634. “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job”

In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, Stephen Dubner interviews Austan Goolsbee, President and CEO of the Chicago Federal Reserve, to discuss the U.S. economy, the Fed's role, and current economic policies. Goolsbee shares insights on the FOMC meetings, the Fed's dual mandate to maximize employment and stabilize prices, and the challenges posed by economic uncertainty, such as tariffs. He emphasizes the importance of Fed independence and the need to consider both hard data and real-world impacts when making monetary policy decisions. The conversation also touches on the potential effects of Trump's economic policies, the role of economic research, and the balance between data-driven analysis and consumer sentiment in shaping economic approaches.