The federal government has been tracking the weather for more than 150 years. Yet over the last few decades, the rise of the Internet and big tech have made weather forecasting a more crowded space. Today on the show: the value of an accurate forecast and the debate over who should control the data. Related stories: Hazard maps: The curse of knowledge ( Apple / Spotify ) Should we invest more in weather forecasting? After a year of deadly weather, cities look to private forecasters to save lives...
Nov 11, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's ... Indicators of the Week! It's that time of week when we look at the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: Election aftermath. Stocks jump, the temperamental Mexican peso, and which states are raising minimum wage. Related Episodes: Should We Raise The Minimum Wage? America's economy is the envy of the world. Will it stay that way? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Nov 08, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, a powerful hurricane hit Cuba, causing nationwide electricity outages — right after a string of power failures that have plagued the country in recent months. These power outages are a low point for a country that has struggled economically for years and is experiencing mass emigration. Today on the show, we explain why Cuba is struggling to keep the lights on and investigate the root causes of the Caribbean nation's dramatic fall. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Plane...
Nov 07, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump's victory in this year's election had a lot to do with how many Americans feel about the US economy (surprise: not good). But Simon Rabinovitch, US Economics Editor for The Economist, argues that, despite the turmoil of the past few years, America's economy remains the envy of the world. Today on the show, Simon explains why that is, but also why he believes a Trump presidency puts America's 'economic exceptionalism' at risk. The envy of the World - The Economist Related episodes: H...
Nov 06, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's the most important day of the year for the country ... The Beigie Awards! The Beigie Awards are back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. This time, we shine a spotlight on one entry that speaks to a logistics problem affecting farms in the midwest. Related episodes: Using anecdotes to predict recessions ( Apple / Spotify ) The Beigie Awards: Why banks are going on a "loan diet" ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Pla...
Nov 05, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the second year in a row, the U.S. government is buying the largest quantity of apples in its history because there are not enough consumers and processors who want to buy them. Today on the show, an abundance of apples and why some apple growers are getting out of the game altogether. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music by Drop Electric . Find us: TikTok , Instagram , Facebook , Newsletter . L...
Nov 04, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1% and 12,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy during October. It's a lower-than-expected jobs number, from a period that saw two significant hurricanes in the southeast and a strike from workers at Boeing. Today on the show, we explain the complexities of calculating the monthly job numbers, and why the Bureau of Labor Statistics can be trusted. Related episodes: Behind the scenes of Jobs Friday ( Apple / Spot...
Nov 01, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 1880, the Chinese were the biggest group of immigrants in the western U.S. But Sinophobic sentiments crystallized into racist policies and eventually the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The rationale was that banning Chinese laborers would boost job opportunities for U.S.-born workers. Today, an economist explains how the Chinese exclusion laws affected the economies of western states and what it says about our current debate over immigration and jobs. Read the working paper co-authored by Nan...
Oct 31, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Immigration is a top concern among U.S. voters this election cycle. But Zeke Hernandez , a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies immigration,thinks politicians and the media aren't giving the public the full story. Too often, he argues, they paint immigrants as objects of pity or fear, when the reality is much more complex — and positive. Today on the show, we look beyond the binary and explore the less talked about ways documented and undocumented immigrants shape the U.S. eco...
Oct 30, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Social Security has thus far been self-sustaining—payroll taxes go into this big fund, which then pays out monthly checks. But the problem we have now is the money coming into that fund is not keeping up with the money going out. The election hasn't been great for people concerned about the government's finances. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Donald Trump's election proposals will speed up the rundown in the Social Security fund by a few years. So, when Social Sec...
Oct 29, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Maldives is a small island nation struggling with a heavy debt load. Its borrowing includes $500 million worth of something called sukuk. These are bond-like investments that don't pay interest, to be in line with Islamic law. Today on the show, we explain how sukuk works, how it fits into the larger world of Islamic finance and what might happen if the Maldives can't pay back its debt. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcast...
