Ron Bailey on "The End of Doom"

"Are human beings smart enough to overcome scarcities through their intellectual powers?"

Reason science correspondent Ron Bailey says this is the question that scientists and economists have been grappling with for decades. In a talk in front of a live, in-studio audience at Reason's LA headquarters, Bailey answered that question with a resounding, "Yes!"

Bailey previewed his upcoming book, The End of Doom, in this thought-provoking talk of the same name. By documenting numerous errors in prediction from the past, from Paul Ehlrich's famous commodities bet with Julian Simon to unfounded concerns about "peak oil," Bailey takes on the doomsayers and argues that it's much more rational to expect a more prosperous, resource-rich, and ecologically sound future than it is to fear armageddon.

Approximately 20 minutes. Produced by Zach Weissmueller. Shot by Alex Manning, Paul Detrick, and Tracy Oppenheimer.

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