Archive for the ‘monetary policy’ Tag
Link: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2020/03/03/what-can-governments-and-central-banks-do-to-protect-the-world-economy-in-the-face-of-covid-19
Central banks have cut interest rates in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Typically when something like this happens, interest rates rise and inflation occurs, but right now the exact opposite is happening. Sectors of the economy that are taking the hardest hit include tourism, cross boarder commerce, and oil.
Original Air Date: March 3, 2020
Length: 18 minutes 39 seconds
Discussion Prompt: How does this outbreak alter consumer expectations, and inevitably, their spending habits?
Discussion Prompt: What role, if any, does the government play in stabilizing the markets in instances such as this?
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?
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/10/23/451228005/episode-659-how-to-make-3-trillion-disappear
Summary: The Planet Money team discusses the end of quantitative easing – how it works and how it is coming to an end. A particular focus is how this process will impact commercial banks and their clients.
Original Air Date: October 26, 2015
Length: 15 minutes 25 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/07/08/421228146/episode-637-the-last-euro-in-greece
Summary: The Planet Money team discusses the role the banks played in the Greek debt crisis and how it affected the Greek people.
Original Air Date: July 8, 2015
Length: 13 minutes 38 seconds
Link: 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.
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/stock-market-has-been-and-always-will-be-volatile
Summary: Many people are worried about the stock markets, especially with everything going on in the world (Germany’s bad news, Ebola, etc). However, the stock market is a volatile place–and, according to Quincy Crosby, a financial market strategist at Prudential Financial, it’s meant to be that way.
Original Air Date: October 10, 2014
Length: 2 minutes 11 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/12/20/255839292/episode-505-a-locked-door-a-secret-meeting-and-the-birth-of-the-fed
Summary: An historical retelling of the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank
Original Air Date: December 20, 2013
Length: 15 min
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/09/21/140643696/operation-twist-explained-in-4-easy-steps
Summary: How does the Fed lower interest rates? This podcast gives a quick, four step process on how the Fed can lower interest rates in order to combat unemployment.
Original Air Date: September 21, 2011
Length: 4 min
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