Archive for the ‘NPR’ Tag
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/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.marketplace.org/topics/your-money/get-rich-giving-lattes-not-so-fast
Summary: There’s a theory in the personal finance industry known as the Latte Factor, which says give up the coffee drink and invest the money instead, and you’ll have enough to retire on. However, that theory doesn’t factor into the equation inflation and taxes, and is now being proven wrong.
Original Air Date: October 10, 2014
Length: 2 minutes 19 seconds
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/26/343403757/high-prices-arent-scaring-consumers-away-from-the-meat-counter
Summary: A discussion of the factors impacting supply and demand of pork. Includes consideration of behavior of retailers and consumers in respond to changes in the market. Considers influences and impacts of related goods.
Original Air Date: August 26, 2014
Length: 4 minutes 22 seconds
Discussion Prompt: In this podcast, what factors are driving the increase in the price of meat? How does this relate to supply/demand factors that we are studying? Can you give two specific examples of other factors of demand or supply that might impact the price of meat? For each example, name the ‘factor of demand/supply’ and give a specific example.
Follow-up Prompt: Review the posts of your peers, comment on the accuracy of their suggestions and try to add more examples and expand on their ideas.
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/12/200906903/will-a-health-insurer-sponsor-the-next-jackass-movie
Summary: As the health insurance market prepares for the changes brought about by implementation of Affordable Care Act, this podcast considers how insurance companies might begin to target their new consumers. Considers marketing and branding strategies as well as how insurers might think about using incentive schemes to retain customers.
Length: 4:04 min
Original air date: July 12, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/05/198504001/why-doesnt-everybody-buy-cheap-generic-headache-medicine
Summary: A consideration of consumers’ tendency to purchase more expensive name brands rather than identical generics. Includes discussion of education as a contributing factor to likelihood to purchase generics. Includes one consumer’s belief that there is rational ignorance in his decision to just buy the brand name.
Length: 4:29 min
Original air date: July 4, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/17/203032386/the-ask-your-uncle-approach-to-economics
Summary: An exploration of one issue of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book by focusing on some of the featured stories in the issue.
Length: 3:51 min
Original air date: July 17, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/08/02/208078183/four-reasons-why-millions-of-americans-are-leaving-the-workforce
Summary: An exploration of both the reasons that workers are leaving the workforce and how the U.S. Labor Department includes such workers (or not) in the unemployment rate.
Length: 4:16 min
Original air date: August 2, 2013
Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/07/09/199048226/how-to-spend-442-on-a-15-minute-cab-ride
Summary: New York City is implementing new regulations on pricing in the pedi-cab market. Includes interview of pedi-cab drivers who are for and against this new regulation, as well as some of the challenges of regulating the industry.
Length: 3:51 min
Original air date: July 5, 2013
Link: http://www.wbur.org/npr/207858449/for-ethiopian-women-construction-jobs-offer-a-better-life
Summary: Discusses the impacts on women and on various markets in Ethiopia as women enter the construction industry. Example of gender pay gap.
Length: 7:49 min
Original air date: August 7, 2013
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