonesia": Robert Hefner
2:33:09
2:33:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
2:33:09
Professor Robert Hefner has a tremendous new book, “Islam and Citizenship in Indonesia: Democracy and the Quest for an Inclusive Public Ethics”. It’s one of my favourite books of the year, drawing on thirty years of ethnographic research. Today, he joins “Rocking Our Priors”. We discuss:Indonesia’s religious historyWhy have Hinduism and Buddhism ha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"A History of the Muslim World": Michael Cook
1:31:26
1:31:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:31:26
Michael Cook's "A History of the Muslim World" is my favourite book of 2024. Together, we discussed:- Did Islamic science weaken due to religious authoritarianism?- Why, in the Middle East and North Africa, were there so few peasant rebellions?- Theologically, how important was Ghazali? - What determined the rate at which people converted to Islam?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What's Driving the Global Decline in Trust?
30:20
30:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:20
Trust is down, worldwide. In India, Iran, Indonesia and Nigeria, less than 15% say that ‘most people can be trusted’. What’s going on? I suggest several likely mechanisms:1) Generalised distrust is correlated with strong family bonds2) Poorer countries have rapidly urbanised at a lower level of income3) Rule of law varies worldwide4) Political cont…
…
continue reading
What led to the demise of foot-binding? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Who are the world's most influential philosophers?
22:47
22:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:47
Who are the world's most influential philosophers? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What prevents Hindu-Muslim conflict? Saumitra Jha
38:28
38:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:28
Saumitra Jha (Associate Professor of Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business) joins me to discuss what prevents Hindu-Muslim conflict.We discuss his paper on "Trade, Institutions, and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia" https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/trade-institutions…
…
continue reading
Over the 20th century, the entire world became more gender equal. Or so I thought. But Pakistan has rocked my priors. Female employment has slightly risen. Meanwhile, young Pakistani women are more sexist than their grandmothers. What is going on?Charts and graphs are on my Substack: https://www.ggd.world/p/is-pakistan-becoming-more-patriarchal…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Patriarchal Political Order: Soledad Artiz Prillaman
1:33:47
1:33:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:33:47
The Patriarchal Political Order: Soledad Artiz Prillaman by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Slave-Raiding, Solidarity and Status in Africa
32:59
32:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:59
Slave-Raiding, Solidarity and Status in Africa by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
Sub-Saharan Africa's Economic Stagnation by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
What Would Reduce Female Genital Cutting? by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why is female employment low in India? How might that change? Suhani Jalota & Lisa Ho
1:12:55
1:12:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:55
Why is India's female labour force participation so low? And how might that change?Suhani Jalota and Lisa Ho share insights from their brilliant work in Mumbai and West Bengal. This discussion is superbly insightly and great fun. Stay tuned for jokes & data.Paper on Mumbai: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z3v4gxqpkvc4p9ntjy0ie/h?dl=0&e=1&preview=Jal…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Does Egalitarianism enable more Gender Equality?
21:52
21:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:52
If everyone is equal, it’s much more acceptable for women to get to the top.In societies where no one is special, men seem much more accepting of female leadership. Whereas in hierarchical cultures, where subordinates must bow to their bosses, female managers and politicians are more strongly disliked. They may even trigger backlash.This is a novel…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Romantic Love is an Under-Rated Driver of Gender Equality
27:51
27:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:51
Patriarchy is reinforced by fraternal solidarity. The Athenian demos, German guilds, Tswana kgotla, Chinese imperial dynasties, Muslim Brotherhood and Indian caste panchayats all reinforced male dominance. As long as men are united, bound in collective loyalty, women are secondary.How might this change?On International Women’s Day, I’d like to high…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What’s the Future of the US Labor Movement? Suresh Naidu
54:14
54:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:14
What’s the Future of the US Labor Movement? Suresh Naidu by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
East Asian businesses often go out drinking. Why is this such an important part of corporate culture, relative to other world regions?A month ago, I didn’t know. Now, after my interviews with people in China and Korea, the answer is very obvious.By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
In some societies, collective harmony is more highly valued than self-expression. If people are reluctant to speak out, prior culture is more likely to persist unchallenged. Caring deeply about social approval amplifies fears of ostracism and motivates quiet conformity. Moreover, where self-assertion is strongly disliked, feminist activism is more …
…
continue reading
What I am about to say may make you feel uncomfortable. Some may even find it offensive. In some circles, it’s still a distasteful taboo. Westerners rarely speak about it publicly, certainly not directly, even though most people definitely want it.As a social scientist, I am not so squeamish. So I’ll say it……
…
continue reading
East Asian societies tend to idealise:- Meritocracy and reverence for education- Upward mobility and economic prosperity (trumping the afterlife)- Collective harmony.By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Hostile Sexism in South Korea: Professor Jouen Kim
9:09
9:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:09
Hostile Sexism in South Korea: Professor Jouen Kim by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What Prevents & What Drives Gendered Ideological Polarisation?
25:45
25:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:45
Across much of the world, men and women think alike. However, in countries that are economically developed and culturally liberal, young men and women are polarising. As chronicled by John Burn-Murdoch, young women are increasingly likely to identify as ‘progressives’ and vote for leftists, while young men remain more conservative. What explains th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How do Exogamy and Endogamy shape Economics and Culture?
10:43
10:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:43
Exogamy and endogamy aren’t just about who marries your daughter, but with whom you barter, truck and exchange. Marriage was fundamentally about economics.So how did exogamy and endogamy shape economics and culture?By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why are some rich countries conservative?
