Why Tariffs Persist Despite Evidence with Dr. David Hebert | Let People Prosper Ep. 189

If tariffs truly created prosperity, countries that raise the most trade barriers would be the richest in the world. They aren’t. Yet protectionism keeps returning to Washington politics like a bad sequel nobody asked for. Why? The answer often has less to do with economics and more to do with political incentives.

In Episode 189 of the Let People Prosper Show, I interviewed Dr. David Hebert, Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and Associate Director of the Entangled Political Economy Research Network, to unpack how political incentives shape economic outcomes. We discuss tariffs, immigration, manufacturing myths, and why criticism and debate are essential for a healthy democracy. If you want to understand why bad economic ideas survive even when evidence is clear, this conversation is for you. 

Listen to the full episode of the Let People Prosper Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Find out more about my work at Ginn Economic Consulting and get show notes at vanceginn.com or vanceginn.substack.com.