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The Indicator from Planet Money
NPR
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A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
2 days ago
The Beigies: Traffic Jam At The Ports
The economy might be down, but Americans are buying a lot of stuff right now. Today on the show, we break it down and pick our favorite economic story from the Beige Book.
10 min
3 days ago
Making Sense Of Pandemic Stats
Statistics and the information we get from them have a massive influence on our worldviews and the decisions we make, but how can we ensure we're interpreting them properly? Today, we find out.
10 min
4 days ago
Companies Get Political
Politics used to be off limits for most American companies — at least publicly. Most would usually take a neutral position when a big political story hit the news. But that has changed.
10 min
5 days ago
The SPAC Is Back!
Last year, more than half the firms that went public were special purpose acquisition companies, also known as SPACs. We explain what that means and how it impacts the world of finance.
10 min
6 days ago
Entrepreneurship On The Rise
The coronavirus has been responsible for massive business closures...but at the same time, Americans are starting businesses at the fastest rate in more than a decade.
9 min
Jan 8, 2021
Jobs Friday: Reversal In The Recovery
For the first time since April, the American economy lost jobs. Today, we break down the December jobs report and the slowing economic recovery.
9 min
Jan 7, 2021
How Political Instability Affects The Economy
We're only seven days into the new year and we're off to a bumpy start. But as chaos rages through the capitol, the stock market and other signs of economic growth continue.
9 min
Jan 6, 2021
Fear And Loaning
There's a fear radiating out from the commercial real estate market — a fear that some economists say could become a drag on any economic recovery. In fact, there's evidence it already has.
10 min
Jan 5, 2021
New Year, New Indicators
2020 was a tough year for the economy. How different will 2021 be? Today on the show, we take a look at three of our favorite indicators for the new year.
10 min
Jan 4, 2021
The Economy In 2030
What will the global economy look like in a decade? Mauro Guillen joins the show to talk about 2030, his new book where he analyzes the economic trends of the future.
9 min
Dec 31, 2020
How To Use Globalization To Fight Disease
Globalization and urbanization historically have made the global economy more productive and efficient — and also more vulnerable to pandemics. But now they can be forces for good in the fight against pandemics.
9 min
Dec 30, 2020
Why The Housing Market Is Booming In A Bad Economy
The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it a massive economic downturn. Another thing it's brought: A booming housing market. We explain why. | Support The Indicator here.
9 min
Dec 29, 2020
Why We Weren't Prepared For A Pandemic
We've had plenty of warnings over the years that we weren't ready for a pandemic. Today on the show: the psychology and economics of why.
10 min
Dec 28, 2020
The Strategic Value Of Rare Earths
Rare earths are essential to a wide variety of strategically important components, but the vast majority of rare earths are produced by mines in China. That's something that the U.S. is working to correct.
9 min
Dec 24, 2020
Healthcare: The Pandemic's Financial Fallout
The coronavirus has strained healthcare systems — and not just in their ability to deal with surges. We talk to one hospital administrator about the financial strain of COVID-19. | Donate to your member station here.
10 min
Dec 23, 2020
Coming Back From Covid
Chris Montana is a Minneapolis distillery owner whose business was destroyed in rioting early this year. Since then, he's committed himself to supporting local businesses and raised more than $770,000. | Support The Indicator here.
10 min
Dec 22, 2020
The State Of The Arts
Morgan Gould is a playwright who talked with us in April about the cancellation of her play. She describes what life has been like for people who work in the arts during the pandemic. | Support The Indicator here.
9 min
Dec 21, 2020
The View From Beijing
China effectively stopped the spread of the virus early in the global pandemic. Life there has subsequently been quite different this year. | Support public radio here.
9 min
Dec 18, 2020
The Road To Bankruptcy
When the pandemic hit, the government pumped large amounts of money into the economy. The support kept many families afloat, but for many small businesses, it wasn't enough. | Donate to your NPR member station here.
10 min
Dec 17, 2020
The Underground Market For Vaccines
We venture into the dark web and take a look at the world of black market vaccine sales. | Support The Indicator here.
10 min
Dec 16, 2020
Overrated/Underrated After The Great Stagnation
There's no denying that 2020 has been a rough year, but economist Tyler Cowen brings the show a source of hope: the possible return of productivity growth. And he plays overrated/underrated! | Support public radio here.
10 min
Dec 15, 2020
Who Gets A Vaccine? A Conversation With Alvin Roth
Right now, demand for a coronavirus vaccine far outweighs supply. Leaders are trying to figure out who should get the vaccine first. Dr. Alvin Roth, a Nobel Prize winning economist who specializes in game theory, has some ideas. | Support The Indicator here.
10 min
Dec 14, 2020
Pandemic Adaptation: Bookstore Edition
Early in the pandemic, things looked bleak for Source Booksellers, a bookstore in Detroit. But they survived. The secret? Adaptation and loyal customers. | Support public radio here.
10 min
Dec 11, 2020
Our Friends Give Us Hope
Some friends of The Indicator join the show and share some economic indicators that give them hope for the future. | Donate to your NPR member station here.
9 min
Dec 10, 2020
The Long, Slow Recovery
Team Indicator follows up with ice cream shop owner Molly Moon to look at the road to recovery for small businesses. | Show your love for The Indicator here.
10 min
Dec 9, 2020
Shipping Delays: Why Your Packages Are Taking Forever
As the holiday season approaches, people are beginning to notice an online shopping trend: shipping delays. Today, we explain why packages are taking longer to ship than usual this year. | Donate to your member station here.
10 min
Dec 8, 2020
The Strangest Indicator Of 2020
Average real disposable income this year is on pace to rise at the fastest rate in more than 35 years. How could that be? We break down the strangest economic indicator of 2020. | Support public radio here.
10 min
Dec 7, 2020
The Marriage Business
Like all industries that revolve around large gatherings, weddings have been hit hard...but some wedding planners have found a way to adapt. Hint: It involves eloping. | Support The Indicator here.
10 min
Dec 4, 2020
Jobs Friday: The Four Labor Markets
For the final jobs report of the year, we break down how different sectors of the economy have handled the pandemic. | Support your NPR member station here.
9 min
Dec 3, 2020
The Beigies: Some Economic Bright Spots
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book focuses on stories from the economy. The latest edition shows some hopeful points of light in an otherwise gloomy economic landscape. | Support The Indicator here.
9 min
Dec 2, 2020
The Economics of America's Nurse Shortage
Early in the pandemic, there were national shortages of protective equipment and hospital supplies. Now, there's a shortage of nurses.
10 min
Dec 1, 2020
What Biden Could Do On Immigration
As President-elect Biden prepares to take office, there's a lot of speculation about how his administration might change the federal approach to immigration.
10 min
Nov 30, 2020
Electric Car Chargers: When Supply Drives Demand
People are hesitant to buy electric cars because fast chargers still aren't widely available. The irony? Most people charge at home, not with fast chargers. NPR's Camila Domonoske explains.
10 min
Nov 27, 2020
What's The Story? Narratives And The Economy
The great toilet paper shortage of 2020 wasn't caused by the virus or by a disruption to manufacturing. It was caused by a story: one that we told ourselves. On the Indicator: how stories can affect the economy.
