Paul Rhode's guest appearances

Paul Rhode

Economics Detective Radio

Barge-In Podcast 

Gret Glyer

Mark Thornton

Jonathan Morduch

Robert Wright

Mike Munger

Jason Brennan

Mark Blyth

Bryan Caplan

Zach Weinersmith

Alex Nowrasteh

Steve Horwitz

Phil Magness

Robin Hanson

Russ Roberts

Nathan Smith

OwlTail

Alan Olmstead

Today's guests are economic historians Alan Olmstead and Paul Rhode. Both of them have research related to the slave economy of the Antebellum South. Our main topic is a paper they co-authored, Cotton, slavery, and the new history of capitalism. The "New History of Capitalism" grounds the rise of industrial capitalism on the production of raw cotton by American slaves. Recent works include Sven Beckert's Empire of Cotton, Walter Johnson's River of Dark Dreams, and Edward Baptist's The Half Has Never Been Told. All three authors mishandle historical evidence and mis-characterize important events in ways that affect their major interpretations on the nature of slavery, the workings of plantations, the importance of cotton and slavery in the broader economy, and the sources of the Industrial Revolution and world development. We discuss the problems with the New History of Capitalism literature and some alternative hypotheses suggested by the economic history literature. In their previous work on the subject, Olmstead and Rhode show "that a succession of new cotton varieties helped propel the rise in labor productivity and southern growth" (p. 7). Ed Baptist dubiously attributes this rise in productivity to torture.

Today's guests are economic historians Alan Olmstead and Paul Rhode. Both of them have research related to the slave economy of the Antebellum South. Our main topic is a paper they co-authored, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014498317302292" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Cotton, slavery, and the new history of capitalism</a>. The "New History of Capitalism" grounds the rise of industrial capitalism on the production of raw cotton by American slaves. Recent works include Sven Beckert's Empire of Cotton, Walter Johnson's River of Dark Dreams, and Edward Baptist's The Half Has Never Been Told. All three authors mishandle historical evidence and mis-characterize important events in ways that affect their major interpretations on the nature of slavery, the workings of plantations, the importance of cotton and slavery in the broader economy, and the sources of the Industrial Revolution and world development. We discuss the problems with the New History of Capitalism literature and some alternative hypotheses suggested by the economic history literature. In their previous work on the subject, Olmstead and Rhode show "that a succession of new cotton varieties helped propel the rise in labor productivity and southern growth" (p. 7). Ed Baptist dubiously attributes this rise in productivity to torture.

Cotton, Slavery, and the New History of Capitalism with Alan Olmstead and Paul Rhode

  Paul Rohde is Vice President, Midwest Region, of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), which is the national public policy organization advocating a well-maintained system of inland waterways infrastructure and ports.   Paul galvanizes the broad coalition of WCI members, a grassroots network comprised of waterway carriers and shippers, agricultural producers, agribusiness, industrial manufacturers, energy providers, organized labor, economic development interests, and conservation groups, among others.  He advances WCI’s goals by contributing to the formation of legislative strategy &amp; policy issues, developing and executing a comprehensive public education campaign, initiating effective grassroots activism, media outreach, collaboration with conservation organizations, and WCI membership services and development.  Thanks for barging in to the Barge In Podcast.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please shoot me a note at nolossesallgaines@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter:  @bargeinpodcast  or Instagram:  barge.in.podcast  - The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Barge In Podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent those of any other entity. The primary purpose of this podcast series is to educate and inform.  

Paul Rohde is Vice President, Midwest Region, of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), which is the national public policy organization advocating a well-maintained system of inland waterways infrastructure and ports.   Paul galvanizes the broad coalition of WCI members, a grassroots network comprised of waterway carriers and shippers, agricultural producers, agribusiness, industrial manufacturers, energy providers, organized labor, economic development interests, and conservation groups, among others.  He advances WCI’s goals by contributing to the formation of legislative strategy &amp; policy issues, developing and executing a comprehensive public education campaign, initiating effective grassroots activism, media outreach, collaboration with conservation organizations, and WCI membership services and development.  Thanks for barging in to the Barge In Podcast.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please shoot me a note at nolossesallgaines@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter:  @bargeinpodcast  or Instagram:  barge.in.podcast  - The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Barge In Podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent those of any other entity. The primary purpose of this podcast series is to educate and inform.

Podcast 4 - Paul Rhode from Waterways Council Inc. 