I’ve had a hundred arguments with Tyler Cowen where claims that seemingly idiotic popular positions are actually subtle, deep, and correct, and I respond that popular positions are every bit as idiotic as they appear. It’s a pleasure, then, to see Dani Rodrik take over Tyler’s normal role, leading Tyler to take on mine.

I’ve long argued that the surest way to turn Tyler into a libertarian crusader (dare I say the next Milton Friedman?) is to send him to Harvard. Virtual arguments with Harvard’s faculty seem to be the next best thing.