Recognizing that we have a global audience, how about hosting a weekly live AMA for your subscribers? It could also be a fantastic opportunity for collaboration if they have channels of their own. For instance, I run the "BinanceUSD" channel (formerly known as "Cryptoharj"). An interview-style discussion could be beneficial for both of us. What do you think?
I'd like deeper dives on particular economic topics of interest, especially ones that explore some of the classic libertarian positions in light of more recent developments. What does new research suggest about, say, the cost-benefit picture of public transit? Does the recent opioid epidemic challenge the traditional economic analysis of the prohibition on recreational drugs? How bad is the FDA these days and how strong is the argument for a more free-market approach? I think these questions are a particularly strong area for Bryan since he can combine deep expertise in understanding economics and an ability to engage meaningfully with the literature with a willingness to entertain radical market-oriented solutions that few others dare contemplate.
I'd appreciate on ongoing series of deep dives where you inhabit the opposing view on a set of topics/books/people. You would alternate between topics/views/people that you agree with and those you disagree with - but in both cases take the opposing side. Sort of like what you did with Fossil Future. To be transparent, I thought your audit of that book was insufficient, so that's what I think a series like this could be interesting. For example, you didn't get into Epstein's claim that unabated, increased carbon emissions for the next 40-60 years would be a good thing.
Adding here that the topics and questions to address could be paid subscriber driven. Perhaps the content is free but the topics/questions can only be submitted by subscribers.
I think some sort of comment and response system, where paid subs can ask you questions that you respond to. That would be amazing, and if you really enjoy particular questions perhaps you could post a full blog answer in the paid section?
Victory lapping after changing someone’s mind (even if decades later) as a regular feature .
Also maybe “bettor’s parlor” seems a fun way to give social credit to your subscribers since your bets are your namesake. Allow users to propose bets with you . Will create great content for all readers should there be bets.
Why not enable paid subscriptions and then only release free content? I'd happily give you a modest sum to signal my desire for you to keep at it, to fund any projects you might start, or just slightly improve your quality of life. I'd be dismayed if that money contributed to paywalled content. If the work isn't important enough to create a moral urge to maximize distribution, it's not important enough for me to monetarily signal that you should spend effort on it. I want Bryan Caplan to be Bryan Caplan to as many people as possible, because I want to maximize the number of converts to (or friends of) liberty and capitalism. I'd gladly pay for that.
If there must be paid content, maybe something that's otherwise freely available, low effort to produce, but provides a unique value when created by you? I'll probably never have time to study econ under you and the number of half-read books on the nightstand keeps growing. As long as you've been teaching, I'd imagine creating a 4 year econ education (over time) wouldn't be too much effort, but it would be a great resource for busy people who wish they could have a second life in academia.
I'd suggest debates with leftists/socialists/feminists. Debates challenge your arguments more than podcasts (unless your podcast hosts is exceptional). Also, debates are audio rather than writing, so easier to consume.
There’s enough freely available information and writing on the internet that its not very tempting to get access to more content.
What’s scarce? Smart people looking into & writing about niche topics I care about. It would be definitely tempting to subscribe if subscribers could get you to read some number of pages of a book, or subject, or blog post, or anything, and get you to review it. In general, more influence over what you write about.
Gwern has a method where he allows subscribers over a certain amount to choose a book from his to read list on Goodreads that he will read for them, so it ends up being legibly rewarding for those people, but also not something he’s disinterested in (presumably this is what he was optimizing for here).
I'm VERY happy you keep your content free. AS Kling has some live interviews that are subscribers only; that's quite a good model. (Weren't you already on?)
My and/or alternative would be to work on a collaborator supported book, you write out early drafts of short, long blog post sections of chapters, and allow only subscribers to offer constructive criticism.
Do you have any awful/boring admin duties as part of your day job (knowing universities, I know you do)? Could you persuade your Dean to buyout these duties with the proceeds of your blog so you have more time for writing?
So as another commenter suggests, people aren't buying anything specific, just assisting your work in a more general way.....
I would appreciate premium access to and opportunity to comment on draft chapters of your book and other publication projects and would be willing to sign NDA- or other documentation to protect your IP, if you like. Also, a monthly Q&A-session would be a cool feature. Finally, how about setting up a reading group similar to Pete Boettke‘s „No Due Date“? I would immediately sign- up !
Hey Bryan,
Recognizing that we have a global audience, how about hosting a weekly live AMA for your subscribers? It could also be a fantastic opportunity for collaboration if they have channels of their own. For instance, I run the "BinanceUSD" channel (formerly known as "Cryptoharj"). An interview-style discussion could be beneficial for both of us. What do you think?
Warm regards,
Harj
I would appreciate if you'd continue to do research and write books like case against edu, selfish reasons or myth of the rational voter
Also, continue to travel and meet up with people. It was really nice to meet you and your son's in Vienna
Two words. Tasteful nudes
So you would not pay to view nudes who have impaired taste buds?
