Does putting a price on nature save or destroy it?

Capitalism is relentless in putting a price on everything. So why does it so often fail to value the things we need most: clean air, a stable climate, healthy oceans, and the unpaid work of caregivers? This week, political theorist Alyssa Battistoni joins us to discuss her new book, Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature (Princeton University Press). Early economists marveled at nature’s “gratuitous gifts.” Today, economists try to price everything from a single whale to the entire planet. Alyssa argues that the long fight over whether to put a price on nature misses something more basic: most of nature isn’t priced, and it’s already being destroyed. Along the way, we cover a smoky chimney that inspired arguably the most important economic concept of the 20th century, a glass replica of Earth in the Arizona desert that ran short of air, and what Costa Rica figured out about protecting forests that carbon markets haven’t. 🌐 Full episode page, transcript, and resources: talkingtrashpod.com 📱 Follow us: Instagram: @_talkingtrashpod TikTok: @talkingtrashpod YouTube: @talkingtrashpod CREDITS: Host & Show Creator: Matt King Art Director: Frances Miller