23:28
23:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:28
In the West economic development spawned individualism and the spirit of ‘68. Modernisation theorists predicted that growth would deliver liberalism worldwide. Inglehart and Welzel argued that post-industrial societies would champion self-expression. But in fact, this has not transpired. Many prosperous places - like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Sout…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How East Asia overtook South Asia on Gender
52:24
52:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:24
In 1900, East and South Asia were extremely patriarchal. Men were revered as high status, while female sacrifice was glorified. By socialising women to marry, obey their in-laws and stay put, Asian families consolidated trusted networks of social cooperation. Since chastity was crucial for family honour, women were also tightly restricted. But, ove…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why do Poor Indian Women Reject Office Jobs?
10:27
10:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:27
Why is Indian female labour force participation ultra low? To investigate, Suhani Jalota and Lisa Ho ran a Randomised Control Trial in Mumbai. They find that most women reject high-paying office jobs. This is not due to housework or childcare. Husbands said no. The paper: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z3v4gxqpkvc4p9ntjy0ie/h?preview=WfH_JMP+(47).p…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
"Conquest & Rents": Professor Faisal Ahmed
42:05
42:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:05
Muslim societies are more likely to be authoritarian and marred in civil war. The big question is why?Faisal Ahmed presents a new theory: “Conquest and Rents”.He suggests that where Islam spread via military conquest, political authority was consolidated under a dictator. Political authority was then consolidated under a dictator, with elite slave …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Jane Hilliard - Why Jane Has An Allergic Reaction To Indoor Garages
31:22
31:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:22
Welcoming Jane Hilliard to our Flow Seekers podcast! Jane is the Founder/Director and Head Desinger at Designful. Designful is a group of down to earth Building Designers who share a passion for making great design available to more people, to support them in leading a healthy, sustainable and meaningful lifestyle. As Designfuls Founder, clearly Ja…
…
continue reading
Stopping Sexual Harassment by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
“The Two-Parent Privilege” by Dr Alice EvansBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
One feasible way to massively reduce violence is to tackle alcohol abuse. It is one of the single largest predictors of gender based violence worldwide, and it is not inevitable. Religious prohibitions, government bans and higher taxes can substantially reduce consumption.Many addicts wish they were not dependent on alcohol. I’m curious to learn wh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Rise and Fall of the East, Professor Yasheng Huang
1:00:05
1:00:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:05
A conversation with MIT Professor Yasheng HuangWhy is the CCP so resilient?How did the keju imperial examinations shape Chinese autocracy and culture?What does South Korea tell us about growth, democratisation and culture?Discussing his new book: https://yalebooks.co.uk/page/detail/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-east/?k=9780300266368…
…
continue reading
Why do a quarter of European young men say they’ll vote for the far right?It’s not just men. In France, The Netherlands and Belgium, the far right is equally popular with women.Existing scholarship has emphasised regional development traps, economic anxiety, and cultural backlash. Quantitative researchers typically regress individual- or place-base…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why are Gender Pay Gaps so Huge in Japan and South Korea?
15:34
15:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:34
All East Asian tigers have converged economically with rich industrialised democracies, but only some have converged culturally, in terms of gender equality. Why is this?By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Confidence, Competitiveness and Institutions
13:44
13:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:44
Men comprise 90% of heads of state, 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs, and 90% of applications for patents. Prestigious positions are dominated by men.Why is this? Motherhood, discrimination, social networks and patriarchal institutions all play a role. But there may also be gender differences in personality. Men are typically more confident and competitive.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How does Rural Prosperity affect Marriages in Bangladesh?
5:59
5:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:59
Poverty entrenches cousin marriage and patriarchal controls.What happens when crop yields improve and families become wealthier?Mobabark, Kuhn & Peters's paper is here: https://spinup-000d1a-wp-offload-media.s3.amazonaws.com/faculty/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2019/06/marriage-market2.pdfBy Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Weird Ways To Die Ep 3 with Comedian Mary Alice McNab
53:31
53:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:31
Another series within a series, welcome to episode three of weird ways to die! In this series my friend Mary Alice McNab and I each write a story about a real life person from history who died in a peculiar or unusual way. Then we tell the other person who hasn't heard the story yet! It's a lot of fun, so we hope you enjoy it! How to support the sh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Extreme Flooding worsens Early Marriage & Early Motherhood
5:13
5:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:13
Monsoon rains can cause enormous damage. Extreme floods are becoming more frequent, alongside global warming. Extreme flooding may increase early marriage and early childbirth, while lowering schooling. This comes from an important new paper in the Journal of Population Economics, by Madhulika Khanna and Nishtha Kochhar.Paper link: https://link.spr…
…
continue reading
Societies vary in their preference for female seclusion. But regardless of culture, female employment rises with job-creating growth. Singapore provides a perfect natural experiment, we can observe how 3 different ethnic groups responded to industrialisation.By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
Panel data provides useful information about attitudinal change in that place. But even if certain countries show persistent traditionalism, we cannot assume this is due to culture. It’s possible - as in Eastern Europe - that many liberals have simply left.By Dr Alice Evans
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Alice Hansen - Passion, Tourism And Writer's Flow
29:10
29:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:10
Welcoming Alice Hansen to our Flow Seeker's podcast, and what a wonderful conversation this was! Alice's career has had many successful facets, including being a travel writer and publishing 9 books. Her books span from children's to her highly successful 'Tailored Tasmania'. Tailored Tasmania and its sister website has become a trusted Tasmanian v…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Postpartum Anxiety with Dr. Stephanie Collier
37:42
37:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:42
Postpartum depression gets a lot of press but there's also postpartum anxiety. Beyond the simple fact that having a baby is an anxiety inducing situation itself. In this episode I interviewed Dr. Stephanie Collier about postpartum anxiety, its causes, its effects, and what people can do when. they or their loved one are going through postpartum anx…
…
continue reading