Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/12/13/250747279/episode-503-adding-up-the-cost-of-the-planet-money-t-shirt
Summary: A detailed review of the costs that went into producing the Planet Money t-shirt.
Original Air Date: December 13, 2013
Length: 21 min
Summary: A discussion of the economic and business factors within the U.S. that complicate the question of whether the U.S. should be sending aid in the form of weapons to Egypt during its ongoing political crisis.
Length: 13:08 min
Original air date: August 23, 2013
Summary: As the health insurance market prepares for the changes brought about by implementation of Affordable Care Act, this podcast considers how insurance companies might begin to target their new consumers. Considers marketing and branding strategies as well as how insurers might think about using incentive schemes to retain customers.
Length: 4:04 min
Original air date: July 12, 2013
Summary: A consideration of consumers’ tendency to purchase more expensive name brands rather than identical generics. Includes discussion of education as a contributing factor to likelihood to purchase generics. Includes one consumer’s belief that there is rational ignorance in his decision to just buy the brand name.
Length: 4:29 min
Original air date: July 4, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/09/200401407/episode-471-the-eddie-murphy-rule
Summary: The Planet Money team consider the movie Trading Places and it’s scheme to make millions short-selling commodity futures (specifically frozen orange juice concentrate). Includes explanations of commodity futures trading, short-selling, and regulation of futures trading.
Length: 26:05 min
Original air date: July 9, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/02/198077962/episode-470-killing-fannie-mae
Summary: The Planet Money team revisits the question what the U.S. government should do with the mortgage ‘backers’, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which it took over as part of the financial crisis bailout. Includes a discussion of opposing views on whether the government should be involved in the housing market, and an outlook on what is politically most likely to be the long term outcome for these entities.
Length: 25:20 min
Original air date: July 2, 2013
Summary: Economist, Henry Jacoby, explains how an economist might introduce a carbon tax in the United States to address climate change. Includes a discussion of the conflicts of economics vs. politics.
Length: 19:51 min
Original air date: July 12, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/17/203032386/the-ask-your-uncle-approach-to-economics
Summary: An exploration of one issue of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book by focusing on some of the featured stories in the issue.
Length: 3:51 min
Original air date: July 17, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/16/202660132/episode-473-top-of-the-charts-econ-remix
Summary: A consideration of changes in the music industry, including different strategies that artists and record companies are using to try to maximize their profits. Ends with a discussion of the importance of efficient use of resources in this market.
Length: 21:51 min
Original air date: July 16, 2013
Summary: An exploration of both the reasons that workers are leaving the workforce and how the U.S. Labor Department includes such workers (or not) in the unemployment rate.
Length: 4:16 min
Original air date: August 2, 2013
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