Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers
From world events to everyday decisions, economics explains it all. Platypus Economics makes it clear, useful, and actually fun.
Episodes
The Economics of Feeling Ripped Off | The Professor Is In
Politicians keep promising to bring prices down. In this episode of The Professor Is In, Justin Wolfers explains why that's a terrible idea — and why it's not the same thing as slowing inflation. He walks through what actually happens if you force the price level down: wages have to fall too, stores go unprofitable, and the only reliable way to make it happen is to engineer a recession &mdas
What the Heck is Going On In the Bond Market? | Diving In
Bond yields have jumped from a little over 1% just after COVID to more than 5%, and Justin Wolfers walks you through why that matters at your kitchen table. The short version: the U.S. government is borrowing an enormous amount of money, lining up at the bank ahead of you and me, and that pushes the price of borrowing — the interest rate — up for everyone. Justin sorts the story into t
What the $20 Burrito Debate Gets Wrong About Affordability | Diving In
A college student said a burrito shouldn't cost $20, and suddenly everyone seemed to be arguing about affordability. In this latest installment of Diving In, Justin Wolfers uses that burrito as a metaphor to untangle a real puzzle: 95% of Americans think there's an affordability crisis, two-thirds say groceries are unaffordable — yet by early 2026, every measure of real pay is above where it
How Lab-Grown Diamonds Broke the Market | Off the Clock
Justin Wolfers and Bloomberg's Stacey Vanek Smith pick through a week of confusing economic news on the latest episode of Off the Clock. First up, inflation. Inflation came in at 3.4% — not great, not terrible — but here's the part that stings: prices are still rising faster than wages and the average American paycheck buys less than it did a year ago. They also dig into the July
If AI Does Your Job, Who Gets Paid? | The Professor Is In
Justin Wolfers sits down for The Professor Is In to answer your follow-up questions about labor's declining share of income — the reason a soaring market can coexist with wages that feel stuck. He explains that this isn't just an American story: across industrialized countries, workers have been getting a smaller cut of the pie for decades, which points less to any one country's politics and
No, the K-shaped Economy Isn't Over | Diving In
The stock market keeps breaking records, but your paycheck doesn't feel like it. In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers explains that disconnect with one number: labor's share of income has fallen to 54.4 cents on the dollar, the lowest share on record. And it’s significantly less than the two-thirds that was common for most of the last century. Justin fires up the actual data to stres
Inflation Is Still High. Just As We Thought. | Diving In
The newest inflation report is out, and Justin Wolfers walks you through what actually matters. Annual inflation is running at 3.4% — well above what the Fed wants, and high enough to explain why the checkout line still feels uncomfortable. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy to predict where prices are headed, sits at a better — but still high — 2.5%. July's monthly
AI's Biggest Problem May Be Its Pace | The Professor Is In
In this bonus-sized episode of The Professor Is In, Justin Wolfers uses a strange, wonderful case study — the collapse of artisanal bootmaking in 1850s England — to think through what AI will do to your work, your wages, and maybe even where you live. Economic historian Hillary Vipond found that even though a new technology let each worker produce four times as much, total bootmaking j
The July Jobs Report Should Worry You | Diving In
The July jobs report just dropped, and it's time to worry. Markets expected around 80,000 new jobs — instead, the economy lost 23,000, and revisions to the prior two months erased another 100,000 we thought we had. In this video, Justin Wolfers break down what's really going on beneath the headline: the drop in government jobs might be statistical noise, essentially all private-sector job gr
How Early Access to Trump’s Truths Will Drain Ordinary Investors | Diving In
Justin unpacks the new $100,000-a-year Truth Social API—a special "pipe" that will allow the president's posts to hit Wall Street computers a second or so before the rest of us see them. In this episode of Diving In, he explains why one second is an eternity for a high-frequency trading computer: it can read a post announcing a strike on Iran, figure out what it means for markets, and sell b
What Victorian Bootmakers Can Teach Us About The Future of Work | Diving In
