Why the US chose not to have a passenger train system like Europe
Why can't the US be like Europe, Japan or India—countries that all have extensive passenger train systems? On today's show, why the US chose not to. We learn why, despite this, US railroads could stil...
1 Dec 20259min
Moochers, monopolists and market-based poverty help
Public sector economics is a fundamental piece of the discipline. So we wanted to give our hosts an opportunity to put their knowledge to the test in a game we’re calling Indicator Quizbowl. Today on ...
26 Nov 20259min
Who's financing Meta's massive AI data center?
In a rural pocket of northeastern Louisiana, Meta is building a $30 billion data center called Hyperion. But it’s not being completely financed with Meta’s own money. Today on the show, the opaque sys...
25 Nov 20259min
Who’s buying all the beef?
President Trump has said he’d try to get more Argentine beef into the U.S. So who would actually do the buying? That’s a general theme with a lot of these trade deals — big numbers but vague details. ...
24 Nov 20259min
Pay transparency. The WhatsApp and Instagram decision. Our beef with screwworms.
It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: the effects of pay transparency, Meta’s big win, and freaky flies and...
21 Nov 20259min
How to avoid scammers after a natural disaster
When people lose their homes to wildfire, hurricanes or flooding, they're eager to rebuild. But scammers are also ready to take advantage. On today’s show, the lucrative business of contractor fraud a...
19 Nov 20259min
Looking for love in the auto supply chain
Foreign automakers already have huge assembly plants in the U.S., but lots of parts and materials come from overseas. To avoid costly tariffs, they gotta buy American. But … How does one meet those su...
19 Nov 20258min
How to make switching jobs not terrifying
The U.S. labor market is stagnant right now, with little hiring and lots of people holding onto their jobs for dear life. In Denmark, there’s a different kind of labor system where it’s easy for emplo...
18 Nov 20259min
