Episode · Conversations with Tyler · 2026-08-12
Tyler Cowen & Daron Acemoglu: books mentioned on Conversations with Tyler
Daron Acemoglu on Liberalism, Automation, and the Educated Elite
Daron Acemoglu returns for his second appearance with a new book, What Happened to Liberal Democracy?, which Tyler reads as an attempt to redefine and revitalize liberalism for our times.
Tyler Cowen discussed What Happened to Liberal Democracy? by Daron Acemoglu.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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What Happened to Liberal Democracy?
Discussed“Most importantly, he has a new book out, What Happened to Liberal Democracy? This is a major work. I think of it as an attempt to redefine and revitalize liberalism for our current times. Daron, welcome. DARON ACEMOGLU: Thank you, Tyler. It’s my pleasure, and thanks for that wonderful introduction, which gets to the heart of the matter. That’s exactly”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I try to convey this in the book, but perhaps not clearly enough—but what I think brought liberalism’s crisis. In two words, liberalism crisis is related to the rise of a post-industrial economy in which what you just called the educated elite has become both much more powerful and more numerous”
“If I take a step back, and this relates to both Hayek and to some of the themes that I try to develop in What Happened to Liberal Democracy?, I believe that liberalism and the kinds of society that we want to build that supports freedom does need decentralization.”
“Final question—but before, just your book again, What Happened to Liberal Democracy? by Daron Acemoglu, new out this year—what is it you want to learn about next?”