10 min
Nov 25, 2020
Thanksgiving Dinner Is The Cheapest In 35 Years
Each year, the American Farm Bureau estimates the cost of Thanksgiving dinner. The main finding this year? Thanksgiving dinner is the cheapest it's been since the survey started 35 years ago.
9 min
Nov 24, 2020
Should I Travel For Thanksgiving This Year?
The CDC recommends we all stay home for Thanksgiving to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. But tens of millions of Americans are expected to travel anyway. If you're one of them, here's how you can think about the risk you're taking.
10 min
Nov 23, 2020
Opening A Hotel During A Pandemic
The U.S. is down around 3.5 million hospitality jobs since the pandemic took hold. But in spite of setbacks, hotels continue to open.
10 min
Nov 20, 2020
A Face-Punching Legal Battle
Over the past few decades, the UFC has become the biggest name in mixed martial arts. But a lawsuit argues it has held down fighter wages by restricting competition.
10 min
Nov 19, 2020
Make Trade Stale Again
President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will have massive implications for trade policy. Soumaya Keynes explains how Biden's approach to trade might differ from Trump's.
10 min
Nov 18, 2020
Winter Is Coming For The Restaurant Industry
Idaho is the leading nation in restaurant revenue growth. But that doesn't mean its restaurants are having an easy time. There are mask mandates and robust restrictions on gathering in many cities in the state, and with winter coming, restaurateurs are working hard to innovate, compensate and stay in business.
10 min
Nov 17, 2020
Evaluating The Washington Consensus
In 1985, then Treasury Secretary James Baker gave a speech in South Korea laying out a series of economic proposals that would transform economics around the world.
10 min
Nov 16, 2020
How Investment Advisors Invest Their Money
Financial advisors counsel people on what stocks and bonds and other investments to buy, and how to balance portfolios. But where do they put their own money?
10 min
Nov 13, 2020
Turkey Business
COVID-19-related travel and get-together restrictions are impacting small businesses across the U.S. this holiday season. The Indicator talks to a turkey farmer about how the pandemic has affected business this year.
10 min
Nov 12, 2020
Ant's IPO Woes
Ant Group is a fintech firm that was set to launch with the world's largest ever IPO. But just before its shares started trading, Chinese regulators pulled the plug. NPR's Emily Feng explains why.
10 min
Nov 11, 2020
The Lessons Of Pets.com
The tech bubble of the 90s was a time when companies with weak business models and flashy advertising secured massive investments. This is the story of perhaps the most infamous case study: Pets.com.
10 min
Nov 10, 2020
The Case Of The Soaring Car Prices
Since April, the price of used cars has surged. Some cars have even gained in value, which is highly unusual for an asset that usually depreciates. Turns out the usual suspects are behind this mystery: supply and demand.
10 min
Nov 9, 2020
The Other Climate Crisis
In the 1980s, a massive hole was discovered in the ozone layer. Since then, economic incentives, innovation, and a historic United Nations conference in Montreal set it on a path to close completely.
10 min
Nov 6, 2020
Jobs Friday: Not Bad, Not Not Bad
The US economy added more than 600,000 jobs in October. Team Indicator assembles the Jobs Friday Ninja squad to get their take.
9 min
Nov 5, 2020
When Life Gives You Lemons...Start The Mafia?
The essential ingredient in the birth of the mafia as we know it wasn't the threats or the murders or the other stuff that's great for Hollywood. It was...lemons.
9 min
Nov 4, 2020
What Elvis Can Teach Us About Vaccine Marketing
Development of a coronavirus continues apace. But as many as two-thirds of Americans say they likely won't take it. Which means a successful vaccine will need an effective marketing campaign.
9 min
Nov 3, 2020
How Biden And Trump Plan To Reshore Jobs
Author and economics commentator Matt Klein joins the show to discuss the ways each presidential candidate plans to bring manufacturing jobs to the United States.
10 min
Nov 2, 2020
Probability, Gambling, And Death
The concept of probability may feel intuitive today, but for much of human history, that wasn't the case. Jacob Goldstein tells the origin story of probability.
9 min
Oct 30, 2020
What Is Trumponomics?
Danielle Kurtzleben from NPR's Washington Desk breaks down Donald Trump's economic policies and plans for a second term.
9 min
Oct 29, 2020
What Is Bidenomics?
Danielle Kurtzleben from NPR's Washington Desk breaks down Joe Biden's economic policies.
10 min
Oct 28, 2020
The 99% Invisible City With Roman Mars
Podcast host and co-author of The 99% Invisible City Roman Mars joins the show to talk about his new book, the ways people shape their cities, and how to combine beauty & function in design.
10 min
Oct 27, 2020
Questions From Kids
Stacey and Cardiff answer questions from kids...also, a few animal facts.
10 min
Oct 26, 2020
A New DAWN On Broadway
As arts workers continue to struggle, they're trying their hand at something new. Not a new performance or show, but a piece of legislation which would keep their industry alive through the pandemic.
10 min
Oct 23, 2020
The Great Remittance Mystery
In 2019, migrants sent a record $500 billion back to their countries of origin. Then COVID hit, and the World Bank predicted a 20 percent drop in that flow of cash. But now the data is in, and it turns out remittances have held steady.
9 min
Oct 22, 2020
The Case Against Google
A few days ago, The Department of Justice filed a massive antitrust lawsuit against Google. The case focuses on the company's dominance in search, but what about the rest of Google's empire?
10 min
Oct 21, 2020
Hope Vs. Despair
Should we feel hope or despair about the future of the American economy? Cardiff and Stacey debate.
9 min
Oct 20, 2020
Why Women Are Leaving The Workforce
Of the 1.1 million people who left the job market in September, over 860,000 were women. Today we look at why women are dropping out of the workforce and what it will mean for the economy.
10 min
Oct 19, 2020
Economic Consequences Of The Census
The coronavirus pandemic, distrust of the government, and a surprising political battle have the 2020 Census count.
10 min
Oct 16, 2020
The Lehman Trilogy
Just before Broadway shut down, team Indicator saw The Lehman Trilogy, about the origin of Lehman Brothers. We talk with playwright Ben Power about the firm, the family and the consolation of history.
10 min
Oct 15, 2020
Inequities Of The Pandemic
The coronavirus has devastated the U.S. economy, but it hasn't affected everyone equally. Today on the show, four ways the pandemic has deepened inequality.
8 min
Oct 14, 2020
Daymond John Plays Overrated Or Underrated
Daymond John and what he thinks is overrated and what's underrated
9 min
Oct 13, 2020
How Vikings Launched Globalization 1.0
How the Vikings trading with a North American Indigenous group shortly after the year 1000 connected global trading networks and kicked off the first version of globalization.
10 min
Oct 12, 2020
An Economist Walks Into A Bar
There's a long history of bars playing a vital role in innovation and economic growth. What happens when they all close down?
10 min
Oct 9, 2020
WFH From Barbados
The Barbados economy depends on tourism, so travel restrictions have been devastating. But the island nation has come up with an innovative stopgap: A visa that lets visitors work remotely from Barbados for a year.
9 min
Oct 8, 2020
Where's Everyone Moving To?
Remember all the predictions about the pandemic pushing people to quit big, expensive cities? Six months in, the data is providing some clues about which cities Americans are leaving, and where they're moving to. An update on the "urban exodus."
9 min
Oct 7, 2020
The Great Fridge Freeze-Out
For months now, there's been a shortage of refrigerators and freezers across the U.S. Shoppers can't find appliances to buy and stores can't find enough appliances to sell. Alina Selyukh joins The Indicator to explain why.