When the CEO of Anthropic warns AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, it's easy to picture the destruction. Justin Wolfers wants you to picture the other half of the story. In this episode of Diving In, he uses a carefully researched study of Victorian bootmaking — where a labor-saving sewing machine let each worker make four times as many boots — to show how a t
Economics Is Not a Subject — It's a Toolkit | Economics Matters
This is a conversation between Justin and Larry Kotlikoff, fellow economist and host of the Economics Matters podcast. And it was a fun one, in which Larry encouraged Justin to look both backwards and forwards. Backward at some of the work he's most proud of, and forward at the growing challenges we face as an economy and a nation. In the process, Justin and Larry philosophized over the role of ec
Tariffs, Take Three: The Dumbest Round Yet | Off the Clock
Justin and Stacey are back for Off the Clock — helping you figure out what economic news to actually worry about, what you can safely ignore, and where to find some silver linings. This week was a big one for economic news and data. Justin starts by explaining to Stacey why this latest round of tariffs is the dumbest one yet. And Stacey brings in some reporting to highlight how small busines
How SNAP's New Rules Make Eligible Families Go Hungry | The Professor Is In
Recent changes to SNAP quietly cut food assistance from 4 million Americans — 1.5 million of them children (plus elderly, disabled, and other eligible recipients who were never the intended target). In this follow-up to his earlier video Diving In to SNAP cuts, Justin Wolfers answers follow-up questions and explains how the policy actually plays out for real people. Justin walks through why
The Lawyer’s Theory of Trade | Diving In
Donald Trump's trade representative Jamison Greer thinks about trade like a litigator: clients, injuries, bad actors, and remedies. Justin Wolfers takes Greer's own words from his recent interview with The Daily and shows why that worldview rests on muddled thinking about what trade actually is — and why it ends up costing you. In this Diving In episode, Justin lays out the tells and discuss
Should Canada answer Trump's tariffs? | The Professor Is In
In this episode of The Professor Is In, Justin Wolfers digs into the latest tariffs on Canada, answering subscriber questions and responding to comments from his earlier Diving In He addresses the suspicious timing of these new tariffs, break down the confusing dairy tariff-rate quota, and argues that total US-Canada dairy trade — about a billion dollars against hundreds of billions in overa
Six Dollars a Day Is Disappearing For Millions | Diving In
Last summer, Congress passed one of the biggest cuts to food assistance in a generation. SNAP — the program a lot of folks still call food stamps — pays about $188 a month, roughly $6 a day for groceries like milk, eggs, rice, and peanut butter. It's not enough to live on, but it's the thing that lets a parent say yes to fruit this week instead of no. In this Diving In episode, Justin
Why Trump’s New Tariff Is Bigger Than Canada | Diving In
Trump's new 50% tariffs on Canada bypass USMCA — here's what it really means for you. President Trump just hit a limited set of Canadian goods with 50% tariffs, and he did it by dusting off Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — a law last used when Herbert Hoover was in the building. Justin Wolfers walks you through what actually happened, why it's stranger than it sounds, and why th
Justin Answers Your Questions on Trump Accounts | The Professor Is In
In this latest episode of The Professor Is In, Justin answers listener questions and responds to comments from his latest episode dispelling the hype around Trump Accounts. Justin argues that Trump accounts are really two policies bundled together. There’s the attention-grabbing $1,000 payment for newborns, which has a genuine “kernel of genius” if the goal is to introduce famili
What Reese's Cups and Canadian Wildfires Can Teach Us About Economics | Off the Clock
In this episode of Off the Clock, Justin and Stacey break down some of the week’s biggest economic news — letting you know what to actually worry about, what you can safely ignore, and where to find some silver linings. This week they discuss the collapse of the Iran ceasefire and what it might mean for the economy. They also break down the latest inflation numbers, why the relief is p
The Truth About Trump Accounts (Read the Fine Print) | Diving In
In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers explains why the new Trump Accounts are actually two very different policies jammed into one. First, there’s the headline-grabbing piece: a one-time $1,000 government deposit for babies born in a narrow window between 2025 and 2028, alongside a permanent tax-advantaged savings account that mainly helps families who can afford to keep contributing.
