As vaccines begin to roll out there will be disparities between cities, states, and countries due to the fact that there are not enough vaccines to give out at once. The time differences between areas will have lasting effects on how economic growth takes place. This episode of Marketplace also discusses other issues facing the U.S. such as the number of women in the workforce and the terrible effects of gun-violence on children.
Original Air Date: April 5, 2021
Length: 27 minutes 29 seconds
$1.86 trillion in relief spending has been authorized by congress, which will be financed by the sale of government bonds and other debt instruments. The Federal Reserve Bank will purchase many of these bonds which will cause an inflow of money into the economy. This podcast also elaborates on the inflationary implications of the stimulus checks entering the economy.
There is also discussion of Google’s market power and vaccination progress.
Discussion Prompt: What is the intended goal of the stimulus checks and what unintended consequences can arise as a result?
Original Air Date: March 17, 2021
Length: 19 minutes and 34 seconds
Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/world-vs-virus-podcast/
Behravesh, chief economist at IHS states that the uncertainty and fear associated with Covid-19 has been responsible globally for decreased consumption. Although Covid-19 cases in many countries are decreasing, the economic impact is expected to continue for at least another year.
Original Air Date: October 1, 2020
Length: 13 minutes
Discussion Post: Pretend you are a policy maker. If at all, how would you help different industries that are in need of relief because of the pandemic such as the hotel/hospitality industry?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/09/922479527/wfh-from-barbados
The economy in Barbados is heavily reliant on tourism and has been struggling due to travel restrictions. To combat the effects of the lack of tourism, Barbados created a program called “Welcome Stamp”, where individuals can receive a visa to work remotely while living in Barbados for a year.
Original Air Date: October 9, 2020
Length: 9 minutes 25 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936321423/winter-is-coming-for-the-restaurant-industry
The Planet Money Indicator team explores the choices facing restaurants around the U.S. as the pandemic winter approaches. Includes an interview with a restaurant in Idaho that has implemented new strategies in the 2020 economic reality.
Assignment prompt: How does this podcast illustrate the short-run shutdown decision for firms? Use specific economic concepts from your reading and this podcast to explain the decision making process in general and specifically for firms in a crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Original Air Date: November 18, 2020
Length: 9 minutes
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace/the-holiday-shopping-season-is-already-here/
About 100,000 businesses have had to shut down due to Covid-19, and the ones who have survived have had to change many aspects of product promotion. This is in part due to the changes we have seen in consumer behavior because of the pandemic. One way companies are adapting is by starting to sell for holidays now to combat the economic blow they have suffered because of Covid-19 and to make sure there are no shortages of products once the holidays arrive.
Original Air Date: October 12, 2020
Length: 28 minutes, 22 seconds
Discussion Prompt 1: What other ways have you seen businesses adapt to the impacts of Covid-19?
Discussion Prompt 2: Do you think Covid-19 will permanently alter the way consumers behave? If so, how? What about businesses?
Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/world-vs-virus-podcast/
This podcast connects the Covid-19 pandemic and the existing racial inequalities that have been exposed throughout the pandemic. Sridhar discusses the disproportionate effect Covid-19 has had on minority communities and the unconscious biases that have allowed this to occur. She also discusses the need to eradicate the virus, rather than living with it, after seeing new clusters of cases emerge in countries such as England, China, and South Korea.
Original Air Date: June 18, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 11 seconds
Link: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/podcast/episode-18-the-covid-slide-impact-on-childhood/
Across the country there is concern about the impacts of remote learning on children, specifically those who are already at a disadvantage. Some students may be “losing” up to a year of education depending on their age. This podcast discusses the risks that families are facing right now, as well as research regarding the new roles of parents in their children’s education.
Original Air Date: August 30, 2020
Length: 32 minutes, 47 seconds
Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/great-reset-podcast-financing-sustainable-recovery-imf/
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva discusses the need for sustained financial support from governments across the globe. Georgieva emphasizes that policymakers must keep in mind the future of their economies, and promote job creation in sectors which are developing, such as the green energy sector. Additionally, Georgieva discusses the need for investment everywhere in order to inhibit worsening global inequalities.
Original Air Date: September 11, 2020
Length: 16 minutes 11 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/07/900273012/mask-communication
This podcast uses behavioral economics to analyze the reasons why people may refuse to wear masks. Economists believe when these individuals feel external constraints on their freedoms, they feel even less inclined to wear a mask. Behavioral economists discuss nudges/incentives that could be effective in this situation.
Original Air Date: August 7, 2020
Length: 26 minutes 26 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What are some other incentives you can think of that would influence more widespread mask wearing?