10 min
Oct 6, 2020
The Semiconductor Standoff
As the trade war continues, China hasn't purchased nearly as many exports from the United States as it previously agreed to. There was one bright spot though: semiconductors — but that may soon change.
10 min
Oct 5, 2020
Commercial Real Estate's Great Reckoning
The coronavirus has caused a massive downturn in commercial real estate. As the pandemic continues and companies back out of leases, the future of commercial real estate is brought into question.
10 min
Oct 2, 2020
Jobs Friday: The Worker Shortage Mystery
The U.S. is experiencing the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, some employers claim that they can't find the workers they need. What's going on?
9 min
Oct 1, 2020
The Economic Legacy Of Shinzo Abe
Shinzo Abe served as Japan's Prime Minister for nearly eight years before suddenly announcing his retirement in August. Today on the show, the lessons of Abenomics for the US and other countries.
9 min
Sep 30, 2020
Big Donors & Pay-To-Play Politics
The Center for Public Integrity joins The Indicator with an excerpt from The Heist, a new podcast exploring money and politics in the Trump Administration.
10 min
Sep 29, 2020
The Indicator World Tour
The Indicator brings listeners economic indicators from the other six continents.
10 min
Sep 28, 2020
Behind The Art Of The Deal
Stacey talks to Tony Schwartz, co-author of Trump: The Art Of The Deal, about the book and the recent New York Times report exploring President Trump's tax records.
10 min
Sep 25, 2020
Some Listener Questions!
Cardiff and Stacey answer some listener questions about the rebounding demand for gas, the rise of contactless payments, and how wages have changed for low-income workers over the past few years.
10 min
Sep 24, 2020
RIP Business Suit?
For 400 years, the business suit has been a staple in men's fashion...then the pandemic struck. Today on the show, the end of the business suit?
10 min
Sep 23, 2020
The Invention Of Paper Money
Paper currency has become standard around the world, but that wasn't always the case. Planet Money host Jacob Goldstein tells the story of how paper money came to be — and why it temporarily went away.
10 min
Sep 22, 2020
A Few Freaky Facts
Stacey and Cardiff discuss some of the non-obvious ways the coronavirus pandemic — and the policy response to it — has reshaped the U.S. economy.
10 min
Sep 21, 2020
Jamaican Monetary Policy: Behind The Music
Jamaica's Central Bank has a unique way of explaining its policies: Reggae music videos. The Indicator talks with the Central Bank about why they've taken this unique approach.
9 min
Sep 18, 2020
Downturn Start-Ups: A Conversation With Guy Raz
Since the pandemic started, nearly 100,000 businesses have closed permanently. Opening a business now might seem crazy. But downturn start-ups have some advantages.
10 min
Sep 17, 2020
DIY Firefighting
Emergency services are spread so thin in the West that some property owners are taking a D-I-Y approach to firefighting.
9 min
Sep 16, 2020
How Immigration Is Changing The U.S. Economy
Nearly 17 percent of the U.S. labor force is made up of immigrants. That's up from 12.4 percent in 2000, and 6.7 percent in 1980. What that means for the economy.
10 min
Sep 15, 2020
A Smarter Approach To Lockdowns
The coronavirus has put millions of people out of work. Greg Ip talks about his recent article in the Wall Street Journal and argues that lockdowns are "an overly blunt and economically costly tool."
10 min
Sep 14, 2020
The Birth Of The Greenback
In the mid-1800s, the US had 8,370 kinds of money. How that happened, and what it meant for the US economy.
10 min
Sep 11, 2020
The Science of Hoops
The three-point shot has revolutionized basketball, but its unintended consequences could mean trouble for the sport's future.
10 min
Sep 10, 2020
Making The Most Of Scarce Space
Lockdowns, working from home, and remote learning have all made personal domestic space more scarce. Emily Anthes has some solutions.
10 min
Sep 9, 2020
Parenting In The Time of Corona
COVID, lockdowns and working from home made life complicated for parents. Trying to educate kids from home has made things even tougher, so tough many women are dropping out of the workforce.
10 min
Sep 8, 2020
The Great Lego Scam
Counterfeit Lego kits, made illegally in China, are giving collectors a headache.
8 min
Sep 4, 2020
More Job Growth, But Slower
The August unemployment numbers were better than expected. But doesn't mean the labor market is the picture of health.
10 min
Sep 3, 2020
Overrated Or Underrated: The Nobel Edition
Nobel economics prize winners Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee on whether foreign aid, french bread and dating an economist are overrated or underrated.
10 min
Sep 2, 2020
Opening Schools: Mission Impossible
The question of whether to reopen schools or educate children at home is medically sensitive, logistically complicated and politically fraught. How one superintendent is handling it.
9 min
Sep 1, 2020
Your Brain On Retail Trading
Stock-picking retail traders have been jumping into the market this year. They may not understand the risks.
10 min
Aug 31, 2020
The Inclusion Payoff
Women and non-white men are gaining ground when it comes to science and engineering degrees, but not when it comes to patents.
10 min
Aug 28, 2020
An Ode To Taxes
Taxes get a bad reputation, but they were central to the formation of representative government and even the written word.
10 min
Aug 27, 2020
What A Piece Of Work Is The Post Office
The rather Shakespearean situation of the U.S. Postal Service
10 min
Aug 26, 2020
5 (More) Ways Life Has Changed
From smoking more cigarettes to stocking up on meatless meats, the pandemic has changed consumer behavior in some unexpected ways.
9 min
Aug 25, 2020
A Conversation With Janet Yellen
Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen talks about her New York Times op-ed with Jared Bernstein, proposing a two-punch solution for boosting the economy.
10 min
Aug 24, 2020
Egg Prices: States Cry Foul
The price of eggs skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic. That has some people crying foul ... and filing suit.
10 min
Aug 21, 2020
Why Do Diamonds Cost More Than Water?
The Diamond-Water Paradox: If we need water to survive and we don't need diamonds, why are diamonds expensive and water cheap?
10 min
Aug 20, 2020
The Looming Eviction Crisis
Millions of renters in the US are facing the prospect of eviction from their homes.
10 min
Aug 19, 2020
Becky, We Hardly Knew Ye
We bought a junk bond back in December. Then COVID-19 sent the economy into a tailspin, and the company that issued the junk bond declared bankruptcy. But that wasn't the end of the story.
10 min
Aug 18, 2020
Making the Middle Class Great Again
The argument that the key factor that boosted the middle class post WW2 — and could help the middle class again — is access.
10 min
Aug 17, 2020
Science, Economics And Vaccines
Everyone wants to develop a coronavirus vaccine. But vaccine development usually takes years. The White House is betting money can speed things up.
10 min
Aug 14, 2020
The Economics of Gods and Mortals
The first milestone in the history of economics was an 8th century B.C. poem — a lecture by an ancient Greek poet to his deadbeat brother.
10 min
Aug 13, 2020
When $600 Goes Away
Millions of jobless Americans are desperate to know whether their unemployment benefits will be extended, and by how much. But Congress just went on vacation.
10 min
Aug 12, 2020
An Immigration Backfire?
Limiting high-skilled immigration to the U.S. may not save jobs for Americans; it might even cost jobs.
