Europe's Fate, Ukraine & Russia, and the Post-American Era

"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

In this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss how Ukraine has proven surprisingly resilient throughout the war by maintaining its economy and developing significant domestic drone manufacturing capabilities. He argues that "Europe is not toothless" despite America's shifting role, detailing how Europe collectively has greater manufacturing capacity than America and identifying three key reforms Europe needs: deregulating software, building energy infrastructure, and removing internal trade barriers.

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SEND US YOUR Q's FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: [email protected]

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FOLLOW ON X:

@noahpinion

@eriktorenberg

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RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:

Noahpinion: It’s time for Europe to stand up https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/its-time-for-europe-to-stand-up

Book: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510196-old-man-s-war

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod

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TAKEAWAYS

• Ukraine has shown resilience in sustaining its war efforts.
• US aid to Ukraine is becoming less crucial over time.
• Turkey's support for Ukraine is significant.
• Europe has substantial manufacturing capacity for military needs.
• Historical patterns of expansionism are relevant to current geopolitics. Putin's expansionist ambitions can be compared to Louis XIV's.
• Europe's aging population poses challenges for military readiness.
• Russia's reliance on China complicates its geopolitical stance.
• Economic reforms are crucial for Europe's resilience, including deregulation of the software industry.
• Internal trade barriers hinder European economic integration.
• America's role as a protector of Europe is diminishing.