Link: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/355/the-giant-pool-of-money
Summary: Discusses how the roots of the 2008 Wall Street meltdown lay in the housing crisis. Also highlights links to international finance.
Original air date: May 9, 2008
Length: 60:00
Summary: Discussion of why the U.S. government subsidizes crop insurance for farmers.
Original air date: August 14, 2012
Length: 16:17
Summary: An assessment of the intentions and current operation of the single European currency through the consideration of the marijuana trade in Maastrict, where the borders of The Netherlands, Belgium and Gemany converge
Original air date: August 17, 2012
Length: 16:09
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/01/26/133120017/the-friday-podcast-a-meat-grinder-for-fabric
Summary: A view into the experience of importing goods to the U.S. through a discussion with a trade lawyer and a tour of customs official laboratory.
Original air date: January 21, 2011
Length: 21:33
Main story content begins: 2:55
Summary: Presentation of the origins of the introduction of the Brazilian Real in 1994.
Original air date: October 1, 2010
Length: 29:56
Main story content begins: 3: 27
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/01/26/130917279/the-friday-podcast-cotton-wars
Summary: Presentation of the trade war in the cotton market between Brazil and the U.S. Part of a series of podcasts inspired by Pietra Rivoli’s “Travels of the T-Shirt”
Original air date: October 29, 2010
Length: 31:28
Main story content begins: 1:45
Discussion Prompt: The US is the largest exporter of cotton—thanks to government subsidies—and is in direct competition with Brazil. Discuss how subsidies and protectionist acts by the government impact industries and consumers in the United States and in Brazil, and whether you agree with these policies by the U.S.
Written Assignment Prompt: In the podcast, Pedro describes the US as breaking the ‘rules’—which refers to a WTO agreement that Brazil, the US, and many other countries signed. Brazil fights back and wins! Sort of. Imagine you are a member of the WTO ruling on decisions such as these. Considering the outcome and impacts of this case in particular: how much power do you have over making rulings and forcing countries to follow them? Is there a way to make the US and others in violation of WTO rules comply?
Original air date: April 12, 2011
Length: 21:43
Main story content begins: 3:10
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/09/podcast_economics_for_medieval.html
Summary: Discussion of the economics of life in pre-industrial China in the lower Yangtze River Valley. Also compares the experiences of living in China vs. in Europe in the middle ages.
Original air date: September 4, 2009
Length: 17:00
Main content story begins: 1:18
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/07/hear_bloody_miserable_medieval.html
Summary: Discussion of the economics of a French village in the middle ages.
Original air date: July 27, 2009
Length: 21:55
Main story content begins: 3:18
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/01/17/145361054/the-tuesday-podcast-do-sanctions-work
Summary: Interview with Economist Gary Hufbauer to consider the effectiveness of sanctions as a political tool, in the context of imposition of new sanctions to Iran. Includes a profile of life in Iran in the early 1990s under U.N. sanctions.
Original Air Date: January 17, 2012
Length 22:54
Main story content begins: 2:46
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