Archive for the ‘Labor market economics’ Category
Link: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/in-the-1890s-the-best-selling-car-was-electric/
Today, fewer than 1% of cars in the United States are electric. According to technology historian Tom Standage, the spike in gas prices may push the transition faster than people think. When switching from gas to electric cars, there is more to consider than just the labor market and the demand for gasoline. Standage believes everything will change.
Original Air Date: March 30, 2022
Length: 46 Minutes 20 Seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/25/1094706897/you-should-probably-get-your-plane-tickets-soon
The Indicator this week discusses what is happening in the airline industry. After hard hits from COVID-19 they are finally expecting to make profits this year, but there are many factors that could crush those expectations. Limited staffing and picketing from fatigued pilots and higher jet fuel prices due to the limited supply of oil are just some of the major problems facing these airline companies. Ticket prices will go up as consumers bear the brunt of the oil shortage. Airlines are also cutting different flight paths as there is not enough incentive to keep servicing certain routes. The biggest take away is to book your tickets early and be prepared for rising prices.
Original Air Date: April 25, 2022
Length: 10 minutes 17 seconds
Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/news-not-noise/id1585743634?i=1000550850554
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.
Original Air Date: February 12, 2022
Length: 32 minutes 28 seconds
Link: https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/six-hundred-atlantic/season/two/bonus-episode-a-conversation-about-child-care-in-crisis.aspx
Even before the pandemic, childcare has been inaccessible and too expensive for families. Experts Beth Mattingly and Tom Weber discuss the childcare crisis and the impact it has on parents, the labor force, and the economy.
Original Air Date: October 29, 2021
Length: 26 Minutes 19 Seconds
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/2021/10/12/nobel-prize-economist-david-card-on-testing-econ-101-theories-in-the-real-world/
2021 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences recipient David Card used a natural experiment to challenge the Econ 101 concept that a higher minimum wage drives unemployment. Through his research, Card also discovered a way to possibly address issues like the gender wage gap and the wage gap between nonwhite and white workers.
Later in the segment, Card discusses his recognized research on how immigration does not reduce wages according to the Modern Growth Theory.
Original Air Date: October 12, 2021
Length: 10 minutes 48 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/12/976465414/the-even-more-minimum-wage
This podcast discusses the history and the impact of low wages received by restaurant workers. The federal “tipped” minimum wage has remained stagnant for almost 30 years, while the standard minimum wage has been increased 5 times throughout that time. Policy makers in Washington DC are now proposing the Raise the Wage Act, which, if enacted, would raise the federal minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour for all workers in all industries, including tipped workers.
Original Air Date: March 17, 2021
Length: 21 minutes and 22 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2019/05/03/720139562/episode-910-economics-sexism-data
As International Women’s Month begins, this podcast by Planet Money helps highlight some of the issues involving sexism and economics. At the time Alice Wu was an economics undergraduate at UC Berkeley and had found an online job forum but was shocked to see the attitude and banter relating to women in the field of economics. She then used her econ skills to analyze the inherent bias found on the site and put out a report on her findings, leading to many woman in the economic field sharing their stories and exposing some of the sexism they have had to face.
Discussion Prompt: What are some ways that social issues, such as sexism can be address throughout a whole field like economics?
Original Air Date: May 3, 2019
Length: 24 minutes 20 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?
Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/great-reset-podcast-financing-sustainable-recovery-imf/
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva discusses the need for sustained financial support from governments across the globe. Georgieva emphasizes that policymakers must keep in mind the future of their economies, and promote job creation in sectors which are developing, such as the green energy sector. Additionally, Georgieva discusses the need for investment everywhere in order to inhibit worsening global inequalities.
Original Air Date: September 11, 2020
Length: 16 minutes 11 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/27/822944544/episode-986-america-unemployed
Within the past week, over 3 million people have filed for unemployment, a record number in the United States. Unemployment insurance was intended to help people, while also providing motivation to seek work. Seeking work, however, is close to impossible when you cannot leave your home.
Original Air Date: March 28, 2020
Length: 22 minutes 58 seconds
Discussion Prompt: What are the incentives inherent in the unemployment insurance policy? Do you believe the pandemic will change who qualifies for unemployment/how accessible unemployment benefits in either the short- or the long-run?
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