Archive for the ‘Economic Growth & Development’ Category

Can India become the next high-tech hub?

3/2/23, The Indicator (9:23)

Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160640017/can-india-become-the-next-high-tech-hub

Teaching Ideas

Summary:  The US and India are looking to strengthen their relationship, and fortifying economic ties are at the forefront.  India is competing keenly with China to become the next global manufacturing hub, especially for high-tech semiconductor chips. High value-added manufacturing such as this could be a huge boost in economic growth for India.  But does the country have the “right” ingredients to fuel the next chip boom and boost its growth?

Tech Giants and Tiny Dogs   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/17/1087425495/tech-giants-and-tiny-dogs

Ramon van Meer’s niche business – making ramps for weiner dogs – boomed as he utilized tools from tech giants to help him grow his businesses. The Planet Money team discusses how these tech giants can help small businesses find their target audiences with marketing tools like Facebook ads. On the other hand they can also severely damage a business model by changing up an simple algorithm or rearranging their data. The volatility of these big tech firm decisions are cause for both growth and decline of such small businesses.

Original Air Date: March 18, 2022

Length: 21 minutes 43 seconds

The raging 2020s with Alec Ross   Leave a comment

Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/news-not-noise/id1585743634?i=1000550850554

New York Times bestselling author Alec Ross talks about his new book, The Raging 2020s, and explains how that restore the balance of power between the government, businesses, and citizens a new social contract is needed for modern America.

Discussion Prompt: After listening to the podcast, do you agree that America needs a new social contract for the economy to thrive? While answering this question, use your economic thinking and reflect on ideas like wealth inequality, taxes, and unions.  

Original Air Date: February 12, 2022

Length: 32 minutes 28 seconds

An Uneven Vaccine Rollout Means an Uneven Economic Recovery   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace/an-uneven-vaccine-rollout-means-an-uneven-economic-recovery/

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

Janet Yellen’s Mystery Story   Leave a comment

Janet YellenLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/01/31/582224091/janet-yellen-s-mystery-story

Summary: Former head of the Federal Reserve of America, Janet Yellen, communicated about inflation, uncertainty, and monetary policy in one of her speeches last fall. With the current low inflation, the Fed hopes more consumers go out and purchase more goods to help reach the ideal inflation in the country. But as inflation remains low,  the Fed is left puzzling over this mystery.

Original Air Date: January 31, 2018

Length: 6 minutes 48 seconds

What America Sells To The World   Leave a comment

What America Sells To The WorldLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/02/01/582510662/what-america-sells-to-the-world

Summary: From imports to exports of goods and services, America’s exports are significantly varied. The top three categories of goods that the U.S. exports to other countries are refined oil products, airplanes, and cars. In this podcast, THE INDICATOR discusses the $2.2 trillion of exports the U.S. ships across the world each year.

Original Air Date: February 1, 2018

Length: 6 minutes 14 seconds

Stimulus Response   Leave a comment

Stimulus ResponseLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/02/14/585844313/stimulus-response

Summary: What would a liberal economist say about the state of America’s economy today? THE INDICATOR discusses how the country’s economy may need some form of stimulus to boost further economic growth.  However, would the benefits of the short run stimulus for the economy that we say we need, outweigh the cost of the long-term tax cuts?

Original Air Date: February 14, 2018

Length: 6 minutes 30 seconds

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Oil Prices   Leave a comment

Oil pricesLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/01/19/579231506/therise-and-fall-and-rise-of-oil-prices

Summary: Oil prices have been fluctuating over the years, but when there is a price increase, many people may experience increases in the price of gas, heating, or a flight ticket back home as well. With the volatility of oil prices, what does this mean for determining future prices of oil and will these prices ever stabilize?

Original Air Date: January 19, 2018

Length: 7 minutes 4 seconds

Weed GDP   Leave a comment

Weed GDPLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/01/30/581923542/weed-gdp

Summary: Ever wonder what goods and services contributes significantly to a country’s economy? GDP is the basic measure that does just that and, in this podcast, the director general of Statistics Canada goes on a journey to determine the figures that represent marijuana’s contribution to Canada’s GDP to see the economic effects of marijuana legalization within the country.

Original Air Date: January 30, 2018

Length: 6 minutes 4 seconds

Melinda Gates on balancing the burden of unpaid work   Leave a comment

melindaLink: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/21/world/melinda-gates

Summary: Work around the house and for the family is unpaid work  and mostly done by women. This reduces their labor force participation and ultimately hurts the GDP of a country. Melinda Gates suggests reducing the work through innovation for the developing countries and redistributing the work amongst partners for developed countries. Higher levels of equity between the sexes will contribute to a stronger social fabric and economy.

Original Air Date: March 23, 2016

Length: 8 minutes and 29 seconds