An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update)
· 40 min · Episode 236
Episode An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update)
A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy.
• SOURCES:
• Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide. • Matt Ridley, science writer, British viscount and retired member of the House of Lords • Tim Harford, economist, author and columnist for the Financial Times • Jim Weissenborn, former CEO of General Pencil Company • Thomas Thwaites, freelance designer and associate lecturer at Central Saint Martins.
• RESOURCES:
• "When ideas have sex," by Matt Ridley (TED, 2010). • "How I built a toaster — from scratch," by Thomas Thwaites (TED, 2010). • "Look on this toaster, ye mighty, and despair!" by Tim Harford (Financial Times, 2009). • "I, Pencil," by Leonard Read (Foundation for Economic Education, 1958).
• EXTRAS:
• “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job,” by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
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Links in the notes 11
- https://thelocavore.com/about
- https://www.mattridley.co.uk/biography/
- https://timharford.com/
- https://generalpencil.com/
- https://www.thomasthwaites.com/about/
- https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_ridley_when_ideas_have_sex?language=en
- https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toaster_from_scratch?language=en
- https://www.ft.com/content/d92708ce-74ec-11de-9ed5-00144feabdc0
- https://fee.org/ebooks/i-pencil/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21337476191&gbraid=0AAAAADkIVmfTxTVDSg_kMSbB0zlucqKyV&gclid=CjwKCAjwr5_CBhBlEiwAzfwYuIpXqI8EpJMJddb4y9ozT3CcgwPvVxH2ydQ7EgPrUuP4nMtaFuat7xoCdQsQAvD_BwE
- https://freakonomics.com/podcast/fault-finder-is-a-minimum-wage-job/
- https://pcm.adswizz.com
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