In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the focus is on the surprising global shortage of reading glasses, even though they are inexpensive in the United States. It reveals a staggering fact: around 510 million people worldwide lack access to these crucial aids, which results in an estimated annual economic loss of $410 billion. The podcast discusses how Restoring Vision is addressing this challenge by generating demand through vision screenings and establishing supply chains. They collaborate with local organizations and employers to enhance accessibility. The episode wraps up by highlighting a successful initiative in Nigeria, illustrating how providing reading glasses can boost productivity and improve lives, reinforcing that this complex problem is indeed solvable.
