The Intersection (w/ Pedro da Costa & Adam Posen)

TL;DR

Adam Posen discusses his career, favorite books, and personal obstacles in a rapid-fire interview.

Transcript

PEDRO DA COSTA: Well, thank you so much, Adam. I want to jump into a portion of our interview called The Intersection, which is a quick rapid fire series of questions that we asked all of our guests. Thanks for bearing with me. ADAM POSEN: You left them in the actual studio. Okay. PEDRO DA COSTA: Exactly. This is it. You got it. The first one, is t... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Posen's reading choices are heavily focused on COVID and economics.
• 💦 The books that have significantly influenced Posen's worldview are "The Logic of Collective Action" by Mancur Olson and works by Jared Diamond.
• 🥺 Posen's academic struggles and setbacks led to personal growth.
• 🥹 Overcoming a neck injury and partial vision loss reinforced Posen's sense of vulnerability and taught him humility and gratitude.
• 🏑 Posen attributes his career success to opportune encounters with influential figures in the field.
• ❓ The economic profession is not always welcoming or inclusive to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• 😑 Posen's early writings during grad school proved to be insightful, even if he lacked the eloquence to express them persuasively at the time.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who would Adam Posen like to interview, living or dead, and why?

Posen would choose Teddy Williams or John Maynard Keynes as they were the best in their respective fields, and their insights would be invaluable.

Q: How has reading about COVID impacted Posen's literary choices?

Posen admits to predominantly reading about COVID and economics, but feels inspired by Joe Stiglitz's effort to diversify his reading with literary novels.

Q: What influential books have shaped Posen's perspective on collective action and world history?

Posen recommends "The Logic of Collective Action" by Mancur Olson for insights on collective action, and Jared Diamond's works for understanding the impact of large-scale changes in history.

Q: Can Posen recall pivotal moments or individuals that influenced his career path?

Posen credits Rick Mishkin at the New York Fed and Fred Bergsten at the Peterson Institute for providing crucial opportunities and encouragement early in his career.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Adam Posen reveals that his career took a positive turn when given opportunities at the New York Fed and the Peterson Institute.

• Posen admits to reading mostly about COVID and economics, acknowledging his lack of diversity in reading material.

• He highlights the impact of two books, "The Logic of Collective Action" by Mancur Olson and Jared Diamond's work on world history.

• Posen shares personal setbacks, including struggling in graduate school and overcoming a neck injury that resulted in partial vision loss.