Home Podcasts Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers
Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Platypus Economics 64 Episodes Jul 2, 2026

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

Episodes

June Jobs Report: Not Sinking, But Not Surging. Just Treading Water. | Diving In Jul 2, 2026 658 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 Jul 1, 2026 1102 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 Jun 24, 2026 929 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 Jun 23, 2026 1553 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 Jun 17, 2026 866 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 Jun 15, 2026 1050 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 Jun 15, 2026 3061 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 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

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