A Conversation with Former BLS Commissioners William Beach and Erica Groshen

A Conversation with Former BLS Commissioners William Beach and Erica Groshen

Author: Cato Institute October 8, 2025 Duration: 1:03:28

Free markets are a core principle of libertarianism, and data are a central element to furthering economic freedom.


Accurate data are essential to researchers of all philosophies—liberal, conservative, and libertarian—and all researchers must rely on objective facts as a baseline to inform policy and have legitimate debate in the marketplace of ideas.


For better or worse, the federal government is currently one of the main sources of economic data, and users must be able to rely on the objectivity of its data.


Given recent events, is there a legitimate reason to rethink how government data are compiled? What is the role of private institutions? Are there changes that could be implemented to better serve the researchers who utilize the data most? William Beach and Erica Groshen, former heads of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Norbert Michel, vice president and director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, will address these questions.


Please join us for this timely and important discussion, led by these influential thought leaders, about the data that inform the government’s policies.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
In this episode, Erec Smith speaks with Andrew Hartz, a practicing clinical psychologist and Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Open Therapy Institute. Hartz and Smith discuss the detrimental effect that i…
Dissolving the Education Department: The Role of Congress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
One of the hottest topics on the Hill is the future of the Department of Education and the current administration’s education priorities. As national conversations grow around school choice, federal overreach, and the ro…
US Immigration Policy in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
The current administration has enacted the most active immigration policy in American history, issuing unprecedented executive orders, attempting to deport one million people a year, and imposing new restrictions on lega…
Removing Barriers to Capital Formation Panel II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:58
Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators…
Removing Barriers to Capital Formation Panel I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators…
AI Policy Today and Beyond: A Fireside Chat with Rep. Rich McCormick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:34
Join us at the Cato Institute for an in-depth fireside chat featuring Congressman Rich McCormick and Matt Mittelsteadt, Cato policy fellow in technology. This timely conversation will explore the evolving landscape of ar…
NATO 2025 Summit: Rebalancing the Transatlantic Relationship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:15
NATO member states will gather June 24–26 in the Netherlands for the 2025 NATO Summit. This comes as NATO member states’ disparate interests, competing priorities, and varying perspectives on the future of Ukraine threat…
What Is the Opportunity Cost of State AI Policy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
Proposals to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) at the state level continue to increase. Unfortunately, these proposals could potentially disrupt advances in this important technology, even if there is strong federal…