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NPR · Business

Planet Money

Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At Planet Money , we explore the forces that shape our lives and bring you along for the ride. Don't just understand the economy – understand the world. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Planet Money.

Episodes

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The two companies driving the modern economy

03 Jul 2024
20m
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This podcast episode explores the history and impact of NVIDIA and the unlikely origin story of Taiwan's advanced chip making industry through the lives of Jensen Huang and Morris Chang. It highlights how NVIDIA's early focus on AI and machine learning, coupled with their CUDA software development framework, positioned...

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Do immigrants really take jobs and lower wages?

29 Jun 2024
25m
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This podcast episode explores the economic impact of the Mariel Boatlift in Miami and the subsequent research conducted by economists David Card and George Borjas. Card's study challenged the assumption that immigration reduces wages and increases unemployment, revealing the complex nature of the labor market. Borjas' ...

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The Carriage Tax (Update)

26 Jun 2024
18m
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This podcast episode explores the historical connection between a tax on horse-drawn carriages implemented by George Washington and the current discussion around a wealth tax. The debates on the constitutionality of different types of taxes, including the carriage tax, shed light on the implications for modern wealth t...

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The Vapes of Wrath

21 Jun 2024
27m
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This podcast episode explores the rise of Juul, a popular e-cigarette brand, and its impact on the teenage vaping epidemic. It discusses the prevalence of vaping among high school students, the regulatory system surrounding e-cigarettes, and the controversy surrounding Juul's flavored e-cigarettes. The podcast also hig...

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Why is everyone talking about Musk's money?

19 Jun 2024
28m
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This podcast episode explores the remarkable corporate story unfolding at Tesla, focusing on Elon Musk's high-risk, high-reward CEO stock options plan. The plan, worth as much as $56 billion, required Musk to meet 12 challenging benchmarks to align his interests with the company's success and ensure his hyper-focus. De...

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What's with all the tiny soda cans? And other grocery store mysteries, solved.

14 Jun 2024
24m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of price pack architecture and how it influences consumer behavior and buying habits. It highlights the use of different package sizes by companies, particularly focusing on the success of Coca-Cola in diversifying its package sizes to target different customer segments. The ep...

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Bringing a tariff to a graphite fight

12 Jun 2024
25m
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This podcast episode explores the challenges and potential of building up the battery industry in the United States, specifically focusing on the role of graphite processing. It discusses the Biden administration's strategy to reduce reliance on China and highlights the need for developing a domestic supply chain. The ...

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How much national debt is too much?

07 Jun 2024
26m
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This podcast episode explores the relationship between national debt and the economy, with a particular focus on the debates surrounding the significance of high levels of debt on economic growth. The conversation delves into the paper "Growth in a Time of Debt" by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, which introduced t...

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The history of light (classic)

05 Jun 2024
21m
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This podcast episode explores the history and evolution of artificial light, highlighting the significant advancements that have improved living conditions and enabled diverse professions. From the use of dim cow fat candles to the emergence of kerosene and electric lighting, the story of light showcases the impact on ...

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How the FBI's fake cell phone company put criminals into real jail cells

31 May 2024
23m
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This podcast episode explores the FBI's involvement in the encrypted phone industry and their creation of Anom, an encrypted phone company designed for surveillance purposes. The episode discusses the challenges of decrypting messages and the unconventional solutions proposed to access criminal information. It also hig...

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So you've been scammed, now what?

29 May 2024
27m
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This podcast episode delves into Frances' personal experience as a victim of online fraud and her relentless pursuit to recover her stolen money. It sheds light on the complexities of online fraud, the challenges faced by victims and law enforcement agencies, and the limitations of current banking laws. Frances' determ...

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The junkyard economist

24 May 2024
25m
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This podcast episode follows Jon's unconventional path from college for poetry to becoming obsessed with garbage and his artistic endeavors with trash. It explores his experience in the recycling industry, including selling tires, recycling ferrous metal, and discovering the value of various materials. The episode disc...

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Anatomy of a layoff

22 May 2024
27m
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This podcast episode explores the impact of layoffs on employees, focusing on the emotional turmoil and uncertain aftermath. It follows the experiences of two individuals, V and H, who share their stories of sudden dismissal and the lasting effects it had on their lives. The episode delves into the deficiencies in HR p...

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The hack that almost broke the internet

17 May 2024
25m
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This podcast episode explores the evolution of modern software development, focusing on the collaborative nature of open source software. It discusses the origins of open source and how corporations and unpaid volunteers work together to write the software that powers the internet. The episode highlights the benefits a...

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Why Gold? (Classic)

15 May 2024
18m
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This podcast episode explores the historical significance of gold as a valuable asset and currency. It delves into the practical uses of gold, such as jewelry and electronics, while also discussing its cultural significance in India. The episode analyzes the criteria for selecting elements as currency, highlighting the...

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Zombie mortgages are coming back to life

10 May 2024
30m
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This podcast episode discusses the distressing phenomenon of zombie mortgages, where old debts resurface years later, causing financial distress and threatening foreclosure. The episode follows Karen's case, highlighting the challenges faced by homeowners in dealing with fraudulent calls, threats of foreclosure, and th...

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Inside video game economics (Two Indicators)

08 May 2024
18m
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This podcast episode explores the issues of unpaid work and unfavorable conditions in the video game industry, often referred to as the "passion tax." It discusses the economic factors that contribute to this culture, such as the availability of a large labor reserve and the constraints of the Iron Triangle of project ...

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The birth of the modern consumer movement

03 May 2024
20m
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This podcast episode explores the birth of the modern consumer advocacy movement, sparked by Ralph Nader's book "Unsafe at Any Speed" which shed light on the lack of safety features in cars and raised questions about government regulation in markets. The episode highlights Nader's dedication, the impact of his book in ...

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Hire Power (Update)

01 May 2024
22m
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This podcast episode explores the prevalence and impact of noncompete agreements in the U.S. It delves into the historical origins of these agreements, the varying rules and enforcement across states, and the efforts of individuals like Jeff to change the law. The episode also highlights the spread of noncompete clause...

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The case of the stolen masks

26 Apr 2024
18m
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This podcast episode explores Erin's journey to uncover a smuggling network responsible for stealing and trafficking cultural artifacts. Determined to not only return the stolen Bhairav mask but also dismantle the operation, Erin collaborates with Lost Arts of Nepal to gather evidence and build a case against the smugg...

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