Archive for the ‘Fiscal policy’ Category

Simon says we’re stuck with the debt ceiling

1/19/23, The Indicator (8:54)

Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1150019642/simon-says-were-stuck-with-the-debt-ceiling-encore

Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode

Summary: It’s “Debt Ceiling Season!”  This means that the federal government is on track to reach the limit to which is approved to borrow. Once the limit is reached, it must cut spending or increase the debt limit.  This episode delves into the history of the debt and examples of how other countries manage limits on government borrowing. The suggested Teaching Ideas exercise includes use of FRED data to understand the relationship of the debt, deficit and business cycles over time.

Posted May 18, 2023 by ishanitewari in Fiscal policy, macroeconomics

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Money well spent   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.aeaweb.org/research/school-spending-student-outcomes-wisconsin

In this AEA Research Highlights podcast Author Jason Baron discusses the effects of different types of school spending on student outcomes and how school budgets should continue to evolve. Baron’s finds that increased spending on teacher salaries and supportive services positively affected test scores, dropout rates, and postsecondary enrollment, while spending on new buildings and renovations had less of an impact.

Original Air Date: February 18, 2022

Length: 22 Minutes 14 Seconds

Article Citation: Baron, E Jason. 2022. “School Spending and Student Outcomes: Evidence from Revenue Limit Elections in Wisconsin.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 14 (1): 1-39.

When The U.S. Paid Off The Entire National Debt (Classic)   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/29/1041638804/that-time-the-u-s-paid-off-the-entire-national-debt-classic

In mid-October, Congress raised the national debt limit to prevent defaulting. This episode discusses how the United States got into this mess, where all this debt comes from, who came up with the idea of a debt ceiling, and what happened when it was paid off.

Date Posted: September 29, 2021

Length: 21 Minutes 12 Seconds

Posted November 16, 2021 by fiorinio in Fiscal policy

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What is Bidenomics?   Leave a comment

Link:https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/929127255/what-is-bidenomics

Biden has proposed an economic plan to contain the coronavirus while opening the economy again when it is safe to do so. His plan primarily focuses on affordable child care, creating more jobs in the green energy sector, and closing the racial wealth gap. This podcast discusses his plans to raise taxes on the wealthy, remove certain deductibles for these individuals, and increase taxes on corporations in order to fund some of these programs.

Original Air Date: October 29, 2020

Length: 9 minutes 42 seconds

Where Do We Get $2,000,000,000,000?   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/26/821787090/episode-985-where-do-we-get-2-000-000-000-000

In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the U.S. government is pushing out a $2 trillion stimulus package. The Fed is also purchasing large quantities of U.S. Treasury bonds in order to stimulate the economy. This podcast discusses where this stimulus is coming from, and how it will effect the economy.

Original Air Date: March 26, 2020

Length: 20 minutes 29 seconds

Discussion Prompt: Why is demand for U.S. Treasury bonds so high right now? Will the stimulus package be enough to keep the economy safe from a recession?

How to Save the Economy Now   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818583204/episode-982-how-to-save-the-economy-now

Neel Kashkari from the Federal Reserve bank discusses his optimism about the future of the economy. He believes the Federal Reserve has learned from its mistakes during the 2008 crisis, and is now better equipped to react. The Fed is emergency lending in order to combat the effects of this economic uncertainty.

Original Air Date: March 20, 2020

Length: 13 minutes 43 seconds

Discussion Prompt: How is the current situation similar to the 2008 financial crisis? Should the Federal Reserve bail out banks and businesses during times like these?

The Fed Fights the Virus   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/16/816684372/episode-980-the-fed-fights-the-virus

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve has lowered its interest rates to 0%. The Fed has been practicing quantitative easing in order to ensure individuals can sell Treasury bonds whenever they need to. Planet Money discusses whether this will be enough to prevent a recession from occurring.

Original Air Date: March 16, 2020

Length: 18 minutes 17 seconds

Written Assignment Prompt: Pretend you are the chair of the Federal Reserve. How would you deal with the Covid-19 pandemic to help prevent a coming recession? How would you adjust interest rates or the money supply during this time?

Covid-19 Drives Unemployment Claims Up   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report/unemployment-claims-covid-19-automaker-factories-evictions/

Unemployment benefit registrations have increased dramatically in the past days. The U.S. government is trying to ensure that the current health crisis does not cause a long-term economic crisis. The government is also putting a hold on evictions and foreclosures in certain instances as well in order to prevent an increase in homelessness.

Original Air Date: March 19, 2020

Length: 7 minutes 21 seconds

Discussion Prompt: What are the economic ideas behind the strategies being implemented so far? What other ways could the government support those who lose their jobs during this health crisis? How can the government fund activities such as putting holds on evictions? What are the costs and benefits to be considered here?

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

Budget Time   Leave a comment

budget timeLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/07/07/535987825/episode-782-budget-time 

Summary: The Planet Money team uses a ten minute block of time to demonstrate the allocation of the U.S. federal budget. Each program gets the same percent of ten minutes as the percentage it makes up of the total budget.

Original Air Date:July 7, 2017

Length: 15:49