20 Oct 2025
19m

#111 - The Price of Sleep

Podcast cover

The Matt Walker Podcast

Sleep's economic impact is the central focus, arguing that it's a high-yield asset, not a sacrificed commodity. Insufficient sleep costs the U.S. economy up to $411 billion annually, around 2.28% of the GDP, impacting productivity, healthcare, and safety. For example, employees sleeping less than six hours lose six working days of productivity each year, and drowsy driving causes 6,400 fatal crashes annually, costing $109 billion. Investing in sleep, like shifting school start times or providing sleep programs, yields significant economic returns, improving earnings and decision-making.

Outlines

Part 1: Economic Impact, Global Context

Part 2: Cognitive Risks, Health Costs

Part 3: Public Safety, Academic Performance

Part 4: Solutions, ROI, Future Outlook

Sign in to continue reading, translating and more.

Open full episode in Podwise