Summary: There are more dollar store discount stores than Starbucks, Walmart and McDonalds combined. In recent years, several communities, particularly in the South, are trying to slow the proliferation of these stores, stating they deter regular grocery stores and limit the availability of fresh, healthy food options. The Indicator explores how dollar stores bans have worked out in two cities. Our application exercises builds a supply and demand framework to study the situation.
This episode of the Indicator discusses the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the ways in which it regulates businesses. Whistleblowers, the ones who are brave enough to stand up against malpractice in the company, are valuable to the SEC but are often too scared to come forward. Jordan Thomas, a former SEC employee, decided he would make a firm that protected these whistleblowers and made sure they are compensated for the risks they are taking.
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.
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.
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
Despite national and global efforts to discourage money laundering, there were recent reports from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network suggest suspicious transactions and funding during the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. This podcast further discusses some of the failures of banks to report suspicious activities in a timely manner. Matthew Collins from the Brookings Institute states that if our government really wants to hammer down on money laundering and other financial crimes, it is crucial to invest more funds into regulatory bodies such as FinCen.
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?
Summary: THE INDICATOR discusses the Trump administration trade policy thus far regarding the tariffs on solar panels and washing machines that were implemented during Obama’s administration. How much of an impact do tariffs actually make on a country’s economy, if they do at all?
Summary: Learn about a little group in North Korea, called the ‘donju.’ The economic prosperity that they developed went on to support the country’s nuclear program and contributed to the growth of their economy. This was all made possible when Kim Jong Un began allowing consultants from overseas to educate North Korean entrepreneurs on accounting, trade, and management. They did this without daring to actually call it a spread of capitalism, as North Korea still remains a strict socialist country.
Original Air Date: October 13, 2017
Length: 24 minutes 25 seconds
Discussion prompt (1): Having listened to this podcast, what type of economic system do you think North Korea has? What impact do you think this system has on people, businesses and the government. Use specific examples from the podcast to support your answer.
Discussion Prompt (2): The podcast points out that in N Korea’s economic system “the state technically owns everything.” How does this impact the ‘Donju’? Think particularly how it impacts the incentives they face to start and grow a business (contributing to economic development).
Discussion Prompt (3): Why would entrepreneurship not be something typically observed in a Centrally Planned/Socialist country? How are the economic incentives of this system related to this lack of entrepreneurship? According to this podcast, how did the economic actions of the Donju contribute to economic growth in N. Korea?
Summary: There is a thoughtful process behind the eggs that a consumer purchases from the grocery store. In this podcast, organic industries argue that meeting the basic needs of birds is crucial. This includes providing chickens the access to the outdoors where they can freely roam. As it is in everybody’s interest to shop for organic eggs from chickens that are “cage-free”, the organic industry demands the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement new rules regarding animal welfare.
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