Link: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/chuck-e-cheeses-kid-can-learn-price-theory/
Summary: Chuck E. Cheese’s has a reputation for offering family fun events at an affordable cost. However, is the affordable cost the reason why infamous brawls between parents appear on YouTube? Freakonomics researches Chuck E. Cheese’s price strategy to find out what effect it has on disputes involving police.
Original Air Date: March 8, 2017
Length: 31 minutes 19 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2016/01/20/463726763/episode-283-why-do-we-tip
Summary: Tipping has become a staple in many industries in today’s society. The common belief is that with better service results in a better tip. Planet Money discusses whether a tip really is an incentive to give better service, or if it is now expected regardless of service.
Original Air Date: January 20, 2016
Length: 17 minutes 36 seconds
Discussion Question: Is it unethical to not give a tip if good service was given? Or is it unethical to expect a tip given it is a loss for the consumer? Discuss the incentives and utility for both the consumer and employee regarding tips.
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/03/01/517985813/episode-513-dear-economist-i-need-a-date
Summary: Love isn’t a word you would normally associate with Economics. Applying the principles of Economics to your relationships seems preposterous. But is it? Planet Money discusses how economics are beneficial to your love life and can help you save on the one cost of love: time.
Original Air Date: March 1, 2017
Length: 23 minutes 13 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/02/445371930/episode-655-pay-patients-save-money
Summary: The Planet Money team shines a light on a business that helps people save money on healthcare expenses in way similar to a travel agency that shows the prices of different flights and destinations.
Original Air Date: October 5, 2015
Length: 19 minutes 1 second
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/28/452655987/episode-518-your-organs-please
Summary: The Planet Money team investigates organ donation and how it has become more popular over time.
Original Air Date: October 30, 2015
Length: 19 minutes 48 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/11/20/456855788/episode-664-the-great-inflation
Summary: In this Podcast, high inflation in the 70’s and 80’s is examined in depth. The Planet Money team find there is more to inflation than just a surplus of money in the economy.
Original Air Date: November 21, 2015
Length: 24 minutes 45 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/09/447249562/episode-656-bubblelicious
Summary: In this podcast the Planet Money team investigates the possibility of a bubble in the technology industry in San Francisco. Billions of dollars are being acquired by these tech companies and their over confidence might be an indicator to a future bubble.
Original Air Date: October 9, 2015
Length: 14 mins
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/07/24/426017148/episode-641-why-we-work-so-much
Summary: John Maynard Keynes believed that in the future people would work less, he was wrong. The Planet Money team explain the reasons why this has yet to change.
Original Air Date: July 24, 2015
Length: 13 mins 11 sec
Link: http://freakonomics.com/2014/09/18/outsiders-by-design-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-2/
Summary: This podcast was inspired by the death of Gary Becker, an economist who’s work was inspired by the idea of discrimination. His approach was called ‘rational choice’–that people will make rational decisions to maximize their own utility and wealth. In the end, a lot of people strongly disagreed with his research. The program then goes on to illustrate two more examples of medical researchers who were outcast by their fields of study. By the end, however, Gary Becker won a Nobel Prize.
Original Air Date: September 18, 2014
Length: 41 minutes 40 seconds
Prompt / Discussion: Sometimes people will not agree with your research conclusions or ideas, such is the case with Gary Becker. Why do you think Becker’s ideas were/are so controversial?
Summary: In this podcast, Brancaccio describes a term called “hyperbolic discounting” in which people look for instant gratification that in turn clouds their financial decisions.
Original Air Date: March 25, 2015
Length: 3 minutes and 58 seconds
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