8 min
Aug 11, 2020
Coronavirus Comes To Venezuela
Venezuela's economy was already struggling, for a variety of reasons. The coronavirus pandemic couldn't have struck at a worse time. Now the country's economy is on life support.
10 min
Aug 10, 2020
Roller Coaster Economy (Scream Inside Only)
As Democrats, Republicans and the President fight about how much support to give laid-off workers during the pandemic, we take the temperature of this up-and-down economy.
9 min
Aug 7, 2020
Jobs, Labor And The 1936 GM Strike
The brutal unemployment situation in the US today is making a lot of people think again about labor unions. Which had their first major victory after a 1936 strike.
9 min
Aug 6, 2020
One Drug, Two Prices
Faced with the prospect of paying for an expensive drug to treat his daughter, this dad found a nearly identical product for thousands of dollars less. But the insurance company wouldn't let him.
10 min
Aug 5, 2020
Why Your Internet Sucks
We answer two questions today: Why is American internet so bad? And why was the unemployment benefit extension set at $600?
9 min
Aug 4, 2020
An Artful Pivot
How a theater company in Philadelphia is reacting to the existential threat posed by the coronavirus.
10 min
Aug 3, 2020
Protest And A Black-Owned Business
The Black Lives Matter demonstrations brought people together to protest injustice. But alongside the protests came riots, at a great cost to some Black-owned businesses.
10 min
Jul 31, 2020
Sharing The Vaccine
The biggest, wealthiest nations in the world are in a race to produce a coronavirus vaccine. It's obviously in a country's interest to win that race and protect its citizens. It's also in its interest to share.
10 min
Jul 30, 2020
GDP -32.9%???!!!
This quarter's Gross Domestic Product numbers could be the worst on record. But what do they mean, exactly?
8 min
Jul 29, 2020
The Coronavirus Housing Boom
Most of the U.S. economy is in crisis: Unemployment and bankruptcies are skyrocketing, and millions aren't paying rent. But home sales are skyrocketing, too. In fact, they're rising at a record pace.
10 min
Jul 28, 2020
Work After COVID
The use of technologies that help office workers do their work remotely could have unanticipated, long-lasting effects for low-skilled workers too.
9 min
Jul 27, 2020
The Extra $600
Nearly one in five U.S. workers is on unemployment benefits. And most of them are about to see their checks cut in half, as Congress' expanded benefits expire this month.
9 min
Jul 24, 2020
The Power Of Workers
The three main drivers behind the decline in worker power.
9 min
Jul 23, 2020
Can Restaurants Reopen?
Restaurants are going out of business in droves. But some are battling hard to keep their doors open.
10 min
Jul 22, 2020
Question Time!
What's the garbage situation? How can we invest in Black-owned businesses? And what's the state of the gig economy? Your questions, answered.
10 min
Jul 21, 2020
A Tale Of Two Camdens
The city of Camden, New Jersey is cited as an example of how cities can change their approach to policing. But the story of Camden and its cops isn't a simple one.
9 min
Jul 20, 2020
This Weekend's (Fiscal) Cliffhanger
Unless Congress acts, unemployment benefit enhancements will expire. And that could have big effects on the economy.
9 min
Jul 17, 2020
A Conversation With Gary Cohn
Gary Cohn was President Trump's economic advisor, and a prime mover behind the $2 trillion tax cut of 2017. We talk to him about the state of the economy.
9 min
Jul 16, 2020
A Race Reckoning In Economics
The economics profession has a serious inclusion problem, and that matters for how all of us understand the economy.
10 min
Jul 15, 2020
When SNAP Gets Squeezed
One in five American households doesn't have enough food to eat. And the program that's supposed to help is about to shrink.
9 min
Jul 14, 2020
Oil Storage Wars
Because of the global economic slowdown, there's a glut of oil on the market right now. And companies are coming up with creative ways to store it.
9 min
Jul 13, 2020
Leaving Prison In The COVID-19 Economy
Reentering the world and the workforce after you've been in prison is hard enough at the best of times. The coronavirus pandemic has made it a whole lot harder.
10 min
Jul 10, 2020
The Small Business Roller Coaster
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream in Seattle has been on the same economic and political roller coaster ride many small businesses have. Now they're trying to open back up, survive and grow.
10 min
Jul 9, 2020
Texas Hospitals Battle COVID-19
Rural hospitals in Texas are scrambling for equipment and staff to combat the surge in coronavirus cases.
10 min
Jul 8, 2020
Why We Need Black-Owned Banks
Black-owned financial institutions are a shrinking part of the U.S. financial system. We look at what that means for America's entrenched racial disparities.
10 min
Jul 7, 2020
Live Music Industry Blues
Live music events are like micro-economies that support hundreds of small businesses. Coronavirus is hammering them.
10 min
Jul 6, 2020
Unintended Consequences, Hidden Deaths
The way organizations and governments respond to disasters often have hidden consequences; sometimes those consequences can be fatal.
10 min
Jul 2, 2020
Jobs In June
The BLS jobs report for June was better than expected, but showed the U.S. economy is still suffering badly from coronavirus.
9 min
Jul 1, 2020
The Market For Student Loans
Americans owe about $1.5 trillion in student debt. But who actually owns those loans? One borrower goes looking for an answer—and uncovers a multi-billion dollar shadow market.
10 min
Jun 30, 2020
Listener Questions: Past Pandemics And Property Prices
On the Spanish Flu, housing prices, and the resilience of Australia's economy. Indicator listener questions, answered.
9 min
Jun 29, 2020
The Uncounted Workforce
Incarcerated Americans make goods for American companies, and get paid next to nothing for their labor.
9 min
Jun 26, 2020
Sadie Alexander, America's First Black Economist
Sadie Alexander was the first African-American to earn a PhD in economics. We think her contributions deserve another look.
9 min
Jun 25, 2020
Liar Loans
Many businesses have been negatively affected by the pandemic. But some companies that have borrowed a lot of money are manipulating their numbers, to avoid breaking their debt agreements.
10 min
Jun 24, 2020
Black Workers And The Fed
How the Federal Reserve manages the economy can have an outsize effect on Black workers. Here's how to make sure it doesn't leave them behind again.
8 min
Jun 23, 2020
The Economics Of Vaccine Pricing
Governments and drug companies agree: We need to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. But their motives for developing a vaccine are different. And that will have a big effect on the vaccine's price.
10 min
Jun 22, 2020
Poker, Markets And Life
How a psychologist who learned how to play high stakes poker as a way to study human behavior learned a lot about risk management, mendacity and the markets.
9 min
Jun 19, 2020
Daymond John: Swimming With Sharks
Daymond John, founder of the iconic brand FUBU and investor on the reality show Shark Tank, talked to us about how he got his start and maintained his lead in the cutthroat world of fashion apparel.
10 min
Jun 18, 2020
When A Boomtown Goes Bust
Williston, North Dakota doubled in size during the shale oil boom a decade ago. Now oil prices have fallen and the town's facing hard times.
10 min
Jun 17, 2020
How Other Countries Handled Their Jobs Crises
Not all countries approached the COVID-19 economic crisis the way the U.S. did. How different strategies on unemployment had radically different outcomes.
10 min
Jun 16, 2020
Who Pays For The Police?
Police fines and fees have helped to fill city coffers, but they've done serious damage to community relations.