Oct 28, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast We ask economists for their expertise all the time on The Indicator, so why not their tips on love? On our final installment of Love Week , we ask economist Tim Harford to answer listeners' relationship quandaries, from paying for a first date to alternatives to saying, 'I love you.' Thanks to Grant-Lee Phillps for composing our Love Week theme song and Kaitlin Brito for artwork. Related episodes: Trying to fix the dating app backlash ( Apple / Spotify ) How American heiresses became Dollar Prin...
Oct 25, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Unanswered messages. Endless swiping. An opaque algorithm. The backlash to online dating feels like it's reached a fever pitch recently. For today's Love Week episode, why people are unhappy with online dating and what Hinge's CEO is trying to do about it. Also, a Nobel Prize economist delivers a little tough love. Related listening: How American heiresses became Dollar Princesses ( Apple / Spotify ) Why the publishing industry is hot (and bothered) for romance ( Apple / Spotify ) It's Love Week...
Oct 24, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the late 19th century, British aristocrats had a big problem. They were short on cash to fund their lifestyles and maintain their vast country estates. In our third installment of Love Week, we look at the economic forces that drove some British men of the time to marry American heiresses, dubbed "Dollar Princesses," forming a union of money, status and, sometimes, love. For more on Dollar Princesses, Mark Taylor's research paper is published here . Kristen Richardson's book is called The Sea...
Oct 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Once relegated to supermarket aisles, romance books are now mainstream. And authors, an often-maligned group within publishing, have found greater commercial success than many writers in other genres. On today's episode of Love Week , our series on the business of romance, we find out how romance novelists rode the e-book wave and networked with each other to achieve their happily-for-now status in the industry. Read more by Christine Larson , Priscilla Oliveras and Natalie Caña . Thanks to Gran...
Oct 22, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to Love Week on the Indicator, our weeklong series exploring the business and economic side of romance. On today's show, we fire up the gas logs and pour a mug of cocoa to discuss the made-for-TV rom-com machine, and how television executives learned to mass produce seasonal romance. Special thanks to Grant-Lee Phillips for our Love Week theme song and Kaitlin Brito for episode artwork. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Pod...
Oct 21, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's ... Indicators of the Week! It's that time of week where we look at the most intriguing indicators from this last week of economic and business news. On today's episode: NHPR's Nate Hegyi , host of the podcast Outside/In , joins us to talk natural disaster loans, election prediction markets and ... potato chips? Related Episodes: What's with all the tiny soda cans? And other grocery store mysteries, solved. A market to bet on the future For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet...
Oct 18, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast When the leader of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin died in an exploding plane widely attributed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, it wasn't clear what would happen. Today, why the Wagner Group has been called the world's most dangerous private army, its relationship with Russia and how its business model creates a blueprint for others to follow. Related episodes: Not your typical army: how the Wagner Group operates ( Apple / Spotify ) How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions ( ...
Oct 17, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two years ago, the yield curve inverted. That means short-term interest rates on Treasury bonds were unusually higher than long-term interest rates. When that's happened in the past, a recession has come. In fact, the inverted yield curve has predicted every recession since 1969 ... until now. Today, are we saying goodbye to the inverted yield curve's flawless record? Related episodes: The inverted yield curve is screaming RECESSION ( Apple / Spotify ) Yield curve jitters Two Yield Curve Indicat...
Oct 16, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast This year's Economics Nobel went to a trio of researchers whose work focuses on the importance of strong institutions for an economy. Today we hear from the newly minted Nobel laureates about how they came to their groundbreaking conclusions. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music by Drop Electric . Find us: TikTok , Instagram , Facebook , Newsletter . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcast...
Oct 15, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's ... Indicators of the Week! It's that time of week when we look at the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: Inflation slowly coming down, getting the lead out of water pipes, and a more expensive Mega Millions. Related Episodes: Lotteries And Happiness Indicator exploder: jobs and inflation For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music by Drop Electric . Find us: TikTok ,...
