Ideas Matter

Think Tanks, Video and Experimentation

State Policy Network has just come out with their second in a video series on the Constitution and its erosion. The production values in this piece are pretty darn good. Indeed, this piece is much better than most of what think tanks turn out. If I had any critique, it would be that the talking heads disrupt the flow of a pretty good narrative. In any case, the view count of this piece suggests it's not getting the eyeballs it deserves. 

If I Wanted America to Fail... Breakdown

The above video has officially gone viral. For those in the business of producing free market media, we need to speculate as to why. We should also ask whether this is an echo-chamber piece or might actually be affecting the way some people think. Below is my assessment, for what it's worth. But before giving it, understand that 'video killed the think-tank star' -- in a manner of speaking. Let's discuss the communications strategy.

Putting Milton Friedman to the Test

Free To Choose Network is back! I am proud to have been an associate producer on this great program. Check out "Testing Milton Friedman" and share with your friends. Testing will be coming to a public television station near you.

VIDEO CONTEST: What Milton (Friedman) Means to Me

Fire up your video cameras! Your iPhones! Your whatever-gadget-captures-brilliance-for-posterity!

Free To Choose Network -- as part of Milton Friedman's Century -- is proud to announce our video contest:

"What Milton Means to Me"

If you win, you could earn any of $2,500 in prizes. So what does Milton mean to you?

Free To Choose: Mart Laar's Economic Guidebook for Estonia

An economy in ruins. The young prime minister was facing unbelievable odds. Mart Laar knew little about economics. He turned to one book: Free To Choose, the book based on the film. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Assume it Away! Economics Humor (Or Not)

Your humble editor is enjoying a couple of days off. Enjoy this bit of economics humor and I'll see you on Monday.

SpOILed: A Defense of Plentiful Energy

Some people won't be happy. But there's a film coming out that defends plentiful energy -- including fossil fuels -- as a key ingredient of economic growth. Many overlook the relationship between energy and economic growth. But there is a strong correlation between growth and plentiful energy--one that looks to be connected to thermodynamic law. Consider:

Something Ventured: The Birth of Venture Capital

I can't wait to see this documentary. It sure comes at a good time: the stories of the rise of major, innovative, life-enhancing companies in America. At a time when the children of the bourgeois are camping out on Wall Street to bite the hands that feed them, this may be a nice antidote. Could "Something Ventured" help dispel some of the nasty zero-sum thinking that's been traveling the memosphere of late?

Stories: What your free market organization oughta be doing

The Institute for Justice is doing a fabulous job telling stories. And if you're in a free-market organization, you should to.

I know, I know. Stories aren't your thing. You're wonky. But if you want to go further in affecting change, you're going to have to connect with people on an emotional level.

Economic Freedom in America: How to make a memorable message

This is a really well done video. A lot of videos that deal with data lose the message. And, in fact, we at Free To Choose Network generally prefer the power of narrative. One of the big critiques I have of free market types is that they tend to rely too heavily on dry statistics, logical argument and principles. These are powerful, but have limits. Telling stories, engaging empathy and applying metaphors can be much more effective.

What's great about this video, however, is that the statistics work in tandem with images and narrative elements to tell a complete story. You might not see the story at first, but it's there.