10 min
Jun 15, 2020
High-Frequency Indicators
Five "high-frequency" indicators help us track the health of the U.S. economy
9 min
Jun 12, 2020
The Business Of Police Surveillance
The companies that lead the field in surveillance technology are turning against it.
9 min
Jun 11, 2020
Story Of A Paper
Why a groundbreaking paper by Lisa Cook on the effects of racist violence took ten years to get published.
10 min
Jun 10, 2020
The Cost Of Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is one of the most effective ways to contain a pandemic and dates back to the 1300s. But the modern versions are coming at a real cost.
10 min
Jun 9, 2020
The Post Pandemic City
Big American cities might never look the same again, post coronavirus. And that could be the making of them.
10 min
Jun 8, 2020
The Minnesota Paradox
Minnesota is often touted as one of the best places to live in the U.S. — it has the numbers to prove it. And yet, the state has some of the worst racial disparities of any state in the country.
10 min
Jun 5, 2020
Unemployment And The Racial Divide
How well a family can endure a spell of unemployment depends on how much of a buffer it has to fall back on. And there are big racial and ethnic disparities in how big those buffers are.
10 min
Jun 4, 2020
The Business Of Antibody Tests
Companies all over the world are jockeying for position in the lucrative COVID-19 antibody testing market, but are quality standards getting lost in the shuffle?
10 min
Jun 3, 2020
Police Unions And Civilian Deaths
There appears to be a relationship between police unionization and the number of people killed by officers.
9 min
Jun 2, 2020
Where Are The Business Bankruptcies?
When the coronavirus hit, economists predicted a tsunami of bankruptcies. But that hasn't happened.
9 min
Jun 1, 2020
Racism And Economics
The coronavirus pandemic has been called "the great equalizer." But in fact, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected African Americans in all kinds of ways.
9 min
May 29, 2020
The Beige Book And The Pig Farmer
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book provides anecdotes from various parts of the economy. This month's edition illustrates the pain being suffered by pig farmers.
9 min
May 28, 2020
Melissa Dell On Security And Prosperity
Mellisa Dell, this year's John Bates Clark Medal winner, explains the relationship between security, prosperity and the rule of law.
9 min
May 27, 2020
#WFH Forever?
Many of us are working from home for now. Some could be destined to do it forever.
10 min
May 26, 2020
Rent In The Time Of Coronavirus
The landlord-tenant relationship is often a tense one and it's becoming a national problem.
10 min
May 22, 2020
Stocks Are Up But The Economy's Down
The stock market has recovered more than half the ground lost when it crashed nearly 34 percent starting in late February. But the economy hasn't recovered. Why is there such a stark disconnect?
10 min
May 21, 2020
Waiting For A Surge
Hospitals lost millions of dollars preparing for a surge of COVID-19 patients. Some were swamped, but others only saw a handful of coronavirus cases. Now many are struggling to survive.
9 min
May 20, 2020
The Persistence Of Poverty
Melissa Dell, winner of the John Bates Clark Medal for economics, on why poverty and insecurity are so persistent in certain parts of the world.
9 min
May 19, 2020
The Public Transit Problem
Public transit systems are vital to cities. Many have been shut down or slowed during the pandemic. Now city administrators have to figure out how to reopen them.
10 min
May 18, 2020
Small Banks' Corona Crunch
Many banks have changed the way they work, as they hurry to get billions in CARES Act cash to small businesses.
9 min
May 15, 2020
Waiting For A Check
State unemployment offices have been slammed, as 36 million Americans have lost their jobs. And now individuals and the U.S. economy are depending on these often underfunded operations to step up.
10 min
May 14, 2020
Reopening Sports: Does MMA Point The Way?
Mixed martial arts is the first major spectator sport in the U.S. to host live events since the coronavirus lockdown. Other sports are watching to see whether MMA could point the way.
10 min
May 13, 2020
Coronavirus, Farmworkers And America's Food Supply
The working conditions on many farms mean that agricultural laborers are at high risk of getting COVID-19. That poses a real threat to those workers and to the country's food supply.
9 min
May 12, 2020
Pay Cuts Vs. Layoffs
Companies hammered by the economic collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic are being forced to make a hard choice: lay staff off or cut their pay.
10 min
May 11, 2020
On Demand
The U.S. economy depends on consumer demand. And demand is way down because of the coronavirus pandemic. What happens if it doesn't come back?
10 min
May 8, 2020
A Brutal Jobs Report
The jobs report for this month was nightmarish. But as bad as it was, it hid some even worse news about the employment situation.
10 min
May 7, 2020
Gov. Newsom On Reopening California
California Governor Gavin Newsom talks with Stacey Vanek Smith about his plans to reopen the fifth largest economy in the world.
10 min
May 6, 2020
Masks En Vogue
If the pandemic goes on much longer, or its aftereffects linger, face masks will inevitably become a fashion accessory.
10 min
May 5, 2020
Italy Reopens: A Tale of Two Bookstores
Italy was one of the countries hardest hit by coronavirus, and was one of the first to shut down its economy. Now it's reopening. But not everyone's happy about it.
10 min
May 4, 2020
The Workplace In The COVID-19 Era
As businesses make plans to reopen their workplaces, we're probably going to find that these spaces will look very different than before.
10 min
May 1, 2020
Creating A Post Pandemic World
We're all thinking about what the world might look like after this pandemic. Several years ago, Justin Marks had a vision of how things might be, in his TV show, Counterpart.
10 min
Apr 30, 2020
Essential Workers
Essential workers put themselves at risk of infection every day to keep the economy running. But many aren't well protected or compensated for the dangerous work they do.
9 min
Apr 29, 2020
Getting Back To Business
Small and medium size enterprises tend not to have much of a cash cushion, so most are desperate to get back to work. But many are finding that reopening after a pandemic is a messy business.
9 min
Apr 28, 2020
Disease In A Globalized World
Globalization and urbanization historically have made the global economy more productive and efficient — and also more vulnerable to pandemics. But now they can be forces for good in the fight against disease.
10 min
Apr 27, 2020
The Bankruptcy Question
The COVID-19 pandemic is driving thousands of people and businesses into bankruptcy.
9 min
Apr 24, 2020
How The Fed Fights Coronavirus
Much has been made of the unprecedented legislation passed by Congress in its attempt to curtail the economic damage of COVID-19. But what about the Federal Reserve?
10 min
Apr 23, 2020
The Great Potato Giveaway
Supermarket shelves are empty, and food banks around the country are besieged. So why are farmers dumping, destroying and giving away food?
9 min
Apr 22, 2020
Why We Didn't Prepare For The Pandemic
We've had plenty of warnings over the years that we weren't ready for a pandemic. Today on the show: the psychology and economics of why.
10 min
Apr 21, 2020
Oil: Less Than Zero
The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell below zero. In other words, suppliers were paying people to take it off their hands. How did that happen? And what does it mean?
10 min
Apr 20, 2020
Coronavirus And The Digital Divide
We're spending more time at home, and more time with technology — highlighting a deep digital divide in the United States and introducing thorny ethical dilemmas.
10 min
Apr 17, 2020
Where's My Stimulus Check?
Sending $1,200 checks to millions of Americans was a big part of the aid bill Congress passed last month. Around 80 million Americans got that money this week. But 60 million are still waiting.