Oct 11, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The problem of how to price water is a perennial conundrum. Water is an essential limited resource that everyone needs, so how do you price it so everyone can afford it while making sure that utilities have enough revenue to fix their aging systems? Today on the show, we find out why it's so hard to price water and how a city's solution led to a threat to cut off thousands of residents from a popular welfare program. You can read more about the fight over water prices here . For sponsor-free epi...
Oct 10, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you need some reading glasses in the United States, you don't have to break the bank to pick some up. That's important for older folks who need a little extra magnification. But in some parts of the world, people who need readers don't have that privilege. Today on the show, we'll find out why that is and learn the economic solution to the reading glasses shortage. Related episodes: Two indicators: supply chain solutions ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Plan...
Oct 09, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is 2024 the year the music festival died? Festivals are getting canceled left and right, from Northern California to Florida to Virginia. Big name festivals that used to sell out in minutes struggled to sell tickets this year, too, like Burning Man and Coachella. And it's not just America. By one count, over 60 music festivals were canceled in the UK this year alone. In Australia, so many festivals were canceled that one newspaper there recently asked, are the nation's music festivals extinct? T...
Oct 08, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. economy is breathing a little easier after the International Longshoremen's Association reached a tentative agreement last week with the United States Maritime Alliance. The short-lived dockworkers strike reignited a debate over whether the president ought to intervene, invoking an old law on the books called the Taft-Hartley Act. On today's show, we explain what the Taft-Hartley Act is, why it was created and why it's still scorned by unions. Related episodes: What the data reveal abou...
Oct 07, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's Jobs Friday! It's that time of the month where we check in on the American worker. In September, 254,000 jobs were added to the US economy and the unemployment rate ticked down very slightly to 4.1%. It's unexpectedly strong, and relieving news for workers after a pretty lackluster summer. But ... given how the labor market cooled over summer, is the labor market still on thin ice? And if there were to be a plummet in jobs, could anything be done to speed up the recovery? Today on the show:...
Oct 04, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Germany, döner kebabs are more than just an affordable, satisfying street food. They're a symbol of Turkey's culinary influence in the country. Today on the show, how an effort to give döner kebabs a protected status under a little-known EU regulation could dish out some real economic consequences, in Germany and beyond. Special thanks to Sidney Gennies, Sönke Matschurek, and Maren Möhring. Related episodes: Cheese wars Coca Cola vs. Coca Pola ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of ...
Oct 03, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast TikTok could begin shutting down in the U.S. as soon as January 19 of next year. But the app is not going down without a fight. The company is asking a panel of federal judges to block the law in a high-profile case that pits free speech versus national security. Today on the show, how TikTok got to this point and what we can expect from the app's last ditch effort to stay alive in the U.S. Related episodes: Tick tock for TikTok? ( Apple / Spotify ) Is Project Texas enough to save TikTok? ( Appl...
Oct 02, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sovereign wealth funds have been around since the 1800s, but they're having a bit of a moment right now ... The financial instrument was recently name-dropped in HBOs 'Industry' (good show!) and members of both the Biden administration and the Trump campaign have floated the idea of an American sovereign wealth fund. That idea, for the most part, has been derided by economists. But... is an American sovereign wealth fund such a bad idea? On today's show: What IS a sovereign wealth fund? Is a US ...
Oct 01, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sovereign wealth funds have been around since the 1800s, but they're having a bit of a moment right now ... The financial instrument was recently name-dropped in HBOs 'Industry' (good show!) and members of both the Biden administration and the Trump campaign have floated the idea of an American sovereign wealth fund. That idea, for the most part, has been derided by economists. But... is an American sovereign wealth fund such a bad idea? On today's show: What IS a sovereign wealth fund? Is a US ...
Oct 01, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
