As vaccines begin to roll out there will be disparities between cities, states, and countries due to the fact that there are not enough vaccines to give out at once. The time differences between areas will have lasting effects on how economic growth takes place. This episode of Marketplace also discusses other issues facing the U.S. such as the number of women in the workforce and the terrible effects of gun-violence on children.
Original Air Date: April 5, 2021
Length: 27 minutes 29 seconds
Central banks have cut interest rates in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Typically when something like this happens, interest rates rise and inflation occurs, but right now the exact opposite is happening. Sectors of the economy that are taking the hardest hit include tourism, cross boarder commerce, and oil.
Original Air Date: March 3, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 39 seconds
Discussion Prompt: How does this outbreak alter consumer expectations, and inevitably, their spending habits?
Discussion Prompt: What role, if any, does the government play in stabilizing the markets in instances such as this?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/815677688/episode-979-medicine-for-the-economy
Some economists believe the government should inject a monetary stimulus into the economy of hundred of millions, if not billions of dollars. Others believe our focus should be solely on the issue at hand: containing the Coronavirus. Economists discuss the importance of pushing funding into corona virus testing, paid sick days, and rebuilding after the public health issue is contained.
Original Air Date: March 13, 2020
Length: 25 minutes 17 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What is the role of the government in the economy in times of global health crises? Is a recession inevitable at this point, or are there ways the government can combat a sharp economic downturn?
Link: http://www.npr.org/2017/09/13/550607377/how-the-minimum-wage-affects-restaurant-hygiene
Summary: Cities across the U.S. have been making efforts to increase the minimum wage, which would impact restaurant workers. However, this move results to unexpected side effects due to the higher costs that restaurants will have to face, leading them to cut back on some services. This story discusses how the effects on increasing the minimum wage ties with the hygiene of restaurants and suggests potential steps that the restaurants can take to minimize their health violations.
Original Air Date: September 13, 2017
Length: 3 minutes 35 seconds
Link: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-cheeseburger-diet-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/
Summary: In response to the infamous documentary Super Size Me, one woman toured her local area in search for the best burger. Shockingly, she didn’t gain a single pound despite eating two burgers a week. Freakonomics discusses the surprising results.
Original Air Date: December 10, 2015
Length: 34 minutes 21 seconds
Discussion Question: What role does utility play in this situation? Will satisfaction of the second burger eaten always be the same? Explain.
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/31/health-care/ftc-fights-against-new-strategy-delaying-generics
Summary: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has brought an important case against ‘pay-for-delay schemes’, seeking to show that non-monetary deals between pharmaceutical companies inhibit the market from functioning properly. More importantly, they seek to demonstrate that these deals are illegal.
Original Air Date: April 1, 2016
Length: 2 minutes 10 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/02/09/health-care/goverment-seeks-improve-paitient-access-records
Summary: Is providing access to medical records a regulatory burden or essential to streamlining healthcare? The Marketplace team looks at explicit and implicit costs of requesting medical information for both the patient and the healthcare provider.
Original Air Date: February 9, 2016
Length: 4 mins 8 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/03/world/chinese-lake-has-become-ground-zero-bird-flu
Summary: Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate to China’s Poyang Lake each year, creating a breeding ground for the avian influenza virus. This virus has the ability to spread rapidly if wild birds connect with domestic birds found on farms within China. The implications this virus can have on human health, farmers, and the economy is deadly.
Original Air Date: March 30, 2016
Length: 5 minutes 16 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/02/445371930/episode-655-pay-patients-save-money
Summary: The Planet Money team shines a light on a business that helps people save money on healthcare expenses in way similar to a travel agency that shows the prices of different flights and destinations.
Original Air Date: October 5, 2015
Length: 19 minutes 1 second
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/28/452655987/episode-518-your-organs-please
Summary: The Planet Money team investigates organ donation and how it has become more popular over time.
Original Air Date: October 30, 2015
Length: 19 minutes 48 seconds
