Archive for the ‘NPR’ Tag
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/17/1087425495/tech-giants-and-tiny-dogs
Ramon van Meer’s niche business – making ramps for weiner dogs – boomed as he utilized tools from tech giants to help him grow his businesses. The Planet Money team discusses how these tech giants can help small businesses find their target audiences with marketing tools like Facebook ads. On the other hand they can also severely damage a business model by changing up an simple algorithm or rearranging their data. The volatility of these big tech firm decisions are cause for both growth and decline of such small businesses.
Original Air Date: March 18, 2022
Length: 21 minutes 43 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/07/1091489931/insuring-music-venues-during-a-pandemic
You own a business and a pandemic hits so you are forced to shut down, but what do you do when your source of income is terminated? This episode of the Indicator discusses the policies and arguments insurance companies make when it comes to settling in circumstances like the pandemic. They also talk with Summer Gerbing, a small music business owner, who touches upon the steps and actions business owners can take in order to be able to survive when it comes to unforeseen situations, such as a pandemic.
Original Air Date: April 7, 2022
Length: 9 minutes 37 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/25/1094706897/you-should-probably-get-your-plane-tickets-soon
The Indicator this week discusses what is happening in the airline industry. After hard hits from COVID-19 they are finally expecting to make profits this year, but there are many factors that could crush those expectations. Limited staffing and picketing from fatigued pilots and higher jet fuel prices due to the limited supply of oil are just some of the major problems facing these airline companies. Ticket prices will go up as consumers bear the brunt of the oil shortage. Airlines are also cutting different flight paths as there is not enough incentive to keep servicing certain routes. The biggest take away is to book your tickets early and be prepared for rising prices.
Original Air Date: April 25, 2022
Length: 10 minutes 17 seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/16/1056299014/of-boats-and-boxes
California Ports were not prepared for the consumer purchasing patterns shift from the pandemic. Instead of vacations, families were buying a new refrigerator or couch. This unpredictable increase in demand combined with the ports’ fragile system caused a supply chain issue that is still affecting America today.
Original Air Date: November 17, 2021
Length: 24 Minutes 55 Seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081948884/mexican-drug-cartels-are-getting-into-the-avocado-and-lime-business
On this episode of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, Scott Simon and Emily Green discuss the involvement and control that cartels have in the avocado and lime business in Mexico. Mexico exports about 80% of the US avocado supply and generates around $2.8 billion a year, giving cartels the incentive to get involved. They have been controlling farmers and sending threats to inspectors which caused the US to enforce a short-term ban of avocados from Mexico. With the entanglement of the cartels, you might have to start looking for a different alternative to put on your toast in the morning.
Original Air Date: February 19, 2022
Length: 5 minutes 4 seconds
Economists Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson discuss insurance and risk and how it is related to economics.
Original Air Date: August 26, 2020
Length: 27 Minutes 27 Seconds
Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/23/1030276615/planet-money-summer-school-5-bubbles-bikes-biases
Learn from Planet Money’s Summer School what causes financial bubbles with examples such as the dotcom bubble and the Great British bicycle bubble. Also, hear about how behavioral biases, greater fools theory, and herd behavior make bubbles much worse.
Original Air Date: August 25, 2021
Length: 29 Minutes 57 Seconds
Link: https://www.marketplace.org/2021/10/12/nobel-prize-economist-david-card-on-testing-econ-101-theories-in-the-real-world/
2021 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences recipient David Card used a natural experiment to challenge the Econ 101 concept that a higher minimum wage drives unemployment. Through his research, Card also discovered a way to possibly address issues like the gender wage gap and the wage gap between nonwhite and white workers.
Later in the segment, Card discusses his recognized research on how immigration does not reduce wages according to the Modern Growth Theory.
Original Air Date: October 12, 2021
Length: 10 minutes 48 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/2017/09/13/550607377/how-the-minimum-wage-affects-restaurant-hygiene
Summary: Cities across the U.S. have been making efforts to increase the minimum wage, which would impact restaurant workers. However, this move results to unexpected side effects due to the higher costs that restaurants will have to face, leading them to cut back on some services. This story discusses how the effects on increasing the minimum wage ties with the hygiene of restaurants and suggests potential steps that the restaurants can take to minimize their health violations.
Original Air Date: September 13, 2017
Length: 3 minutes 35 seconds
Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/04/04/business/why-can-t-small-businesses-find-qualified-employees
Summary: Small businesses are struggling to find qualified workers to fill vacant positions, especially in the manufacturing sector. The vacancies in these positions are forcing businesses to consider new hiring approaches that come at a high price for owners.
Original Air Date: April 8, 2016
Length: Article
audioecon 