Archive for the ‘Incentives’ Category
Link: https://www.aeaweb.org/research/dna-databases-deterrence-detection-doleac
Professor Jennifer Doleac discusses how registering offenders in a DNA database make them much less likely to be convicted of another crime in coming years. Doleac also speaks to the importance of economists when studying crime and how policy makers should consider the tradeoff between privacy and effective policing measures.
Citation: Anker, Anne Sofie Tegner, Jennifer L. Doleac, and Rasmus Landersø. 2021. “The Effects of DNA Databases on the Deterrence and Detection of Offenders.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 13 (4): 194-225.
Original Air Date: October 27, 2021
Length: 20 Minutes 25 Seconds
Link: https://www.aeaweb.org/research/electric-transition-banning-gasoline-vehicles
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
Original Air Date: September 29, 2021
Length: 21 minutes 32 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/02/23/970726684/seeking-refuge-on-the-open-road
Have you ever thought about throwing all your belongings in a car and living on the open road? Bob Wells, a van nomad discusses how he turned his life on the road from a last hope into a chance to create hope and opportunity for others by documenting his nomadic life on YouTube. This episode discusses how the break from the societal “rat race” can end up being a much better economic choice for many.
Original Air Date: February 23, 2021
Length: 9 minutes 59 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/02/02/582843102/how-are-they-doing-now
Summary: When the recession hit, many workers within the United States not only lost their jobs, but they also had to cut back a significant amount of their hours. In this podcast, THE INDICATOR checks on three groups to see how they are doing now, part-time workers who want to be full-time, African-American unemployment, and people without college degrees.
Original Air Date: February 2, 2018
Length: 5 minutes 34 seconds
Link: 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
Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/01/19/579231506/therise-and-fall-and-rise-of-oil-prices
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?
Original Air Date: January 19, 2018
Length: 7 minutes 4 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/02/07/584032956/obama-trump-and-trade
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?
Original Air Date: February 7, 2018
Length: 5 minutes 18 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/2017/09/18/551901221/we-shouldn-t-stick-our-heads-in-the-sand-but-we-do-it-anyway
Summary: We all have experienced information aversion when it comes to information that provokes psychological pain. When the stock market crashes, do you continue to frequently check your portfolio, or ignore it completely since you anticipate future losses? If you chose to put your portfolio to the side, this exemplifies “the ostrich effect”. This term comes from not birds, but investors. Hidden Brain discusses how information aversion is associated with people avoiding information that is unpleasant. While we know that ignorance can be bliss, knowledge is power.
Original Air Date: September 18, 2017
Length: 26 minutes 41 seconds

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: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-tech/041917-mtech
Summary: “Move Fast and Break Things” is a newly released book about the monopolistic market structure of the internet. Marketplace interviews Jonathan Taplin, the author of the book, who is the tour manager for Bob Dylan. They discuss how the monopoly structure set up by the technology companies has ruined the communal nature of the internet. Also discussed is one silicon valley entrepreneur who left San Francisco for Minneapolis.
Original Air Date: April 19, 2017
Length: 7 minutes 35 seconds