9 min
Apr 16, 2020
Small Businesses On Their Own
Congress' recent aid package directed $370 billion to help small businesses. The fund is out of money, and it seems very few who applied got help.
10 min
Apr 15, 2020
Performing After A Pandemic
Live performance has always been a risky business, run on thin margins. The COVID-19 pandemic has ratcheted up that risk and sharpened those margins to a razor's edge.
9 min
Apr 14, 2020
Rural Hospitals: The Waiting Game
Rural hospitals already walk a scalpel's edge between solvency and collapse. Coronavirus threatens to push many of them over the brink.
10 min
Apr 13, 2020
The Story So Far
Five indicators provide a gauge of how daily economic life in America has changed.
9 min
Apr 10, 2020
Why Hospitals Are Laying People Off
Hospitals are ramping up and gathering supplies to deal with a deluge of coronavirus patients. At the same time, revenues are down. All of this means hospitals across the U.S. are laying off workers.
10 min
Apr 9, 2020
Why Sweden Isn't Locking Down
Most of the world's developed economies have gone on total economic lockdown to combat coronavirus. Sweden has kept its economy open. Sweden says this is better for the economy and for public health.
10 min
Apr 8, 2020
Coronavirus and Trade
The coronavirus pandemic may have pushed trade wars off the front page, but such wars are still with us — and they're complicating the world's ability to fight the virus.
10 min
Apr 7, 2020
Coronavirus And The Gig Economy
Many gig workers have suddenly found themselves providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many also feel like they have to work in an unsafe situation.
10 min
Apr 6, 2020
Pandemic-onomics: Lessons From The Spanish Flu
Different cities responded in different ways to the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918. And their economies fared differently as a result.
10 min
Apr 3, 2020
The Jobs Crisis
We had almost a decade of growth in the jobs market. But in the last two weeks, nearly 10 million people lost their jobs. Today, we look at the labor market — what's happening and where it's headed.
9 min
Apr 2, 2020
The Coronavirus Pivot
Faced with the prospect of shutting up shop because of coronavirus, some companies are retooling and pivoting to keep their doors open and their workers employed.
10 min
Apr 1, 2020
Three Ideas To Fight The Recession
Policymakers can still do more to fight the coronavirus recession. Here are three ideas that we haven't yet tried.
9 min
Mar 31, 2020
Scarcity In The Emergency Room
Emergency rooms all over the country are struggling with limited resources: masks, ventilators, hospital beds, doctors. We talk to one ER doctor in New York about how she is managing those resources right now.
10 min
Mar 30, 2020
Listeners Ask, We Answer
Coronavirus questions on the yield curve and refinancing. And some of the ways individuals can help.
10 min
Mar 27, 2020
When Should We Restart the Economy?
President Trump got major backlash this week when he suggested businesses should reopen by Easter. Critics said that was way too early. How do we know when it's safe for businesses to reopen?
9 min
Mar 26, 2020
The Labor Market Catastrophe
Layoffs and furloughs due to the coronavirus clampdown have pushed 3.3 million Americans to apply for unemployment benefits, the largest weekly increase in U.S. history.
10 min
Mar 25, 2020
Stimulus Rex
The Senate has managed to negotiate a $2 trillion relief package to help keep the U.S. economy afloat as we deal with the coronavirus pandemic. What's in it and will it be enough?
9 min
Mar 24, 2020
Pandemic Bonds
A few years ago, the World Bank issued bonds designed to get cash to needy countries in the event of a pandemic. Sounds like a great idea! But the bonds haven't paid out yet and they may never.
10 min
Mar 23, 2020
The Most Vulnerable Workers
Because of social distancing, the U.S. restaurant industry has entirely disintegrated with unimaginable speed, leaving its workers to face an uncertain future.
9 min
Mar 20, 2020
Our COVID-19 Indicators Of The Week
Zero and 27 are our indicators of the week. Zero (or nearly zero) is the Fed's new benchmark interest rate. 27 is the number of days that around half of small businesses in the U.S. can go without making money.
10 min
Mar 19, 2020
The Test Shortage
A short supply of test kits, staff and equipment have put the U.S. behind in terms of coronavirus testing. We talk to one healthcare worker about what's been limiting their coronavirus testing ability.
10 min
Mar 18, 2020
China's New Normal
China appears to have stopped the spread of coronavirus within its borders. People there are now beginning to adjust to a new normal.
9 min
Mar 17, 2020
Working From Home
Millions of people all across the world are now having to work from home. Including team Indicator. Today, a look at how this might change the way we work... and what it's like to skip the office.
10 min
Mar 16, 2020
The Sudden Stop
As social distancing kicks in and cities begin moving aggressively to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the U.S. economy is hitting the brakes. Hard.
9 min
Mar 13, 2020
Economic Fear Factor
The global economy is being hammered this week - markets have tanked, businesses are closing down. The spreading virus is part of it, but most of the effect is coming from fear.
10 min
Mar 12, 2020
Healthcare And Economic Despair
The U.S. spends more on healthcare as a share of its economy than any other wealthy country. In addition to making care less affordable, that also causes indirect damage to the rest of the economy.
9 min
Mar 11, 2020
Disease Detectives
As the outbreak of COVID-19 becomes officially classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, we look at the role of the Epidemic Intelligence Service the CDCs "disease detectives".
10 min
Mar 10, 2020
Tracking The Impact Of Coronavirus In Real Time
The economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak will take some time to show up in the most important economic indicators. We offer three high-frequency indicators to track its effects in real time.
8 min
Mar 9, 2020
Oil Shock
A spat between Russia and Saudi Arabia led to a collapse in oil prices over the weekend. Stock prices followed. What happened and what it means.
10 min
Mar 6, 2020
Coronavirus And The Labor Market
Today's healthy jobs report was uncontaminated by the coronavirus outbreak, but some parts of the labor market may be especially vulnerable in the months ahead.
10 min
Mar 5, 2020
Health Policy Is Economic Policy
U.S. policymakers are taking steps to limit the spread and impact of coronavirus. But they're not helped by American health policy, which could use an overhaul if it's to limit the spread of viral outbreaks.
10 min
Mar 4, 2020
The Corona Bump
As coronavirus wreaks havoc on the global economy, some businesses are actually experiencing a boom in demand. Today on the show, what happens when everyone suddenly wants to panic-buy your product.
10 min
Mar 3, 2020
Coronavirus: Update From Italy
The coronavirus continues to roil global markets and economies - including here at home, where the markets took yet another dive. Today, we look at an epicenter of the virus outbreak: northern Italy.
9 min
Mar 2, 2020
The Economic Lessons Of A Free Solo Climb
In 2017, rock climber Alex Honnold ascended Yosemite's rock formation El Capitan free solo, meaning without ropes or equipment. On today's show, we look at the economic lessons revealed by Honnold's extraordinary feat.
10 min
Feb 28, 2020
Coronavirus: A View From Hong Kong
As coronavirus fears roiled markets this week, we hear from Bloomberg's Tracy Alloway, who's based in Hong Kong, about what it's like to live in a city in the throes of an outbreak
10 min
Feb 27, 2020
How Wealth Has Changed
The world has changed, and nearly two thirds of global wealth is human capital. Policymakers and politicians may not understand just what that means for global politics.
10 min
Feb 26, 2020
The Rise And Fall (And Rise?) Of NASCAR
Last week's Daytona 500 came at a precarious time for NASCAR. Once a behemoth in the world of professional sports, the company is now trying to entice a new generation of race fans.
