Episode · EconTalk · 2026-09-14

Russ Roberts & Adam Mastroianni: books mentioned on EconTalk (Sep 2026)

Incentives Are for Losers (with Adam Mastroianni)

1 book · With Adam Mastroianni · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Incentives matter, sure. But what should you do when following the incentives means quietly participating in something wrong?

Adam Mastroianni recommended The ones who walk away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. The ones who walk away from Omelas

    Ursula K. Le Guin · at 2:31

    The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin is a thought-provoking philosophical short story that examines a utopian city whose happiness depends on the perpetual suffering of a single imprisoned child.

    Recommended
    “Um, I'm going to invoke uh one [snorts] of my favorite short stories. I don't I don't know if you can get it online anymore, but it used to be online. It's called The Ones Who Walk Away from Omalis.”
    Where to get it