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Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Platypus Economics 64 episodes Latest May 30, 2026

From world events to everyday decisions, economics explains it all. Platypus Economics makes it clear, useful, and actually fun.

Episodes

Are Markets Getting Suckered By Trump's Truth Socials? | Diving In Jun 11, 2026 504 What happens when markets have to price the risks of war and presidential credibility at the same time? In this episode, Justin Wolfers explains why U.S. stocks keep rising and falling with Trump’s Truth Social posts, despite their questionable truthfulness. The core point: even if investors discount what the president says, they continue to react because the stakes are so large. And the rep
Trump Tried to Mess With the Jobs Report. It Didn't Work. | Diving In Jun 10, 2026 1157 When the latest jobs report showed strong numbers, the internet exploded with accusations of fraud and government manipulation. And given everything the Trump administration has done—firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, attempting to install a partisan loyalist in her place—that skepticism isn't entirely unfounded. But skepticism and dismissal are two very different thing
The Future of Work Is Care—Can Men Adapt? | The Professor Is In Jun 8, 2026 1450 America keeps talking about manufacturing — but the labor market is growing elsewhere. In this Q&A, Justin Wolfers answers audience questions and responds to subscriber comments from his recent episode diving into the gender gap in recent job growth. Topics addressed include: how the gender wage gap fits into the story, what’s standing in the way of more men entering care jobs, and
Why The Stock Market Hated May’s Strong Jobs Report | Off the Clock Jun 6, 2026 3080 In this episode of Off the Clock, Justin unwinds the week’s economic news with his friend, Stacey Vanek Smith—senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek and cohost of the Everybody’s Business podcast. The goal of this series is to help you understand what to actually be concerned about, what you can safely ignore, and where there’s room for a bit of hope. They dig into May&rs
The Pink-Collar Economy Is Here | Diving In Jun 3, 2026 803 Since the start of President Trump’s second term, women have received 86% of net new payroll jobs and now hold slightly more non-farm payroll jobs than men. In this episode, Justin Wolfers explains why that shift is happening and what it says about our modern U.S. economy.  This trend is not driven by employers suddenly preferring women over men, but by which parts of the economy are ac
A Gas Tax Holiday Is Performative Nonsense | The Professor Is In May 30, 2026 1348 What happens when politicians try to look like they’re fixing high gas prices without actually fixing them? Justin Wolfers explains why a federal gas tax holiday is bad economics, good theater, and a gift to oil companies.  In a follow-up to his explainer episode, Justin answers audience questions about windfall taxes, what smarter relief could look like, whether a diesel tax holiday ma
A Gas Tax Holiday Would Miss the Point—And the People Who Need Help | Diving In May 27, 2026 1053 A gas tax holiday sounds like relief, but gets the economics wrong in almost every direction. Today’s high prices are a war problem — not a tax problem. And cheaper gas is the exact wrong response to a shortage. When something is scarce, higher prices send a signal to conserve, but a tax cut blunts that signal and encourages more demand at exactly the wrong moment. It's akin to subsidi
Is Inflation Going to Ruin the Summer? | Off the Clock May 23, 2026 2637 Justin Wolfers is back with Stacey Vanek Smith to break down three of the biggest stories in economic news. Starting with the arrival of new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh — and the question of which Kevin Warsh will show up for the job: the inflation hawk from the Great Recession, or a more political figure likely to echo President Trump's calls for lower interest rates. Next, Justin and Stacey cove
What Really Happens When Schools Lock Away Phones? | Diving In May 20, 2026 1034 What happens when students can’t instantly reach for their phones? In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers breaks down the latest research on school phone bans and finds a result that’s more complicated—and more interesting—than many parents, teachers, and policymakers expected. Here's the broader lesson: removing a distraction does not automatically create a better ou
Justin Wolfers Answers Your Questions on the National Debt | The Professor Is In May 16, 2026 827 In this follow-up to an episode diving in to the federal deficit, Justin Wolfers responds to audience comments and questions including: where are interest payments going? Why can’t the government just print more money? And how do changes in immigration impact our ability to pay back our debt? If you'd like Justin to answer your question in a future segment of The Professor Is In, leave a com
How to measure the true cost of war: Justin Wolfers shows you the math | Diving In May 13, 2026 1070 The Pentagon said the war with Iran has cost Americans $25 billion. But that number only accounts for missiles fired and equipment destroyed. The true cost of war is measured by the future we’ve given up. In this video — my Director’s Cut of an Op-Ed I wrote last week for the New York Times — I explain why that figure is dangerously misleading and show you the math for a le
Are Met Gala Tickets Too Cheap? | Diving In May 11, 2026 831 In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers breaks down the economics of the Met Gala using two big ideas from economics: signaling and non-price competition. The basic point is simple: the high price of luxury goods isn't a bug in the system, it's the whole point. So instead of competing through discounts, brands must compete through spectacle: celebrity placements, giant flagship stores, fashio

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