Good News on Inflation — With a Very Big Asterisk
The latest CPI report came in better than expected: headline inflation slowed to 3.5% and experienced its largest one-month decline since April 2020. But better-than-expected does not mean problem solved. Falling energy prices were largely responsible for this positive news, and a renewed war with Iran could quickly reverse that progress. As oil prices rise once more, those costs can spread quickl
Could Price Comparison Apps Be Making Gas MORE Expensive? | The Professor Is In
Justin is back for another episode of The Professor Is In, answering questions, responding to comments, and clarifying his previous takes. The gas price story is not just about your local station—it runs through refining, production constraints, inventories, retail competition, and consumer behavior. When oil prices rise, gas prices can adjust within days, but when they fall, the trip back d
The Hidden Pattern in Gas Prices (And How to Beat It) | Diving In
Oil prices spike and pump signs change almost instantly. But when crude falls, the savings trickle in slowly — if they arrive at all. This pattern, known as "rockets and feathers," is real and measurable across decades of data. But does it prove oil companies are gouging you, or is something else entirely responsible? In this episode, Justin Wolfers breaks down what the data actually reveal
Feel Your Feelings: Jobs, Trump Accounts, and America's Big Birthday | Off the Clock
Justin is back with Stacey Vanek Smith for another episode of Off the Clock just in time for America’s 250th birthday. The two of us dive into the latest economic news, and sift through the noise so you don’t have to. This week’s conversation covers the latest jobs report (disappointing but far from a disaster), the possible causes of the ongoing disconnect between economic stati
June Jobs Report: Not Sinking, But Not Surging. Just Treading Water. | Diving In
Is a “bad” jobs number is closer to normal than you think? In this 10-minute breakdown, Justin Wolfers explains how to read the latest jobs report without overreacting to a single headline. June payroll growth came in at 57,000, which looks weak by the standards of a few years ago. But those older standards may no longer fit an economy with slower population growth and lower immigratio
Navigating Inflation: Smart Strategies for Better Choices | Diving In
Inflation doesn't just raise prices — it tricks you into staring at bigger dollar numbers instead of asking what those dollars can actually buy. A two percent pay raise sounds great until inflation is running at three percent. Your savings account pays more interest until you realize it's still losing purchasing power. This is “money illusion,” and it costs you real money. In thi
How Food Delivery Killed Competition (And Took Your Budget With It) | Diving In
Getting food delivered should be simple — but somehow it's gotten outrageously expensive. In this video, Justin Wolfers break down why food delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub make it nearly impossible to compare prices, and why that's no accident. Justin Wolfers spent half an hour pricing the same dinner order across four platforms, and the results will make you rethink ever
Sifting Through the Wreckage of An Ill-Informed War| Slate's What Next + Platypus Economics
In this episode of Slate's What Next, we examine the economic costs of the conflict with Iran and why the true price of war extends far beyond the immediate impact on oil prices. From higher energy costs to the effects of rising geopolitical risk on economic growth, we explore how economists measure the consequences of uncertainty — and why those costs are felt most by the world’s most
Better Lawyers, Worse Economics: Inside Trump's Latest Tariff Strategy | Diving In
Trump's trade war just won't die. After the Supreme Court struck down his "Liberation Day" tariffs and courts blocked his emergency global surcharge, the White House is back with a third attempt — this time wrapped in language forced labor, unfair trade practices, and a legal paper trail designed to survive court challenges. It's a new legal strategy, but the same chaotic trade war that's be
The Job Numbers Will Probably Get Revised—That’s Not A Scandal | The Professor Is In
Justin Wolfers breaks down the biggest myths surrounding the monthly jobs report, starting with why strong hiring doesn't always move the unemployment rate. He also addresses the recurring claim that new jobs are low quality or mostly second jobs, explaining that the jobs report simply doesn't contain enough detail to support those conclusions in real time. The conversation then goes deep on revis
Inflation Is Up—Temporary Bedfellow or Long-term Partner? | Off the Clock
The work week may be over, but the economy really never takes time off. In this week’s episode of Off the Clock, Justin Wolfers and Stacey Vanek Smith help you cut through the noise and figure out what you should actually care about from this week’s economic news. They skip the SpaceX hype and dig into the stuff that shapes your real life—inflation eating into your paycheck and t
Are Markets Getting Suckered By Trump's Truth Socials? | Diving In
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Justin Wolfers Breaks Down the Week: Spirit, US Debt, and the AI Economy (with Stacey Vanek Smith)
