Summary: The new “High Seas Treaty” is out and lays out a plan to govern maritime activity with a goal of preserving biodiversity. The Indicator speaks with an expert who underscores the importance of this agreement as companies and government eye high-tech fishing and deep seabed mining. The current situation in the high-seas may be news to many, but it is a clear-cut example the age-old tragedy of the commons.
Summary: The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is out, and the scientists have delivered their “final” warning, calling for aggressive actions to reduce carbon emissions. This episode of The Indicator which aired during last fall’s COP27 climate summit explores a radical but intriguing idea– the “Carbon Coin,” which leverages the power of monetary (and fiscal) policy to bring about large-scale carbon reduction. The accompanying exercise explores the carbon coin and how it compares to currency that we know and use today?
Back in the 1970’s, manatees were close to extinction because of ruined habitats and speedboats. Over time power companies started to notice that groups of manatees were congregating around their power plants due to the warm water they produce. This episode of Planet Money discusses the unlikely partnership between environmentalists and power companies to conserve the manatee and how they make that possible. Conservation policies needed to adapt the idea that to save the manatees, the power plants also need to be saved. The warm water keeps the manatees alive but what happens when we move to more renewable energy resources? Pat Rose, a conservationist known as the “manatee man”, joins the show to explain what is going on in the manatee world today and what the future looks like.
Norway, the United Kingdom, California and many other places worldwide plan to ban the sale of gasoline cars within the next 10-15 years. Economist Stephen P. Holland discusses the implications of a simple ban, and instead encourages policies that will incentivize car manufactures to decrease production of gas cars without devastating the economy.
Citation: Holland, Stephen P., Erin T. Mansur, and Andrew J. Yates. 2021. “The Electric Vehicle Transition and the Economics of Banning Gasoline Vehicles.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 13 (3): 316-44. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200120
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.
China used to purchase the majority of waste that the United States could not (or did not want to) recycle by themselves. After China stopped purchasing U.S. recyclables, many cities have given up on recycling. Some economists even believe recycling may do more harm than good.
Original air date: July 12, 2019
Length: 23 minutes 6 seconds
Discussion prompt: What are the costs and benefits associated with recycling? Given this information, is recycling ‘worth it’? Can you think of any strategies based in economic-thinking that might approach this problem differently?
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?
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?
Summary: With significant damages caused by two major hurricanes that recently took place, it is no surprise that the road to recovery will be a long and an expensive one for the affected areas. This podcast considers the statements of President Trump and his stance on Puerto Rico’s debt, as well as Janet Yellen’s view on regulation. In addition, consider concerns whether the financial system of the U.S. itself has been stable and transparent.
Summary: There are many factors that can damage businesses, but not all businesses can say that mother nature is a leading factor in disrupting their operations. Winery businesses located in Sonoma and Napa counties are the main focus of this podcast, discussing how Northern California wildfires have made business owners realize just how detrimental they are to not only the future of their businesses, but to them and their employees as well.
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