10 min
Feb 25, 2020
Why Netflix Turned To Junk
Netflix had to become a content producer to compete with other streaming services. To raise the money to pay for all that content, the company turned to junk bonds.
10 min
Feb 24, 2020
For Richer Or... Richer
The effects of assortative mating, or, what happens when people increasingly marry only other people with similar incomes and education.
9 min
Feb 21, 2020
The Indicator The Candidates Should Be Talking About
Political Economist Jared Bernstein watched this week's Democratic debate. Many economic issues came up, but he thinks the candidates need to start talking about how much U.S. households are saving.
10 min
Feb 20, 2020
Timecard Capitalists
People who make the highest salaries are increasingly the same people who draw the highest incomes from their capital.
10 min
Feb 19, 2020
Meet Our Junk Bond!
Last year, Team Indicator bought a junk bond! The bond was from a company called Hornbeck Offshore Services. On today's show, we learn more about the company and we check in on our investment.
9 min
Feb 18, 2020
Listener Questions: Minimum Wage & Gender-Fluid Tadpoles
Cardiff takes on the national debt, minimum wage, and gender-fluid tadpoles to get answers to your burning questions.
9 min
Feb 14, 2020
How Economists Do Valentines
It's an Economic Valentine! Economics isn't known as a language of love. But economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers say it's central to their relationship and to their decisions as a couple.
10 min
Feb 13, 2020
For Rent: Fast Fashion
Buy or rent? That's becoming a question for manufacturers of more and more types of products. Now fast fashion brands are trying to get in on the movement, too.
9 min
Feb 12, 2020
The First Milestone In The History of Economics
The first milestone in the history of economics was an 8th century B.C. poem — a lecture by an ancient Greek poet to his deadbeat brother.
10 min
Feb 11, 2020
Why Cheap Solar Could Save the World
In the last fifteen years, the cost of solar energy has declined so sharply that it has recently become the cheapest form of energy in the world. Now, major companies are jumping in to invest, but will the markets follow?
10 min
Feb 10, 2020
Coronavirus And The Global Economy
The coronavirus has sickened more than 40,000 people and killed more than 900. In addition to that devastating human toll, the outbreak is likely to have economically destructive effects as well.
10 min
Feb 7, 2020
Jobs Friday: The Racial Unemployment Gap
The unemployment rate for black workers is roughly twice that of white workers - and has been for half a century. Today we discuss the reasons for the gap, and how to shrink it.
9 min
Feb 6, 2020
Betting On The Oscars
Betting on the Oscars is now legal in New Jersey and Indiana, so we went down to Atlantic City to place a bet on Best Picture. And we spoke to a few experts beforehand to understand how to make a better bet.
10 min
Feb 5, 2020
Triple-A Ratings Are So Yesterday
It used to be that companies strove for the best credit rating possible. Today, however, almost everyone's happy to slide by with a barely passing grade.
10 min
Feb 4, 2020
Peak Misery And The Happiness Curve
How do you measure happiness? Economist David Blanchflower says age has a lot to do with it.
10 min
Feb 3, 2020
Even The Facts Are Polarized
As Iowans prepare to make their selection for the Democratic presidential nominee, a new study sheds light on just how polarized Americans are, even when it comes to reality itself.
9 min
Jan 31, 2020
A Business Owner's View On Brexit
Today is Brexit Day. As of 11:00pm tonight (GMT), the UK will no longer be part of the European Union. We spoke to a small business owner about what that might mean.
10 min
Jan 30, 2020
American Dynamism In Decline
America has a hard-earned reputation for being the most dynamic economy on the globe. But that dynamism could be waning.
10 min
Jan 29, 2020
The Economic Impact Of An Infectious Disease
As the coronavirus spreads internationally, we wanted to know what it looks like when an infectious disease shuts down one of the world's largest economies. We speak with NPR Beijing correspondent, Emily Feng.
10 min
Jan 28, 2020
Weird (Amazon) Flex, But Okay
Nearly half of Amazon's packages are delivered not by UPS or USPS, but by the company itself. Amazon employs thousands of gig workers to make its deliveries, administering them through an app called Amazon Flex.
10 min
Jan 27, 2020
The Indicator Plays 'Ms. Monopoly'
Monopoly recently rolled out a version of its classic board game, meant to highlight female contributions to the economy as well as women's economic issues. Today on the show, we play Ms. Monopoly.
10 min
Jan 24, 2020
Fun Fact Friday: Aggressively Passive Edition
Cardiff is back to present three economic facts for Stacey to deem fun, not fun, or just plain fascinating.
10 min
Jan 23, 2020
Buddhists, Sociopaths And The Art Of Investing
There's been a lot of troubling economic and political news over the last few years. In spite of that, the stock market has just kept on climbing.
10 min
Jan 22, 2020
Dueling Indicators: Stock Market Edition
Stacey and Cardiff face off on the question of whether the stock market is overvalued or undervalued.
10 min
Jan 21, 2020
Can You Name Five Fine Artists That Are Women?
On average, work by women artists sells for 40% less than work by male artists. Their work also represents just a small sliver of what's displayed in museums. So, how did women get shut out of the art world?
10 min
Jan 17, 2020
A Bag of Bolívares: And Other Indicators From Venezuela
Venezuela started 2019 with rolling blackouts, hyperinflation, and crippling food shortages. Things have actually gotten a little better, mostly thanks to the economic innovations of everyday people.
10 min
Jan 16, 2020
China Trade Deal: A Truce Awakens?
The U.S. and China signed a trade deal yesterday - one where China has pledged to buy $200 billion worth of U.S. goods over the next two years. Seems like a big win for the U.S., but is it?
10 min
Jan 15, 2020
How The FCC Is Trying To Take On Robocalls
In October 2019, Americans received a record number of robocalls: 5.7 billion. We talked to Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus about these pesky calls and how we can avoid them.
9 min
Jan 14, 2020
How Amazon's Counterfeit Products Threaten Safety
Over half of sales on Amazon are from third-party sellers, some of whom are selling counterfeit goods. Faulty car seats are threatening children's safety, but is Amazon being held liable?
10 min
Jan 13, 2020
How Trade Wars Fill The Swamp
How lobbyists' campaigns for exclusions to the trade war have skewed incentives and disadvantaged small businesses.
10 min
Jan 10, 2020
Episode 500! And Jobs Friday
Two reasons to blow the airhorn today: it's Jobs Friday, and The Indicator's 500th episode!
10 min
Jan 9, 2020
What To Watch In 2020
Predictions can be a fool's errand. Instead, we take a look at economic trends that we're planning to keep an eye on this year.
10 min
Jan 8, 2020
The Popularity Of (And Problem With) Municipal Bonds
Thirsty for yield, and eager for tax breaks, investors are falling over themselves to buy municipal bonds. That could be a problem if the economy turns sour.
9 min
Jan 7, 2020
All The Single Ladies...Are Losing In The Housing Market
A home is the largest purchase most Americans will ever make. Why single women are losing out in both buying and selling compared to their male counterparts.
9 min
Jan 6, 2020
The Business Behind The Color Of The Year
Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has announced a "color of the year." This year's color: Classic Blue.