What actually mattered in this week’s avalanche of economic news? In this conversation, Justin talks to his friend, Stacey Vanek Smith, Senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek and cohost of the Everybody’s Business podcast. Together, they sort the signal from the noise: Spirit Airlines’ collapse, the U.S. debt hitting 100% of GDP, and whether AI is really driving growth—or
Should We Actually Be Worried About the National Debt | Diving In
In this opening episode for Platypus Economics, Justin Wolfers explains why the federal budget deficit is one of the best examples of how economics can clarify a debate that politics often mangles. The central point is simple: deficits are not automatically good or bad, but a tool. And the only serious question is whether borrowing makes sense given the economy, the emergency, and the country&rsqu
Welcome to Platypus Economics
Economics. Explained. Clearly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Economics For All Your Decisions In Life - From Romance to Retirement
Think Like An Economist has taken you on a journey through the economic principles, showing you the tools of economics, and how they can be applied at home and at work. In this season finale, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers reveal the big life choices they've made using those tools of economics, and how you can apply economics to help make decisions throughout your life.Co-Host: Nastaran Tavak
Useful Economics in Everyday Life
We're all actors in the economy, with different habits, dilemmas and choices. And economics is about everyday decisions in our daily lives as much as it is about government policy. As economics professors, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers have honed the ways to show how economics involves everyone. They discuss their method of teaching economics, and the way they show that economic tools can he
A Conversation with Emily Oster: The Economics of Pregnancy, Parenting and the Pandemic
Emily Oster is one of the most interesting economists in the world, and she uses the tools of economics in everything she does. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explore Emily's thoughts about how economic ideas can provide useful insight for parents and families. This audio course is about how to think like an economist, and Emily models exactly how to do this.Editor: Alastair Elphick. A M
A Conversation with Larry Summers: The Influence of Economic Ideas and the Dangers of Secular Stagnation
Larry Summers has been at the forefront of economic thinking for decades - a World Bank chief economist, Professor at Harvard and U.S. Treasury Secretary. He's also warned that the global economy is in the midst of secular stagnation. In this episode, he tells Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers why the economy is stagnant, in spite of low interest rates. The three economists also discuss why thei
A Conversation with Greg Mankiw: Financial Crisis, Recessions and Communicating Economics
Professor Greg Mankiw is one of the most influential economists today: a New Keynesian, advisor to Presidents, and a good friend of Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. In this episode, the three of them discuss what we can learn from financial crises, why globalisation has lost its shine, and how best to communicate economic ideas.Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystu
Behavioral Economics - We're only human!
We all can make mistakes when faced with choices. Biases and old habits can get in the way of good economic decision making. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers discuss the way our psychology affects our decisions, and they show how to make better judgements and assess the risks.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for p
Making Decisions in an Uncertain World
Uncertainty and risk are all around us. So how can we make good decisions when we don't know what will happen? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how to understand risk, and your reaction to it, as well as giving you the tools to help reduce risk.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Game Theory - Thinking Strategically
In business, as in life, we often have to make decisions based on what others choose. But how do we make the right strategic decisions? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers unpick the problems of strategic cooperation and coordination, and show you the four steps for making good strategic decisions. You now have two choices - to listen to this episode, or not!Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor:
Business Strategy - How to boost profitability
Great entrepreneurs identify opportunities for long-term profits before other people can. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers will help you learn how to spot your business opportunities and show you the five forces that determine profitability.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Entry, Exit and Long-Run Profitability - How to get ahead in the Market
If there are profits to be made, entrepreneurs will be there to start their business. But how can they stay ahead of the competition and deter new rivals from entering the market? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers guide you through the choices managers make to remain profitable, and explain why businesses try to crush healthy competition.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick.
