Archive for the ‘international economics’ Tag

Women in Economics: Carmen Reinhart   Leave a comment

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

Educated Workers and America’s Competitiveness   Leave a comment

Link: https://www.stlouisfed.org/timely-topics/educated-workers-and-americas-competitiveness

The United States used to lead the world in their percentage of college graduates. Today, the U.S is lagging behind countries like Japan and South Korea. Dr. Monge-Naranjo from the Federal Reserve Bank discusses how this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and how the United States can benefit from the ideas and technologies being produced elsewhere.

Original Air Date: August 31 2020

Length: 3 minutes 13 seconds

Discussion Prompt: What other ways can this idea benefit the United States? What ways could this be harmful to the United States? Is there any significance or advantage to being “number 1” in terms of college educated workers?

Fixing the World, Bang-For-The-Buck Edition: A New Freakonomics Radio Podcast   Leave a comment

Fixing-the-World-300x200Link: http://freakonomics.com/2014/10/02/fixing-the-world-bang-for-the-buck-edition-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Summary: Return on Investment (ROI) analyzes at the most efficient way to spend money. An example given is the difference between curing malaria and HIV/AIDS. To cure malaria, it would cost about $1,000 per person, while it would cost ten times that to cure HIV/AIDS, and it is decided that they would rather save 10 people from malaria before they save one from HIV/AIDS.  The United Nations, with their Millennium Development Goals coming to a close, will be looking to set new goals in 2015, to be completed by 2030. One of the issued they will focus on is how they are setting goals, and how to be more efficient with the help of the Return on Investment analysis.

Original Air Date: October 2, 2014

Length: 43 minutes 34 seconds

Prompt / Discussion: You are a member of the United Nations, and are put in charge of coming up with new development goals for 2015. You have $100 billion to invest in various development aid. Discuss how you would prioritize between an important, expensive goal (such as getting all kids into school, which was one of the Millennium Development Goals), and something that might not be seen as highly important, but cost effective.