Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/08/04/541643346/episode-787-google-is-big-is-that-bad
Summary: The Planet Money team focus on the recent European Commission decision that Google violated anti trust rules. They discuss the context of the seven year consideration of the question whether Google has too much power over the Internet. Includes consideration of how the question is viewed differently in the U.S. and how this specific case helps us think generally about issues of competition.
Original Air Date: August 4, 2017
Length: 16:42
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2016/09/14/493810206/episode-724-cat-scam
Summary: The internet was supposed to eliminate middlemen, creating an area where consumers can buy directly from the manufacturers. However, the internet is filled with middlemen to the point that middlemen are worried about other middlemen. Planet Money discusses how the biggest companies on the internet (eBay and Amazon) are middlemen.
Original Air Date: September 14, 2016
Length: 21 minutes 5 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: http://wwno.org/post/04192017-report-land-quarterly-profits-and-losses
Summary: In this marketplace podcast, they discuss the latest earnings of Yahoo, IBM and Volkswagen. Marketplace also introduces two cities that are changing; New York City and Pittsburgh. New York City is looking to disallow employers from asking candidates about past salary, and Pittsburgh is trying to shake the “Steel City” nickname for “Robo-burgh”.
Original Air Date: April 19, 2017
Length: 6 minutes 50 seconds
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-tech/04212017-mtech
Summary: After the failure of the S7, Samsung has released the S8 hoping to bait customers into switching from the iPhone. Marketplace introduces whether or not the S8 is ready to take over market share from the iPhone. They also introduce how using technology in Arizona has affected tourism.
Original Air Date: April 21, 2017
Length: 6 minutes 26 seconds
Discussion Question: Explain the market of tourism; who are the competitors? How is market share achieved? What role does technology play? Also, is there demand for Samsung, or are they too far behind on the iPhone?
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-tech/2017-03-23
Summary: Technology has become increasingly present in various markets. ESports is an up and coming sports league that is centered around video games, and artificial intelligence involves uploading the human mind into a machine. These are two recent trends in the technology sector that Marketplace discusses in this podcast.
Original Air Date: March 23, 2017
Length: 7 minutes 12 seconds
Discussion Question: How does advancing technology impact jobs? What effect does it have on unemployment, if any at all?
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/01/25/511663527/episode-632-the-chicken-tax
Summary: Believe it or not, there is a chicken tax and it actually applies to automobiles! Back in the 20th century, Germany levied a tax on American chicken to protect their domestic farmers. The US responded by taxing German made automobiles, and thus a trade war began. Planet Money discusses the value of tariffs, and why the chicken tax is still around.
Original Air Date: January 25, 2017
Length: 16 minutes 56 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/02/03/513302816/episode-752-eagles-vs-chickens
Summary: One farmer had what seemed like a great environmentally conscious plan to fertilize his soil. However, Eagles threw his plan of offering Whole foods consumers organic chicken into disarray. Planet Money discusses how the unintended consequences impacted farmer’s plan.
Original Air Date: February 3, 2017
Length: 17 minutes 28 seconds
Discussion Question: What were the unintended consequences of the farmer’s choice to use chickens to fertilize the soil? Explain how unintended consequences are important to economics.
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/2017/02/22/tech/3d-pen-kids-wins-best-toy-award-toy-fair-2017
Summary: Educational technology toys are a hot new trend in the toy market. One company, Bogue, introduced a new concept allowing kids to create their own toys through a 3-D printer. Marketplace introduces how Bogue is competing with giant toy companies.
Original Air Date: February 22, 2017
Length: 3 minutes 15 seconds
Discussion Question: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages Bogue has with creating a new category in the market? How does this impact competition?
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2016/12/09/504999255/episode-741-amy-and-steve-vs-facebook
Summary: When social media was beginning to explode in the mid 2000’s, Steve had an idea that would eliminate having to login into three different sites with different usernames and passwords. One problem: Facebook sued, causing a lengthy legal battle that impacts everyone. Planet Money investigates how Steve and a $55 per hour lawyer took on Facebook and their $1000 per hour lawyers.
Original Air Date: December 9, 2016
Length: 18 minutes 9 seconds
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