Summary: Story of the origins of the 2008 global rice shortage “that wasn’t”.
Original Air Date: November 4, 2011
Length: 24:33
Main story content begins: 2:12
Author Archive
How Fear Turned a Surplus into Scarcity 3 comments
In a Leaderless World, Who Wins? Leave a comment
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/04/152028558/in-a-leaderless-world-who-wins
Summary: Interview with Ian Bremmer discussing his book, Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World and issues of international politics and economics in a multipolar (or zero-polar) world.
Original Air Date: May 4, 2012
Length: 15:23
Main story content begins: 2:37
Why People Do Bad Things 3 comments
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/04/17/150815268/why-people-do-bad-things
Summary: Discussion of the role of cognitive errors in decision making through consideration of the story of an everyman businessman who engaged in million dollar bank fraud.
Original Air Date: April 17, 2012
Length: 25:57
Main story content begins: 3:34
The Matzo Economy 3 comments
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/04/10/150368897/the-matzo-economy
Summary: A visit to the Manischewitz matzo factory as an illustration of niche industries. An illustration of the impact of regulations via religious restrictions.
Original Air Date: April 10, 2012
Length 21:19
Main story content begins: 2:24
Discussion Prompt: This podcast features the many rules, restrictions and regulations faced by the Manischewitz company. (1) How do you think these restrictions relate to concepts about different market structures that firms may operate in? (2) What do you see as the benefit to the Manischewitz company that comes from operating in this unique marketplace? What are the challenges? What benefits / challenges might face a new company seeking to join this industry?
Follow-up Prompt: How might technology and/or the passage of time impact the degree to which these restrictions help or hurt the Manischewitz company? Do you think this might be different for other industries where barriers to entry are a component of the market structure?
Welcome to audioecon! 1 comment
This site is a curated library of economics-themed podcasts, primarily from Planet Money, but also from Freakonomics, EconTalk, This American Life and others. The site is designed for economics instructors with searchable categories created with the instructor in mind, as well as suggestions for podcast-related assignments they might incorporate into course instruction. Audioecon will also be of interest to anyone who enjoys learning more about economics. Audioecon and related assignments is featured in the Journal of Economics Education article Podcasts as a Tool for Teaching Economics Vol.45, Iss.3, 2014.
I hope you find this site useful and interesting, and welcome your feedback!
I wish you smart listening!
Why Does a Taxi Medallion Cost $1 Million? Leave a comment
Summary: A history of taxicabs in New York sheds light on why a single taxi medallion, which serves as a permit to operate a cab in the city, would be sold for $1 million.
Original Air Date: November 29, 2011
Length 19:40
Main story content begins: 0:00 (Planet Money indicator discusses the price of a taxi medallion itself).
The Real Price of College Leave a comment
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/11/152511771/the-real-price-of-college
Summary: Discussion of strategies that colleges employ to compete for students, including scholarships.
Length 13:35
Main story content begins: 0:00 (no indicator)
The ‘Nasty, Rotten’ Airline Business 3 comments
Summary: In the context of the 2011 bankruptcy declaration by American Airlines, a discussion of the factors driving bankruptcies in the airline industry.
Original Air Date: December 9, 2011
Length 16:56
Main story content begins: 3:24
Lighthouses, Autopsies and the Federal Budget 3 comments
Summary: Discussion with Charlie Wheelan, author of Naked Economics, of the role of government in provision of public goods and the definition of public goods.
Original Air Date: February 14, 2012
Length 21:49
Main story content begins: 2:16
An Economist Gets Stoned 3 comments
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/01/podcast_an_economist_gets_ston.html
Summary: Interview with economist Jeffrey Miron of the market for illegal drugs and the economic impact of ‘legalizing’ marijuana through implementation of medical marijuana laws at the state level.
Original Air Date: January 27, 2010
Length 19:03
Main story content begins: 0:00 (Planet Money indicator discusses contribution of marijuana to California economy)
Class Discussion Question: Discuss the conclusions reached in the podcast about the interaction of the elasticity of drugs and drug legalization. What impact do you think this would have on, for example, the marijuana industry when states legalize this product?
Written Assignment Prompt: Marijuana is California’s largest cash crop, with about 1,000 stores selling pot in LA alone. Predict the supply and demand of marijuana for Los Angeles that would come with the legalization of the drug.
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