Summary: The Indicator’s first “Beigie” Award of the year (best entry into the Fed’s Beige book) goes to the Atlanta Fed! The Sixth District described that firms are reverting back to “just-in-time” inventory management from the “just-in-case” approach they were taking when facing uncertain supply chains. The accompanying numerical exercise links inventory with opportunity costs.
Summary: The bond market is “risky and frisky” and the inverted yield curve is flashing red! The Indicator chats with Campbell Harvey who suspects the yield curve may not be right this time or that “it is so right, that it may be wrong.” Students will visit FRED and examine whether Campbell Harvey’s suspicion is true…
On this episode from Planet Money, they discuss the events and people that led the creation of the Fed, relevant in 2022 in light of the pressure the Fed is facing in as inflation continues to rise. A quick guide to J.P. Morgan’ s influence and help with founding the Fed so big bailouts no longer had to fall on his pockets.
At the end of each semester students in Econ 1101 Principles of Microeconomics at Emmanuel College create their own podcast to demonstrate their ability to apply microeconomic concepts to their world and to use those terms, theories and tenets of micro to understand and evaluate the world around them. Each semester I pick a few of my favorites to post here on AudioEcon. Check out the ‘Podlearning: Student podcast‘ page to listen and learn for yourself. This semester’s star topics include vaccine externalities, the economics of food banks and food insecurity, and a bartender’s eye view of the elasticity of alcohol.
Econ educators, check out the Podlearning page for assignment descriptions and tips to implement student-created podcasts in your classes!
Norway, the United Kingdom, California and many other places worldwide plan to ban the sale of gasoline cars within the next 10-15 years. Economist Stephen P. Holland discusses the implications of a simple ban, and instead encourages policies that will incentivize car manufactures to decrease production of gas cars without devastating the economy.
Citation: Holland, Stephen P., Erin T. Mansur, and Andrew J. Yates. 2021. “The Electric Vehicle Transition and the Economics of Banning Gasoline Vehicles.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 13 (3): 316-44. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200120
Learn what inspired AudioEcon.com, hear how Dr. Rebecca Moryl uses Social Media to teach economics, and get some inspiration for the semester ahead. Dr. Abdullah Al Bahrani interviewed Dr. Moryl to kick off the second season of ‘Coffee with Dr. A.’ Check out the engaging conversation between two passionate economic educators.
Summary: Ever wonder what goods and services contributes significantly to a country’s economy? GDP is the basic measure that does just that and, in this podcast, the director general of Statistics Canada goes on a journey to determine the figures that represent marijuana’s contribution to Canada’s GDP to see the economic effects of marijuana legalization within the country.
Summary: “Move Fast and Break Things” is a newly released book about the monopolistic market structure of the internet. Marketplace interviews Jonathan Taplin, the author of the book, who is the tour manager for Bob Dylan. They discuss how the monopoly structure set up by the technology companies has ruined the communal nature of the internet. Also discussed is one silicon valley entrepreneur who left San Francisco for Minneapolis.
Summary: “Archer” debuted when the internet was taking off. Marketplace interviews the show’s technical director and actress about the role the internet plays in the success of the show. Marketplace also introduces Philadelphia’s reaction to Silicon Valley, and the recruitment of tech workers to the city.
Summary: Students in college can attest that credible sources needed for a research paper are often hard to find, especially the free ones. Marketplace introduces a new website that is the latest form of “hacktivism”, and is releasing research papers for free. Marketplace also introduces the competition between YouTube and Twitch.
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