Archive for the ‘Economic Growth & Development’ Category

This visa program is a path to citizenship for the rich   Leave a comment

Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/16/business/eb5-visas

Summary: Marketplace analyzes the EB-5 visa program which allows wealthy foreign investors to secure American citizenship, only if investors are willing to invest at least a half a million dollars in the United States.

Original Air Date: April 18, 2016

Length: 2 minutes 29 seconds

What made Brazil’s economy bust?   Leave a comment

Dollar Makes Record Gains Against Real As Brazilian Economic Woes ContinueLink: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/21/world/what-made-brazil-s-economy-bust

Summary: Brazil was an emerging economy and a member of the BRICS. However, in March 2016 a huge corruption scandal exploded into an economic crisis and demand for the impeachment of the president followed by a political regime change. Marketplace looks into how Brazil changed course of progress in the last 10 years.

Original Air Date: March 21, 2016

Length: 3 mins 53 seconds

Can you grow the economy without adding pollution?   1 comment

grow economyLink: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/18/sustainability/new-data-suggest-economy-can-grow-without-carbon-pollution

Summary: When the economy expands, there is an increase in economic activity that is fueled by the consumption of more energy (fossil fuels). How can global leaders commit to a lower carbon footprint and deliver on their promise for economic growth? The price of renewable energy needs to be lower to make it more attractive and the price of fossil fuels should be higher to reflect its environmental cost through policy.

Original Air Date: March 18, 2016

Length: 2 minutes and 32 seconds

How To Make $3 Trillion Disappear   Leave a comment

how to makeLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/23/451228005/episode-659-how-to-make-3-trillion-disappear

Summary: The Planet Money team discusses the end of quantitative easing – how it works and how it is coming to an end.  A particular focus is how this process will impact commercial banks and their clients.

Original Air Date: October 26, 2015

Length: 15 minutes 25 seconds

OMG TPP   Leave a comment

omg tppLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/11/06/455055023/episode-662-omg-tpp

Summary: In this podcast, the Planet Money team investigates the much anticipated Trans-Pacific Partnership and discusses some of the highlights in the bill’s nearly six thousand pages.

Original Air Date: November 7, 2015

Length: 22 minutes 9 seconds

Worst Case Scenario   Leave a comment

worst caseLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/06/19/415804477/episode-634-worst-case-scenario

Summary: The Planet Money team investigate current problems in our economy that could create the next economic crisis.

Original Air Date: July 19, 2015

Length: 16 mins

Bubblelicious   Leave a comment

bubbliciousLink: 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

China, China, China   Leave a comment

china china chinaLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/09/09/438948679/episode-649-china-china-china

Summary: In this podcast, the Planet Money team attempt to decipher why economic news about China is so popular in the media and if the indicators are something we should worry about including the stock market and economic growth.

Original Air Date: September 9, 2015

Length: 17 minutes 9 seconds

How To Steal A Million Barrels Of Oil   Leave a comment

nigerian stolen oilLink: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/10/29/359624435/episode-578-how-to-steal-a-million-barrels-of-oil

Summary: The Nigerian Internet hosts many ads for stolen oil, inspiring the question: how? Why?  Nigeria has one of the top oil reserves, and it is controlled by the government. They lose about $10 million a day from oil theft. This podcast dissects how they get away with it.

Original Air Date: October 29, 2014

Length: 19 minutes 30 seconds

Discussion Question: The podcasts says that this problem is for the Nigerian government to solve. Should it be an international issue?

Prompt: The podcast does not reflect on the legally sold oil, and the effect the stolen oil has on that market. Write how you think the stolen oil would change the market for legal crude oil in the international arena, paying specific attention to the quantity and the prices.

Fixing the World, Bang-For-The-Buck Edition: A New Freakonomics Radio Podcast   Leave a comment

Fixing-the-World-300x200Link: http://freakonomics.com/2014/10/02/fixing-the-world-bang-for-the-buck-edition-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Summary: Return on Investment (ROI) analyzes at the most efficient way to spend money. An example given is the difference between curing malaria and HIV/AIDS. To cure malaria, it would cost about $1,000 per person, while it would cost ten times that to cure HIV/AIDS, and it is decided that they would rather save 10 people from malaria before they save one from HIV/AIDS.  The United Nations, with their Millennium Development Goals coming to a close, will be looking to set new goals in 2015, to be completed by 2030. One of the issued they will focus on is how they are setting goals, and how to be more efficient with the help of the Return on Investment analysis.

Original Air Date: October 2, 2014

Length: 43 minutes 34 seconds

Prompt / Discussion: You are a member of the United Nations, and are put in charge of coming up with new development goals for 2015. You have $100 billion to invest in various development aid. Discuss how you would prioritize between an important, expensive goal (such as getting all kids into school, which was one of the Millennium Development Goals), and something that might not be seen as highly important, but cost effective.