Link: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Podcasts/All-Podcasts/2017/11/11/the-long-life-of-keynesian-economics
Keynesian economics was particularly popular after the Great Depression. Keynes revolutionized how government involvement in the economy was seen. Keynesian theories are still applied in financial crises today.
Original Air Date: October 16, 2014
Length: 7 minutes
Link:https://www.npr.org/2019/08/21/753185863/episode-934-two-yield-curve-indicators
In March, the yield curve for United States treasury bonds inverted. For the past six decades, the yield curve has been an extremely accurate indicator of a coming recession. Will this indicator hold true in the coming months?
Original Air Date: August 21, 2019
Length: 18 minutes 54 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What could cause long term treasury bond rates to drop below short term rates?
Discussion Prompt: What steps should the Federal Reserve take in the coming months to prevent a crash similar to the 2008 recession?
Central banks have cut interest rates in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Typically when something like this happens, interest rates rise and inflation occurs, but right now the exact opposite is happening. Sectors of the economy that are taking the hardest hit include tourism, cross boarder commerce, and oil.
Original Air Date: March 3, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 39 seconds
Discussion Prompt: How does this outbreak alter consumer expectations, and inevitably, their spending habits?
Discussion Prompt: What role, if any, does the government play in stabilizing the markets in instances such as this?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/16/816684372/episode-980-the-fed-fights-the-virus
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve has lowered its interest rates to 0%. The Fed has been practicing quantitative easing in order to ensure individuals can sell Treasury bonds whenever they need to. Planet Money discusses whether this will be enough to prevent a recession from occurring.
Original Air Date: March 16, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 17 seconds
Written Assignment Prompt: Pretend you are the chair of the Federal Reserve. How would you deal with the Covid-19 pandemic to help prevent a coming recession? How would you adjust interest rates or the money supply during this time?
Unemployment benefit registrations have increased dramatically in the past days. The U.S. government is trying to ensure that the current health crisis does not cause a long-term economic crisis. The government is also putting a hold on evictions and foreclosures in certain instances as well in order to prevent an increase in homelessness.
Original Air Date: March 19, 2020
Length: 7 minutes 21 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What are the economic ideas behind the strategies being implemented so far? What other ways could the government support those who lose their jobs during this health crisis? How can the government fund activities such as putting holds on evictions? What are the costs and benefits to be considered here?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/815677688/episode-979-medicine-for-the-economy
Some economists believe the government should inject a monetary stimulus into the economy of hundred of millions, if not billions of dollars. Others believe our focus should be solely on the issue at hand: containing the Coronavirus. Economists discuss the importance of pushing funding into corona virus testing, paid sick days, and rebuilding after the public health issue is contained.
Original Air Date: March 13, 2020
Length: 25 minutes 17 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What is the role of the government in the economy in times of global health crises? Is a recession inevitable at this point, or are there ways the government can combat a sharp economic downturn?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/25/809386076/why-netflix-turned-to-junk
When it originally started, Netflix was a unique and popular streaming service, however, when more competition entered the market, the company struggled to compete. Eventually, Netflix began producing their own content. They created their own production company and by doing so, incurred debt. in order to fund their new content, Netflix has issued more than $2 million worth of junk bonds.
Original Air Date: February 25, 2020
Length: 9 minutes 40 seconds
Link: https://www.economist.com/open-fut ture/2018/08/16/what-would-adam-smith-say-about-capitalism-today
Anne McElvoy of The Economist delves into the life of the father of economics, Adam Smith in this podcast. Many of the same issues that Adam Smith discussed in the 1700s are still being disputed today. In the current political economy there are still debates of free trade vs. protectionism, unregulated markets, how much tax is too much tax, and how to make the economy work for every social class.
Discussion Prompt 1: How would the Adam Smith feel about the current degree of government involvement in the economy? Should governments be able to regulate economic markets?
Original Air Date: August 16, 2018
Length: 19 minutes 13 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/11/804985258/why-cheap-solar-could-save-the-world
Solar energy has become increasingly more popular and affordable in recent years. Through the subsidization of solar energy, the services offered in the market have become cheaper and the market itself has become much more competitive. Large companies such as Facebook, Google, and Blackstone have invested millions of dollars into solar energy, indicating a bright future for the industry.
Original Air Date: February 11, 2020
Length: 9 minutes
Discussion prompt 1: Even though solar energy is cheaper than coal or natural gas, it only accounts for 2% of energy used in the United States. How can solar energy companies improve to gain more control of the market?
Discussion prompt 2: How can solar companies compete with large natural gas and coal companies that have contributed so much money and jobs to the economy? What should the government do for those who may lose their jobs at coal and natural gas companies due to increased popularity of solar energy?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24/744962126/episode-929-could-a-wealth-tax-work
2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren wants to impose a wealth tax on the ultra wealthy, which would generate billions of dollars of revenue. This tax would include any assets, securities, trusts, bank deposits and more. How will the United States make this tax work when it has failed so many times in European countries?
Original Air Date: July 24, 2019
Length: 22 minutes 36 seconds
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