I'd like deeper dives on particular economic topics of interest, especially ones that explore some of the classic libertarian positions in light of more recent developments. What does new research suggest about, say, the cost-benefit picture of public transit? Does the recent opioid epidemic challenge the traditional economic analysis of the prohibition on recreational drugs? How bad is the FDA these days and how strong is the argument for a more free-market approach? I think these questions are a particularly strong area for Bryan since he can combine deep expertise in understanding economics and an ability to engage meaningfully with the literature with a willingness to entertain radical market-oriented solutions that few others dare contemplate.
I agree.
I’d add energy to the mix. As I think Doomberg says, energy consumption is 100% correlated with GDP.
I'd appreciate on ongoing series of deep dives where you inhabit the opposing view on a set of topics/books/people. You would alternate between topics/views/people that you agree with and those you disagree with - but in both cases take the opposing side. Sort of like what you did with Fossil Future. To be transparent, I thought your audit of that book was insufficient, so that's what I think a series like this could be interesting. For example, you didn't get into Epstein's claim that unabated, increased carbon emissions for the next 40-60 years would be a good thing.
Adding here that the topics and questions to address could be paid subscriber driven. Perhaps the content is free but the topics/questions can only be submitted by subscribers.
Answer direct questions, maybe a direct facetime.
I think some sort of comment and response system, where paid subs can ask you questions that you respond to. That would be amazing, and if you really enjoy particular questions perhaps you could post a full blog answer in the paid section?
Victory lapping after changing someone’s mind (even if decades later) as a regular feature .
Also maybe “bettor’s parlor” seems a fun way to give social credit to your subscribers since your bets are your namesake. Allow users to propose bets with you . Will create great content for all readers should there be bets.
Maybe stakes should be a “soda.”
Why not enable paid subscriptions and then only release free content? I'd happily give you a modest sum to signal my desire for you to keep at it, to fund any projects you might start, or just slightly improve your quality of life. I'd be dismayed if that money contributed to paywalled content. If the work isn't important enough to create a moral urge to maximize distribution, it's not important enough for me to monetarily signal that you should spend effort on it. I want Bryan Caplan to be Bryan Caplan to as many people as possible, because I want to maximize the number of converts to (or friends of) liberty and capitalism. I'd gladly pay for that.
If there must be paid content, maybe something that's otherwise freely available, low effort to produce, but provides a unique value when created by you? I'll probably never have time to study econ under you and the number of half-read books on the nightstand keeps growing. As long as you've been teaching, I'd imagine creating a 4 year econ education (over time) wouldn't be too much effort, but it would be a great resource for busy people who wish they could have a second life in academia.
I'd suggest debates with leftists/socialists/feminists. Debates challenge your arguments more than podcasts (unless your podcast hosts is exceptional). Also, debates are audio rather than writing, so easier to consume.
There’s enough freely available information and writing on the internet that its not very tempting to get access to more content.
What’s scarce? Smart people looking into & writing about niche topics I care about. It would be definitely tempting to subscribe if subscribers could get you to read some number of pages of a book, or subject, or blog post, or anything, and get you to review it. In general, more influence over what you write about.
Gwern has a method where he allows subscribers over a certain amount to choose a book from his to read list on Goodreads that he will read for them, so it ends up being legibly rewarding for those people, but also not something he’s disinterested in (presumably this is what he was optimizing for here).
I believe that Anthony Howes (Age of Invention) did an experiment with Threadable on the New Atlantis.
I do not think that it went well, since it was not repeated.
I'm VERY happy you keep your content free. AS Kling has some live interviews that are subscribers only; that's quite a good model. (Weren't you already on?)
My and/or alternative would be to work on a collaborator supported book, you write out early drafts of short, long blog post sections of chapters, and allow only subscribers to offer constructive criticism.
I think a lot of people would pay if they got to have group video chats with you.
Do you have any awful/boring admin duties as part of your day job (knowing universities, I know you do)? Could you persuade your Dean to buyout these duties with the proceeds of your blog so you have more time for writing?
So as another commenter suggests, people aren't buying anything specific, just assisting your work in a more general way.....
Bryan,
I would appreciate premium access to and opportunity to comment on draft chapters of your book and other publication projects and would be willing to sign NDA- or other documentation to protect your IP, if you like. Also, a monthly Q&A-session would be a cool feature. Finally, how about setting up a reading group similar to Pete Boettke‘s „No Due Date“? I would immediately sign- up !
Best regards from Frankfurt am Main
Philipp
Hi Philip you have the link for No due date ? Pete B stuff. Thanks
Hi Harj,
Happy to provide the link:
https://www.econlib.org/product/no-due-date/#:~:text=No%20Due%20Date%20is%20our,to%20the%202023%20Club%20today!
Hope you will join! Let‘s stay in touch
Best regards
Philipp
I thought some of your posts required a paid membership to comment?
That's just a glitch in the Substack system when you import archived posts. They're working on fixing it, but it's a low priority.
Interesting! I didn't think it was a great monetization approach :-)