Horwitz on TV, Current and Future

I recently was interviewed by a local TV reporter doing a multi-part story on why things cost so much.  Part one appeared today.  (I appear about two-thirds through - scroll to the bottom for the video.) I'll provide links to parts two and three as they appear. UPDATE:  Part two.  Part three.

In the "future" category...on Monday of next week I'm being interviewed by John Stossel for an upcoming 20/20 segment on non-governmental responses to Katrina and other disasters, as I have written about here.  I don't know when it will air yet, and it's certainly possible that I'll end up on the cutting room floor, but it's kinda cool to get flown to NYC, put up in a nice hotel, and spend an hour or two at ABC.

Comments

[Angel]

Steven, don't you think there are many economic interventions that are making prices much higher than otherwise would be without them?

Of course growing demand is an important factor, but:
1. That demand may be artificially high because of:
-inflationary growth in developing countries
-subsidies to energy prices in those countries
-global investors are investing in commodities because of falling dollar (caused by the Fed)

2. Supply is very rigid because of (not only) state intervention, not only in the US but also in Russia, Venezuela, etc.

3. And the role of monetary policy, which is maybe creating an oil bubble.

Maybe you dealt with these issues in the next parts.

[Steven Horwitz]

There are lots of factors involved for sure, and those interventions are part of the story. I have no idea what she included or didn't include in the later parts. I talked about a whole bunch of things, including those kinds of issues, but what she found worth including is another question.

[Pete]

Congrats, Steve! 20/20! That's outstanding!!

[TGGP]

I heard you were going to appear at The Art of the Possible. When is that scheduled to happen?

[Steven Horwitz]

TGGP:

Mona just contacted me to finalize things. Looks like 7pm, Wed July 30th. I'm looking forward to it.