Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/08/14/340356790/should-we-kill-the-100-bill
Summary: The Planet Money team investigates the $100 bill and found that over two-thirds of the bills are overseas. Additionally, they assume the bills are used for illegal activities due to their convenience.
Original Air Date: August 14, 2014
Length: 6 minutes 10 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/03/06/286861541/does-raising-the-minimum-wage-kill-jobs
Summary: Minimum wage is a hot topic in the economic realm. In this podcast the same study is done three times resulting in different outcomes on the pros and cons of raising the minimum wage.
Original Air Date: March 6, 2014
Length: 4 minutes 32 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/04/10/398811199/episode-616-how-solar-got-cheap
Summary: Solar power is becoming increasingly popular. The main reason is not due to environmental awareness but because of a market glut and a need to clear inventory.
Original Air Date: April 10, 2015
Length: 16 minutes
Summary: The Planet Money team investigates the pros and cons of pay transparency in the work place and the problems it is solving.
Original Air Date: July 2, 2014
Length: 4 minutes 59 seconds
Summary: This podcast examines the pros and cons to a lenient return policies for businesses and the affect it has on their brand. Some companies see it as a loss of business while others view it as cheap marketing.
Original Air Date: September 25, 2013
Length: 4 minutes 23 seconds
Summary: The GiveDirectly charity gives money to the poor and asks for nothing in return. The Planet Money team takes a quick look at this strategy.
Original Air Date: August 16, 2013
Length: 6 minutes 12 seconds
Prompt: Make a list of pros and cons for this strategy of aid to developing regions of the world.
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/04/383830776/episode-601-the-chocolate-curse
Summary: This podcast explores the shortage in supply of cocoa around the world, as well as one man’s solution to the crisis. However, this solution comes at a price.
Original Air Date: February 5, 2015
Length: 18 minutes 12 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/special-shopping-day-overload
Summary: The number of shoppers on Black Friday was down this year (2014). Because of the ease in comparing prices online to find the best deal, Black Friday (and the whole weekend) has become a ritual team effort of mothers, daughters, and other relatives.
Original Air Date: December 1, 2014
Length: 1 minute 47 seconds
Discussion Question: Is the economy effecting how many people shop on the Black Friday weekend? Or is it something else that’s driving the number of shoppers down?
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/11/07/362060876/episode-581-free-money
Summary: This podcast discusses arbitrage (free money), using the example of used textbooks. Arbitrage (free money) is a risk-free way to buy low and sell high. You can find one thing that’s selling for two different prices, and exploit the mistake.
Original Air Date: November 7, 2014
Length: 14 minutes 29 seconds
Prompt: Imagine you find an opportunity like the one discussed in the podcast. Write an outline of how you would go about this discovery, and what your plan of action would be.
Discussion Question: A woman in the podcast said their practice was immoral. Do you agree or disagree? Is what these two men are doing wrong? Use economic thinking in your discussion.
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/interstate-tax-break-battle
Summary: The Obama Administration has been cracking down on inversions–where companies avoid US taxes by getting a foreign address. Now, it is being taken down to a state level, as states hand out tax breaks to try to increase business and get out of the Great Recession.
Original Air Date: September 24, 2014
Length: 2 minutes 27 seconds
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