03/16/22, The Indicator (08:09)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/16/1087086300/how-mortgage-rates-get-made
Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: The Fed raised interest rates by 25bp yesterday. How does that affect you? This episode aired almost exactly year ago– when the Fed was just embarking on its rate hikes– delves into the implications for mortgage rates. The accompanying teaching idea prompts students to put themselves in the shoes of a homebuyer.
3/14/23, The Indicator (9:30)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/14/1163486839/the-feds-new-dilemma-protect-banks-or-fight-inflation
Summary: February inflation numbers are out and the bottom line is that inflation remains stubbornly high. However, the Fed’s job, laser focused on price stability till now, gets complicated in the aftermath of the SVB collapse. Today’s exercise asks students to debate whether the Fed should pause interest rate hikes as it weighs the tradeoffs between fighting inflation and stressing bank balance sheets.
1/12/23, The Indicator (9:29)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148895861/jobs-vs-prices-the-feds-dueling-mandates
Summary: As the Federal Reserve targets higher interest rates to stabilize prices, they also want to keep unemployment low. The Indicator speaks with a Fed President about this dual mandate– its history, the trade-offs it involves and how it makes sense.
During World War II, when inflation was very high, the United States government took many different actions to fight it including implementing an income tax, rationing, and price ceilings. Today we have the Federal Reserve which means we will hopefully not have to resort to these drastic measures to fix inflation ever again.
Original Air Date: February 8, 2022
Length: 23 Minutes 24 Seconds
Amazon is beginning its own telemedicine system this summer, allowing participating companies to see a nurse or doctor remotely. This marks a shift in the healthcare industry, as it is predicted that close to 60% of doctor’s visits will be done remotely following the Covid-19 pandemic.
This podcast also discusses The Federal Reserve Bank’s decision to keep interest rates low, fewer numbers of students filing for federal student aid, and remote work in the automobile industry.
Original Air Date: March 18, 2021
Length: 9 minutes and 7 seconds
Link: https://www.stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/women-in-economics/carmen-reinhart
Carmen Reinhart, a professor of the International Financial Systems at Harvard Kennedy School discusses her life and economic experiences with Maria Hasenstab, senior media relations specialist at the St. Louis Fed. They cover a variety of topics from Reinhart’s childhood move from Cuba to the U.S., the male-dominated field of economics and how that impacts women, and how she analyzes economics almost like a detective would. As we continue through International Women’s Month, she leaves a motto for any women in the economic field: perseverance and consistency.
Original Air Date: July 17, 2019
Length: 17 minutes and 31 seconds
Link: https://www.stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/women-in-economics/lael-brainard
Lael Brainard, who is a member of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve, discusses the reasons why she pursued a career in economics. She discusses her time living in different countries and her interest in the reasons different economic systems alter individuals’ opportunities and wellbeing. She also discusses the necessity for more diversity in terms of race and gender in the field to ensure different perspectives are accounted for.
Original Air Date: November 14 2018
Length: 16 minutes
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/26/821787090/episode-985-where-do-we-get-2-000-000-000-000
In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the U.S. government is pushing out a $2 trillion stimulus package. The Fed is also purchasing large quantities of U.S. Treasury bonds in order to stimulate the economy. This podcast discusses where this stimulus is coming from, and how it will effect the economy.
Original Air Date: March 26, 2020
Length: 20 minutes 29 seconds
Discussion Prompt: Why is demand for U.S. Treasury bonds so high right now? Will the stimulus package be enough to keep the economy safe from a recession?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818583204/episode-982-how-to-save-the-economy-now
Neel Kashkari from the Federal Reserve bank discusses his optimism about the future of the economy. He believes the Federal Reserve has learned from its mistakes during the 2008 crisis, and is now better equipped to react. The Fed is emergency lending in order to combat the effects of this economic uncertainty.
Original Air Date: March 20, 2020
Length: 13 minutes 43 seconds
Discussion Prompt: How is the current situation similar to the 2008 financial crisis? Should the Federal Reserve bail out banks and businesses during times like these?
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/16/816684372/episode-980-the-fed-fights-the-virus
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve has lowered its interest rates to 0%. The Fed has been practicing quantitative easing in order to ensure individuals can sell Treasury bonds whenever they need to. Planet Money discusses whether this will be enough to prevent a recession from occurring.
Original Air Date: March 16, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 17 seconds
Written Assignment Prompt: Pretend you are the chair of the Federal Reserve. How would you deal with the Covid-19 pandemic to help prevent a coming recession? How would you adjust interest rates or the money supply during this time?
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