Guest: Rohen Shah

We've all heard it: “If you want to truly learn something, teach it.” But does the research support this idea?

In this episode, economist and educator Rohen Shah shares his insights on why teaching others may be the most effective learning strategy—especially for students and self-learners. Based on evidence from real-world applications, including platforms like Khan Academy, we explore how peer instruction and active explanation enhance understanding and retention.

🎯 Topics include:

· How teaching activates deeper cognitive processing

· Why “teaching to learn” is powerful even for beginners

· How peer instruction improves outcomes in classrooms

· What this means for education policy and learning design.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite platform: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/the-cause--effect⁠

📝 Read more on our Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@thecauseandeffect

How fair is the college admissions process? In this episode, economist Tyler Ransom joins host Vitor Melo to explore one of the most controversial and impactful issues in U.S. education: racial discrimination in college admissions.

Together, they examine the data behind who gets into college—and who doesn’t. Does race play a role? What about class? And how do policies like affirmative action shape access to higher education?

📊 Based on Tyler's research, this episode digs into the evidence, the misconceptions, and the real-world consequences of admissions decisions at selective colleges.

🎯 In this episode, you'll learn:

· What the data says about racial disparities inadmissions

· The limits and impacts of affirmative action policies

· Why some groups are consistently underrepresented

· How admissions criteria may unintentionally favor some students over others

· The difference between equity and equality in education

🎥 Watch the full video episode on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/pYTWuXxJz6o

📝 Read more on our Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@thecauseandeffect⁠

🌐 Learn more:

Vitor Melo – ⁠https://melovitor.com⁠

Tyler Ransom – ⁠https://tyleransom.github.io/

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🎧 Subscribe and follow for weekly episodes connecting economic research to real-world problems—without the jargon.

#TheCauseAndEffect #TylerRansom #CollegeAdmissions #AffirmativeAction #EducationPolicy #Inequality #Discrimination #HigherEd #PublicPolicy

In this episode, economist Edward Timmons joins host Vitor Melo to discuss the real impact of occupational licensing laws on workers, consumers, and the economy.

🎯 Over 1 in 5 American workers must obtain a government license to do their job—barbers, teachers, massage therapists, even florists. But does licensing actually protect the public? Or is it a barrier that drives up costs and keeps people out of work?

💡 Edward explains how these rules have expanded over time, what their economic consequences are, and how universal recognition policies—a growing reform trend in U.S. states—could reduce friction and benefit both workers and consumers.

🔍 In this episode:

• What occupational licensing is and how it works

• Why some low-risk professions still face strict regulations

• How licensing impacts wages, employment, and mobility

• What research says about the real benefits (or lack thereof) of these laws

• How universal recognition could be the reform we need

  
  

📢 Don’t miss this in-depth conversation about one of the most underappreciated labor market policies—and how it affects us all.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms.

📢 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxfJ9gzIlLQ

📢 Follow for more content on economics and public policy:

🌐 Vitor Melo’s website: https://melovitor.com

🌐 Edward Timmons’s website: https://sites.google.com/view/edwardtimmons/home?authuser=0