10 min
Jan 3, 2020
The Skyrocketing Cost Of Air Ambulances
After a catastrophic accident, you may be rushed to the hospital in an air ambulance. It could save your life, but there's no way to predict how much it will cost.
10 min
Jan 2, 2020
The Bubble That Broke Kuwait
How a simple financial innovation turned a parking garage in Kuwait into one of the most important markets in the world... and how it all came crashing down.
10 min
Dec 31, 2019
The Great British Bicycle Bubble
We continue our series on financial bubbles with the British bicycle mania of the 1890s and the trail of bankrupt companies it left behind.
10 min
Dec 30, 2019
The Roman Financial Crisis Of A.D. 33
What lessons should we learn from one of the earliest documented financial crises in history?
10 min
Dec 27, 2019
The Work Week, Episode 4: Is The Unemployment Rate Broken?
Economist Jared Bernstein thinks it's about time we admit that the unemployment rate is not as useful as it used to be. He offers three alternative indicators.
10 min
Dec 26, 2019
The Work Week, Episode 3: Gender Segregation In The Workplace
The most common jobs for men and the most common jobs for women tend to be different — and this separation has big effects for everyone.
10 min
Dec 24, 2019
The Work Week, Episode 2: What Happened To U.S. Workers?
The share of people aged 25 to 54 in the labor force has fallen in the past couple of decades. What happened?
10 min
Dec 23, 2019
The Work Week, Episode 1: The Strike That Changed U.S. Labor
The 1937 union agreement between General Motors and the United Auto Workers union ushered in a period of tremendous worker prosperity and union strength. But today, labor is nowhere near a powerful as it used to be. What happened?
9 min
Dec 20, 2019
Fun Fact Friday!
Stacey busts out the funometer and casts judgment on Cardiff's facts.
10 min
Dec 19, 2019
We Buy A Junk Bond!
Cardiff said the best gift he could imagine getting was a junk bond... so we thought, "Can we actually buy one of those? Also, what exactly is a junk bond?"
10 min
Dec 18, 2019
How Economics Excludes Black Women
Economics is an academic field notorious for its lack of diversity. This is especially true for black female economists. Why are they being left out?
10 min
Dec 17, 2019
A Guide To Holiday Scams
"It's the most wonderful time of the year. But for consumers, it's also the most dangerous." David Lazarus of the Los Angeles Times discusses some of the major scams that arise during the holidays.
10 min
Dec 16, 2019
The Efficient Christmas: Why Economists Hate Gifts
When economists see holiday gifts, they see waste: sweaters that never get worn; books that never get read. Many recommend cash or no gift at all. Economist Tim Harford may have a compromise.
10 min
Dec 13, 2019
A Trade War Truce?
The Trump administration announced it would hit the brakes on a new set of tariffs that were set to go into effect on Dec. 15. Could it be the start of a détente in the ongoing trade war?
10 min
Dec 12, 2019
Underrated Trends Of The 2010s
The 2010s have been a rich decade for economic megatrends. But some trends haven't gotten the attention they deserve.
10 min
Dec 11, 2019
Debt And The Dairy Farmer
Mary Rieckmann and her husband run a small dairy in rural Wisconsin. But a perfect storm of factors has plunged farmers like her into crippling debt.
10 min
Dec 10, 2019
The Disappearing Small Farmer
It's been a tough year for small farmers hit by trade wars and extreme weather. And as Time's Alana Semuels reports, this latest trouble is just part of a decades-long decline in small-scale farming.
10 min
Dec 9, 2019
New York City's Luxury Condo Hangover
When the rich stop buying luxury condos, sale prices drop for everyone. But rents are a different story.
10 min
Dec 6, 2019
Job(-switch) Friday!
It's time for our favorite Friday of every month: Jobs Friday! This week, we look at job switching and what it reflects about the tightening labor market.
10 min
Dec 5, 2019
Nike Swooshes Out Of Amazon
Nike, the country's largest sporting brand, is pulling its products off of Amazon. What spurred this decision, and will other companies follow suit?
10 min
Dec 4, 2019
The Case For Hope In 2020
Today, the show takes a distinctly positive stance in making the case for being optimistic about the economy in 2020. Five reasons why you should, plus kittens and rainbows.
10 min
Dec 3, 2019
The Map That Made Manhattan
Manhattan is known for being a grid. But 200 years ago, it was a hilly, bucolic wilderness. The transformation all started with a secret map. And the reason was all about economics.
10 min
Dec 2, 2019
Hudson's Kill
Back in the early 1800s, Manhattan was a wild, sparsely populated place, but it was just about to be developed big-time. There was a lot of money to be made knowing what would go where.
10 min
Nov 27, 2019
The Sahm Rule With The Eponymous Economist
Economist Claudia Sahm explains the eponymous Sahm Rule, and how changes in the unemployment rate point to whether or not we are in a recession.
9 min
Nov 26, 2019
Niche Products In Our Grocery Stores
Niche food products at grocery stores have been getting more and more popular. But, what took so long?
10 min
Nov 25, 2019
The $100 Million Apple
Next week, a new product will hit store shelves. It's been in development for 20 years and cost millions of dollars to bring to market. It's a new kind of apple. And the stakes are high.
10 min
Nov 22, 2019
Saudi Arabia's IPO Fail?
After years of teasing, deliberating and negotiating, oil behemoth Saudi Aramco finally looks poised to go public. But the IPO is shaping up to be a lot more modest than the original plan.
9 min
Nov 21, 2019
Ready Your Wallet For Thanksgiving Dinner
What will Thanksgiving dinner cost you this year? Also, Cardiff brings back the debate on which is better, pumpkin or pecan pie.
9 min
Nov 20, 2019
Lancaster Spotlight, Part 2: A Refugee's Tale
In our second spotlight episode on Lancaster County, we look into what Lancaster's success can tell us about the relationship between refugees and the local economy.
10 min
Nov 19, 2019
Grocery Store Wars
The profit margin for groceries is razor thin. To stay competitive against increasingly large competitors like Amazon Prime, retailers are turning to a new service: curbside pickup.
10 min
Nov 18, 2019
How Does The Economy Influence Voters?
The economy is one of the most important factors in how people vote. But its influence has been changing and it has everything to do with politics.
7 min
Nov 15, 2019
Fun Facts Fridays
Cardiff surprises Stacey with three feel-good facts about the economy, and she decides whether or not those facts are awesome.
10 min
Nov 14, 2019
Winning The Nobel
Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee talk about their work and what happens when you win a Nobel Prize.
9 min
Nov 13, 2019
Politics And The Trade War
Did President Trump's trade policies cost Republican votes last year? We talk to economist Chad Bown to find out.
9 min
Nov 12, 2019
The Great Cranberry Scare Of 1959
Sixty years ago, a food scare nearly crushed the cranberry business. Cranberries have bounced back since then, but the industry is facing new threats.
10 min
Nov 11, 2019
Why Sam Sanders Is Binging 'Friends'
Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, NBC, they're all at war for your eyeballs. Today on the show, the streaming wars. Who the major players are, what's at stake and what it will mean for you.
10 min
Nov 8, 2019
The Lancaster, Pa., Puzzle
A heavily rural county with a big manufacturing base and a low share of college graduates has found a way to thrive.
9 min
Nov 7, 2019
Your Secret Score
It's no secret that every online platform you use is keeping track of your information. But what if this data is being used to give you a 'score' as a customer?
10 min