Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/01/21/378851598/episode-597-were-short-america
Summary: The Planet Money team investigates the less popular side of the Stock Market called shorting. In this podcast the team examines the high-risk high-reward nature of shorting stocks while making an interesting bet of their own against America.
Original Air Date: January 22, 2015
Length: 20 minutes
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/04/383830776/episode-601-the-chocolate-curse
Summary: This podcast explores the shortage in supply of cocoa around the world, as well as one man’s solution to the crisis. However, this solution comes at a price.
Original Air Date: February 5, 2015
Length: 18 minutes 12 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/12/07/166747693/episode-421-the-birth-of-the-dollar-bill
Summary: At one point in U.S. history there was close to 8,000 different types of currency circulating. The Civil War became a bottleneck and forced innovation, thus creating one unified currency.
Original Air Date: December 7, 2012
Length: 10 minutes 37 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/13/386005044/episode-603-a-rose-on-any-other-day
The Planet Money Team investigates the logistics and risks that accompany the iconic Valentine’s Day flower, the rose. Additionally mentioned is cost of shipping and seasonal demand.
Original Air Date: February 13, 2015
Length: 17 minutes 37 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/special-shopping-day-overload
Summary: The number of shoppers on Black Friday was down this year (2014). Because of the ease in comparing prices online to find the best deal, Black Friday (and the whole weekend) has become a ritual team effort of mothers, daughters, and other relatives.
Original Air Date: December 1, 2014
Length: 1 minute 47 seconds
Discussion Question: Is the economy effecting how many people shop on the Black Friday weekend? Or is it something else that’s driving the number of shoppers down?
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/11/28/366793693/episode-586-how-stuff-gets-cheaper
Summary: The Planet Money team looks at how some things get cheaper over time. The podcast hosts visit a company called Monoprice, whose job it is to find out ways to make things cheaper–in other words, a lot of detective work.
Original Air Date: November 28, 2014
Length: 14 minutes 11 seconds
Prompt: Write a brief letter to Monoprice with your thoughts on their job. Is it efficient? Is it cost-productive?
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/11/07/362060876/episode-581-free-money
Summary: This podcast discusses arbitrage (free money), using the example of used textbooks. Arbitrage (free money) is a risk-free way to buy low and sell high. You can find one thing that’s selling for two different prices, and exploit the mistake.
Original Air Date: November 7, 2014
Length: 14 minutes 29 seconds
Prompt: Imagine you find an opportunity like the one discussed in the podcast. Write an outline of how you would go about this discovery, and what your plan of action would be.
Discussion Question: A woman in the podcast said their practice was immoral. Do you agree or disagree? Is what these two men are doing wrong? Use economic thinking in your discussion.
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/interstate-tax-break-battle
Summary: The Obama Administration has been cracking down on inversions–where companies avoid US taxes by getting a foreign address. Now, it is being taken down to a state level, as states hand out tax breaks to try to increase business and get out of the Great Recession.
Original Air Date: September 24, 2014
Length: 2 minutes 27 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/wealth-poverty/how-tough-economy-changes-young-peoples-lives
Summary: Many people are still feeling the after-effects of the Great Recession, especially young adults. Young adults still have a higher than average unemployment rate, and are not hitting traditional milestones–such as living alone, starting careers, buying their first home–and have been described as a generation that has “failed to launch” due to the poor economy. Everything that is happening to this generation is happening later in life as they work to launch themselves as independent, self-supporting adults in the harsh economic environment.
Original Air Date: September 16, 2014
Length: 4 minutes 36 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/made-italy-may-not-mean-what-you-think
Summary: The Country of Origin label is a powerful element on upscale brands. Italians consider it a national economic resource, but the stamp can’t always be believed. US laws say the “last substantial transformation” must be in the country of origin, and tracking manufacturing is difficult at best.
Original Air Date: September 24, 2014
Length: 3 minutes 55 seconds
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