A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money , The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. Sign up for our newsletter . Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes for Planet Money and sponsor-free listening for The Indicator.
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the high rate of health insurance plan changes ("churn") among Americans. The high churn rate is attributed to the fragmented and complex US healthcare system, with insurance obtained through various sources like employers, marketplaces, Medicaid, and Medicare....
This NPR podcast episode, "The Beigey Awards," is a humorous awards show celebrating the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, a report on economic conditions. The hosts, Robert Smith and Waylon Wong, award prizes for the most interesting anecdotes from the report, including one about the decline of pajamas at job fairs ("The...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses two proposed tax policies within the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The first is a 3.5% tax on remittances sent by non-citizens abroad, aiming to recoup funds from unauthorized immigrants, though its exact application remains unclear. Experts debate the potenti...
This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money explores the history of the American Medical Association's (AMA) opposition to single-payer healthcare. The hosts interview an economist and physician who details how doctors, fearing loss of income and control, successfully lobbied against government-sponsored health in...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the unexpected rise in labor productivity growth in the U.S. Host Adrian Ma interviews Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, exploring the mystery behind this increase. Goolsbee presents four potential explanations: increased work-...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode explores the parallels between the Gilded Age (late 19th century) and the current economic climate. The hosts interview two Gilded Age historians, Edward T. O’Donnell and Rebecca Edwards, to discuss the rapid economic growth, technological advancements, wealth inequality...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode interviews Adam Smith, a climatologist, about the retirement of NOAA's Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Database, which he spearheaded. The database, launched in 1980 and significantly expanded under Smith's leadership, tracked the economic impact of billion-...
This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money explores the complexities of estate planning, highlighting that a disproportionate amount of focus is placed on assets rather than family relationships, which often leads to conflict. The podcast shares that $124 trillion is expected to be passed down over the next quarte...
This NPR Indicator podcast episode explores the paradox of Gen Z's financial anxiety despite their relatively high income compared to previous generations. The episode features an interview with neuroscientist Tali Sharratt, who attributes this phenomenon to "money dysmorphia," a term describing the disconnect between...
The Indicator from Planet Money podcast discusses three economic indicators. Adrian Ma reports on General Motors' $888 million investment in V-8 engines, a shift from their previous focus on electric vehicles, potentially influenced by slowing EV sales and political changes. Waylon Wong details the proposed acquisitio...
This Planet Money Indicator podcast episode uses a game show format ("Deal or No Deal") to analyze the nature of recent trade deals announced by the Trump administration. A former U.S. trade negotiator, Wendy Cutler, assesses two deals (with the UK and China) based on three criteria: detailed commitments, dispute set...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode explores the economic rationale behind the exorbitant salaries of college football coaches. The discussion features interviews with the University of Alabama's athletic director, Greg Byrne, who defends the high salaries based on the football program's profitability and ...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the high cost of housing in the US, particularly in major cities. The interview features journalist Derek Thompson, co-author of "Abundance," who argues that restrictive zoning laws, excessive community input requirements ("nimbyism"), and overly burdensome reg...
This podcast excerpt from CBC's "Understood" features Cory Doctorow interviewing Steven Levy, author of a book on Google, and Clive Thompson about the history of search engines. The discussion begins with early, inefficient search engines and their reliance on keyword stuffing. It then transitions to Google's revolut...
In this episode of The Indicator from Planet Money, Waylon Wong, Adrian Ma, and Sarah Gonzalez discuss three economic indicators of the week. Sarah's indicator is $99 million, representing Klarna's losses due to customers not paying their "buy now, pay later" loans, highlighting potential consumer financial strain. Adr...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode investigates the legality and financial implications of the "Trump coin," a cryptocurrency venture associated with former President Donald Trump. The episode details the coin's mechanics, its profitability (over $300 million in initial sales and potential for billions mo...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the impact of the threat of tariffs on the American auto industry in the 1980s. The co-hosts explain how the energy crisis and subsequent rise in gas prices created an opening for fuel-efficient Japanese cars, leading to American resentment and threats of tarif...
This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money addresses listener questions on various economic topics. Listeners inquire about the discrepancy between falling oil prices and rising gas prices, the rapid expansion of airport lounges offered through credit card reward programs, and the effectiveness of Canada's carbon...
This episode explores the complexities of negotiation, drawing on economist Daryl Fairweather's personal experiences and insights from her book, "Hate the Game, Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love and Work." Fairweather recounts her initial attempt to negotiate a raise, which ended unsuccessfully due to a poorly under...
This episode explores several key economic indicators from the week, focusing on the impact of President Trump's tariff announcements. Against the backdrop of market uncertainty, foreign investors made a record purchase of Japanese assets, totaling 8.2 trillion yen, highlighting a shift away from US Treasuries. More s...
Follow this podcast in Podwise
Sign in to get AI summaries, transcripts and mind maps for any episode, including new ones.
