Summary: The Planet Money team focus on the recent European Commission decision that Google violated anti trust rules. They discuss the context of the seven year consideration of the question whether Google has too much power over the Internet. Includes consideration of how the question is viewed differently in the U.S. and how this specific case helps us think generally about issues of competition.
I’ll be presenting audioecon.com at the NETA 2016 conference in Tampa on Thursday October 27th. I’ll be focusing on Using audioecon.com to foster critical thinking through online discussion boards. I hope to see you there!
Comments on how you use audioecon.com or ways I could make the site more helpful to you are always welcome! Leave your comments here.
Podlearning, an instructional technique where student groups create the own original podcasts while demonstrating a variety of economics proficiencies, including oral communication skills, is now published in the latest Journal of Economic Education
I’ll be presenting audioecon.com at the St. Louis Fed Annual Professor’s Conference on Friday November 7th, 2014. Comments on how you use audioecon.com or ways I could make the site more helpful to you are welcome! Leave your comments here!
Summary: A discussion of the factors impacting supply and demand of pork. Includes consideration of behavior of retailers and consumers in respond to changes in the market. Considers influences and impacts of related goods.
Original Air Date: August 26, 2014
Length: 4 minutes 22 seconds
Discussion Prompt: In this podcast, what factors are driving the increase in the price of meat? How does this relate to supply/demand factors that we are studying? Can you give two specific examples of other factors of demand or supply that might impact the price of meat? For each example, name the ‘factor of demand/supply’ and give a specific example.
Follow-up Prompt: Review the posts of your peers, comment on the accuracy of their suggestions and try to add more examples and expand on their ideas.
Summary: An exploration of how different safety standards across countries impact the automobile industry. Discusses differences in regulations from turn signals to windshield wipers, and how that impacts production choices and costs in the industry.
Original air date: April 18, 2014
Length: 17 min
Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on what you’ve learned about international trade, production costs & the content of this podcast, discuss what impacts the differential regulations on cars in the U.S. and Europe have on (a) production decisions for the firm, and (b) international trade.
Follow-up Prompt: Using economic thinking, consider the tradeoffs between security and cost in this podcast. The governments/regulators in these countries might say it is worth it for consumers to pay more to get more security. What do you think?
Follow-up Prompt: Considering production costs in the context of firms’ desire to maximize profits, what strategies might firms employ to maximize profits under these conditions of different regulations across countries?
Summary: The Planet Money team look at the role that Ukraine’s gas subsidies played in the 2013/2014 crisis in the country. Includes discussion of the roots of the energy interdependence of Russia and Ukraine, gas subsidies, the creation of markets as communist systems were abandoned, and the choices Ukraine faced between Europe and Russia as partners to help it out of economic crisis.
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/08/04/541643346/episode-787-google-is-big-is-that-bad 
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