Matthew Weinzierl On Space And New Economic Frontiers – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #983 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Matthew Weinzierl is not just thinking about the future of the economy – he’s thinking about the economy of the final frontier. As a professor at Harvard Business School and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Matt brings the analytical rigor of economic policy to a space sector that’s shifting from sci-fi to IPO. In our conversation, we unpack the big thesis behind his new book Space To Grow – Unlocking The Final Economic Frontier (co-authored with Mehak Sarang Rousseau), which reframes space as something more than spectacle or science – it’s a place where real economic value is being created right now. This isn’t about day trips to orbit or Mars hotels (not yet). It’s about the role of market forces, national security, broadband access, sustainability, microgravity manufacturing, and the essential debate between centralized control and decentralized innovation. Matt has built a career studying tax policy and the philosophical underpinnings of economic systems, and now he’s applying that lens to a commercial space industry that’s still defining its rules. We talk about SpaceX’s dominance and what it means for competition, the outdated frameworks of international space law, and why economists are uniquely suited to help structure the future of space activity. We also explore the symbolic and practical value of human exploration, and how figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos shape the public’s understanding of what’s possible (and what might be hype). What makes Matt so compelling is his clarity… he doesn’t get swept up in the cosmic dreams without asking who benefits, who governs, and what kind of economic system we’re building in orbit and beyond. If you’ve been curious about the real forces shaping the space economy – and what it might mean for Earth – this episode is a must-listen. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose): #983 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

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