Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/16/1056299014/of-boats-and-boxes
California Ports were not prepared for the consumer purchasing patterns shift from the pandemic. Instead of vacations, families were buying a new refrigerator or couch. This unpredictable increase in demand combined with the ports’ fragile system caused a supply chain issue that is still affecting America today.
Original Air Date: November 17, 2021
Length: 24 Minutes 55 Seconds
Link: https://www.stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/women-in-economics/carmen-reinhart
Carmen Reinhart, a professor of the International Financial Systems at Harvard Kennedy School discusses her life and economic experiences with Maria Hasenstab, senior media relations specialist at the St. Louis Fed. They cover a variety of topics from Reinhart’s childhood move from Cuba to the U.S., the male-dominated field of economics and how that impacts women, and how she analyzes economics almost like a detective would. As we continue through International Women’s Month, she leaves a motto for any women in the economic field: perseverance and consistency.
Original Air Date: July 17, 2019
Length: 17 minutes and 31 seconds
Link: https://www.stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/educated-workers-and-americas-competitiveness
The United States used to lead the world in their percentage of college graduates. Today, the U.S is lagging behind countries like Japan and South Korea. Dr. Monge-Naranjo from the Federal Reserve Bank discusses how this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and how the United States can benefit from the ideas and technologies being produced elsewhere.
Original Air Date: August 31 2020
Length: 3 minutes 13 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What other ways can this idea benefit the United States? What ways could this be harmful to the United States? Is there any significance or advantage to being “number 1” in terms of college educated workers?
Rajagopalan, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center discusses the progress of India’s economy over the years. She compares the size of India’s economy compared the countries such as the U.S. and China, as well as how previous reforms have affected their economy and further reforms in their economy that could improve its development.
Original Air Date: October 19, 2020
Length: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/18/817995238/chinas-new-normal
China has been in lock down for over a month and a half. China has finally started to get things under control through travel restrictions and mandatory quarantining. Life is slowly beginning to go back to normal, indicating that things will get better.
Original Air Date: March 18, 2020
Length: 8 minutes 38 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What can other countries take away from China’s response to Covid-19? What should other countries do differently?
Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/02/01/582510662/what-america-sells-to-the-world
Summary: From imports to exports of goods and services, America’s exports are significantly varied. The top three categories of goods that the U.S. exports to other countries are refined oil products, airplanes, and cars. In this podcast, THE INDICATOR discusses the $2.2 trillion of exports the U.S. ships across the world each year.
Original Air Date: February 1, 2018
Length: 6 minutes 14 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
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?
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/04/21/world/warning-parched-china-city-runs-out-water
Summary: A northern city in China has run out of water, increasing pressure between the government and it’s constituents. Marketplace explores this multifaceted issue in regards to the future of China’s economic development.
Original Air Date: April 25, 2016
Length: 7 minutes 2 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/04/12/523653040/episode-764-pub-in-a-box
Summary: Irish Pubs are everywhere, even in places like Hong Kong and the Ivory Coast. One architecture student from Ireland, Mel McNally, began selling the Irish Pub to other areas. Planet Money discusses how the Irish Pub is shipped in a box all over the world, and people will flock to it.
Original Air Date: April 12, 2017
Length: 17 minutes 19 seconds
Discussion Question: Who are Mel’s competitors in the market if he has control of the Irish Pub concept? What is the market structure?
Link: 
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