Why wages vary - Why some of us get paid more than others
Why do some people earn so much more than others? How does society value certain jobs over other jobs - and how can we make sure we get a higher wage? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help navigate the vagaries of the job market, and have some advice how to get the best wage deal.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener f
Think Like An Economist gets back to business
Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers are back to help you think like an economist. This season is our mini-MBA, and we'll unpack even more economic tools, with a focus on showing you how to make wise business decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply
It's time to explore macroeconomics from a new yet familiar perspective, using economy-wide supply and demand curves to forecast the economy's total output and average price level. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how this perspective can help you diagnose the economy's ills, and prescribe the appropriate policy medicine.SummaryCo-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elph
Budget Deficits and Government Debt
Government deficits and debt are at record levels in many countries, provoking widespread anxiety. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain why governments run deficits and rack up debt, whether they're likely to be sustainable, and if you really need to worry.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati
Fiscal Policy - Government Spending and Taxes
There's no bigger player in the economy than the government, which can adjust billions of dollars worth of taxes and spending. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how policymakers can adjust these levers to keep the economy on track.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Monetary Policy - The Financial Levers That Tame Business Cycles
Central Banks around the world, such as the Federal Reserve, work to keep the economy running smoothly. They set interest rates and adjust financial conditions to keep inflation and unemployment stable and low. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers take you to the heart of the Fed's decision making process, and explain how those decisions affect your life and the broader economy. Co-host: Nasta
The Fed Model - Predicting what will happen to the Economy
When a shock such as the Covid pandemic sends waves through the global economy, how do economists find ways to respond? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers guide you through the Fed Model - the mainstay of policy makers and financiers around the world. They examine the key relationships in the macroeconomy and the shocks that destabilise them.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphic
Inflation and the Phillips Curve
Why do we end up paying higher prices than we used to? And what are the main causes of this economy-wide inflation? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers talk us through how expectations influence inflation, and how greater demand, and problems with supply can push up prices.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy
Connecting Interest Rates & Output
What is the most important price in the economy? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers say that it's the interest rate, and they dig into where it comes from, and how it drives all spending in the economy. These big ideas yield a framework called the IS-MP model which policymakers use to help devise fiscal and monetary policies to kick-start the economy.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Edit
The Boom and Bust of Business Cycles
Even economists find navigating the ups and downs of expansions and recessions tricky. With the COVID-19 recession still affecting millions around the world, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help you make sense of the business cycles that affect all of our lives. And they have some handy tools to help you understand where the economy is headed.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair El
Exchange Rates & International Finance - The flow of currencies around the world
How can a change in the currency markets change the price of a loaf of bread? And is a strong currency useful? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how imports and exports are affected by foreign exchange markets.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Financial Sector - Bonds, Stocks and Shares - should you or shouldn't you?
Are you thinking about investing in the Financial Markets? Should you put some of your retirement savings into bonds, or stocks and shares? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how you can invest and have some simple words of advice for you. Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Investment - Upfront costs for future gains
When businesses invest, they're weighing upfront costs against future gains. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how executives make smart investment decisions, and how you can use the same ideas to figure out whether to invest in your education, your health, or your financial future.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/
Consumption and Saving - Spend Now or Save to Spend Later
We all make decisions about when to spend our money and when to save for our future selves. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you the tools to make the right spending and saving choices at different times of your life, and what it all means for the macroeconomy.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy
Assignment: Spending and Saving
The Think Like An Economist team are taking a break this week, but we'll be back next week to look at consumption and savings. See you then, Betsey, Justin and Nas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inflation - When money loses its value
We might watch the inflation rate to see how the cost of living is changing, and how our money changes value over time. But what happens when we can't trust money any more? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain inflation - what it is, the harm it can do, and how you can protect yourself against it.Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omny
Unemployment - Does joblessness have to mean hopelessness?
Being unemployed can be very stressful, so what can economists do to help people back to work? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers discuss what it means to be jobless, and what to do if you're unlucky enough to lose your job.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Economic Growth - Improving our Lives
When an economy grows, we live better lives. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how economic growth is fuelled by the mix of skilled workers, the right investments and new ideas. As one idea leads to another, innovation helps boost the economy and can make the world a better place. Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/l
Gross Domestic Product - Adding Up Everything We Do
We're diving into Macroeconomics with a look at Gross Domestic Product and how it counts everything in the economy - from output, to spending and the income earned. And Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers also show you how even the great yardstick that is GDP ignores some vital elements of society.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio
Thinking Big, Remembering Small - From Micro to Macro
Now we've learned the tools of microeconomics, it's time to step up to macro. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers are here to show you how millions of individual microeconomic decisions affect the macroeconomic world - and how macroeconomics gives decision makers the tools to make our lives better.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.See omnystudio
Private Information - I Know Something You Don’t Know
What happens when you know something that others don't? Or they know something you don't? These information asymmetries can great create a fog of mistrust, and doing business can get tricky. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help clear the economic fog, and find ways to restore that trust.Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media ProductionSee omnystudio.com/lis
Price Discrimination - Why some people pay less
Discounts for the elderly or students may seem generous - but they win more customers. When businesses ask how they can make as much money as possible from each customer, they need a sophisticated pricing strategy. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers take a look at who gets a discount and why.Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media ProductionSee omnystudio.com/l
Market Power - Why businesses charge more
What's the competition? When businesses have less competition, they have more market power and can raise their prices. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explore competition in the market place and the way it shapes prices - and profit.Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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