Summary: A discussion of the economic and business factors within the U.S. that complicate the question of whether the U.S. should be sending aid in the form of weapons to Egypt during its ongoing political crisis.
Length: 13:08 min
Original air date: August 23, 2013
Summary: As the health insurance market prepares for the changes brought about by implementation of Affordable Care Act, this podcast considers how insurance companies might begin to target their new consumers. Considers marketing and branding strategies as well as how insurers might think about using incentive schemes to retain customers.
Length: 4:04 min
Original air date: July 12, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/02/198077962/episode-470-killing-fannie-mae
Summary: The Planet Money team revisits the question what the U.S. government should do with the mortgage ‘backers’, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which it took over as part of the financial crisis bailout. Includes a discussion of opposing views on whether the government should be involved in the housing market, and an outlook on what is politically most likely to be the long term outcome for these entities.
Length: 25:20 min
Original air date: July 2, 2013
Summary: Economist, Henry Jacoby, explains how an economist might introduce a carbon tax in the United States to address climate change. Includes a discussion of the conflicts of economics vs. politics.
Length: 19:51 min
Original air date: July 12, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/17/203032386/the-ask-your-uncle-approach-to-economics
Summary: An exploration of one issue of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book by focusing on some of the featured stories in the issue.
Length: 3:51 min
Original air date: July 17, 2013
Summary: An exploration of both the reasons that workers are leaving the workforce and how the U.S. Labor Department includes such workers (or not) in the unemployment rate.
Length: 4:16 min
Original air date: August 2, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/23/204851751/episode-474-the-north-korea-files
Summary: Report on an investigation into U.S. citizens who seek to engage in trade with North Korea. Examples include companies seeking to trade for profit and to market new goods, individuals wanting kitsch goods, and religious organizations seeking a point of entry to the country. Includes discussions on sanctions and the political considerations of each government as they consider these appeals to engage in trade.
Length: 23:21 min
Original air date: July 23, 2013
Discussion Prompt (1): This podcast discusses a situation in which trade is (largely) prohibited. What are some of the reasons for people or nations engaging in trade that are discussed in the podcast?
Follow-up Prompt (1): Can anyone suggest additional reasons that trade might take place (in addition to those discussed in the podcast)? Think more generally about nations engaging in trade beyond the particular case of N. Korea and the rarity of those goods.
Discussion Prompt (2): Recognizing that N. Korea is an extreme example, what do you see as the pluses and minuses of a country having a more centrally planned or command type economic structure? Be sure to make comparisons to other types of economic systems.
Follow-up Prompt (2): Thinking about the role of government in a centrally planned economy, how do you think the role of incentives is different in a centrally planned economy than in a market economy? Give specific examples.
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/08/06/209598383/episode-477-waiting-for-robot-nannies
Summary: A discussion of the cultural obstacles to women in Japan working full time. Includes consideration of the following: impact on the Japanese economy overall, impact on demographics, related issues in the childcare industry, including impediments in the form of unintended consequences of government regulations .
Length: 14:22 min
Original air date: August 6, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/04/26/179295426/episode-454-the-lollipop-war
Summary: Planet money explores the struggle between two iconic American industries—the lollipop makers and the sugar growers— over “fair” regulations set forth by Congress in the farm bill.
Length: 19:19 min
Original air date: April 26, 2013
Discussion Prompt: What are the economic impacts of the subsidy on sugar for: farmers, candy producers, U.S. citizens, U.S. consumers? Why do you think sugar subsidies persist, and why do you think this fight about sugar has been ongoing in the U.S. government for so many years?
Link: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/04/10/capitalism
Summary: Host Tom Ashbrook interviews History Professors Julia Ott and Louis Hyman to discuss the history of capitalism, its record of economic and social performance, and its future, particularly in the post Cold War context.
Original air date April 10, 2013
Length: 46:01
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