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Planet Money
Planet Money
NPR

Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At Planet Money, we explore... more

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Episodes

The trouble with Table 101 (Update)

(Note: This episode originally ran in 2020.)In the restaurant game, you need to make the most of every table every... more

27 Mar 2024 · 24 minutes
What is Temu?

It is rare that a new e-commerce company has such a meteoric rise as Temu. The company, which launched in... more

22 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
How Big Steel in the U.S. fell

Steel manufacturing was at one point the most important industry in the United States. It was one of the biggest... more

20 Mar 2024 · 22 minutes
The billion dollar war behind U.S. rum

When you buy a bottle of rum in the United States, by law nearly all the federal taxes on that... more

15 Mar 2024 · 23 minutes
Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

The wind power business is a bit contradictory right now. It's showing signs of boom and bust seemingly all at... more

13 Mar 2024 · 16 minutes
On the Oscars campaign trail

When you sit down to watch the Oscars, what you are really watching is the final battle in a months-long... more

08 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Is dynamic pricing coming to a supermarket near you?

Dynamic pricing is an increasingly common phenomenon: You can see it when Uber prices surge during rainy weather, or when... more

06 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Shopping for parental benefits around the world

It is so expensive to have a kid in the United States. The U.S. is one of just a handful... more

01 Mar 2024 · 29 minutes
The secret world behind school fundraisers

Fundraising is a staple of the school experience in the U.S. There's an assembly showing off all the prizes kids... more

29 Feb 2024 · 27 minutes
A controversial idea at the heart of Bidenomics

Réka Juhász is a professor of economics at the University of British Columbia, and she studies what's known as industrial... more

23 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
Two Indicators: Economics of the defense industry

The Department of Defense's proposed budget for 2024 is $842 billion. That is about 3.5% of the U.S.'s GDP. The... more

21 Feb 2024 · 19 minutes
How the Navy came to protect cargo ships

The Genco Picardy is not an American ship. It doesn't pay U.S. taxes, none of its crew are U.S. nationals,... more

16 Feb 2024 · 19 minutes
It's giving ... Valentines

L, is for the way you Listen to Planet MoneyO, is for the Only podcast I hearV, is Very, very,... more

15 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
A lawsuit for your broken heart

Keith King was upset when his marriage ended. His wife had cheated, and his family broke apart. And that's when... more

09 Feb 2024 · 22 minutes
Morally questionable, economically efficient

There are tons of markets that don't exist because people just don't want to allow a market – for whatever... more

07 Feb 2024 · 24 minutes
Groundhog Day 2024: Trademark, bankruptcy, and the dollar that failed

It's Groundhog Day, and the eyes of the nation have turned to a small town in western Pennsylvania. And, just... more

02 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
The Chicken Tax (Classic)

Note: This episode originally ran in 2015.German families in the 60s loved tasty, cheap American-raised chicken that was suddenly coming... more

31 Jan 2024 · 15 minutes
Bonus: Janet Yellen on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Our friends at NPR's news quiz Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! recently had a very Planet Money guest on their show:... more

29 Jan 2024 · 10 minutes
Rescues at sea, and how to make a fortune

At around 1 a.m. on the morning of November 15, 1994, Captain Prentice "Skip" Strong III woke to a distress... more

27 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
Hear us out: We ban left turns and other big ideas

On today's episode, we have three big economic ideas for your consideration – ideas that could potentially improve the economy... more

24 Jan 2024 · 23 minutes
Econ Battle Zone: Disinflation Confrontation

After very high inflation, the United States is finally feeling some relief in the form of "disinflation." But, why exactly... more

20 Jan 2024 · 31 minutes
Mid-East conflict escalation, two indicators

On today's show, we look at two indicators of the economic disruptions of the war in Gaza and try to... more

17 Jan 2024 · 16 minutes
The Maine Potato War of 1976

When you think of a potato, one state probably comes to mind: Idaho. But for much of American history, Maine... more

13 Jan 2024 · 24 minutes
The Universal Basic Income experiment in Kenya

There's this fundamental question in economics that has proven really hard to answer: What's a good way to help people... more

10 Jan 2024 · 24 minutes
The case of the serial sinking Spanish ships

Picture the Pacific Ocean of the 16th century. Spanish Galleons sail the wide open seas, carrying precious cargo like silver,... more

05 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
The Rest of the Story, 2023

It's that time of year again! Our annual year-end tradition of checking in on the stories we've reported and the... more

29 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
The Indicators of this year and next

Today on the show, hosts from Planet Money and The Indicator debate the economic indicators of this year and next... more

27 Dec 2023 · 15 minutes
We buy a lot of Christmas trees (Update)

*Note: This episode originally ran in 2020*'Tis the season for Americans to head out in droves and bring home a... more

22 Dec 2023 · 31 minutes
Dollarizing Argentina

Argentina has been on a decades-long search for economic stability, but it always seems to be out of reach. High... more

21 Dec 2023 · 24 minutes
How to be better at hybrid work, according to research

The research keeps coming in on remote work. New evidence suggests working from home, at least full-time, may not be... more

19 Dec 2023 · 15 minutes
What econ says in the shadows

Economics Job Market Rumors is a website that's half a job information Wiki, where people post about what's going on... more

16 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
Why '90s ads are unforgettable

Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's __________.The best part of waking up, is _______ in your cup!Got ____?If you... more

14 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
The U.S. economy's biggest superpower, explained

What if you could borrow money on the cheap and use it to pay for just about anything? The U.S.... more

11 Dec 2023 · 13 minutes
Why do doctors still use pagers?

Remember pagers? They were huge in the 80s — these little devices that could receive short messages. Sir Mix-A-Lot even... more

08 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
Two food and drink indicators

Today on the show, we have two episodes from our daily podcast, The Indicator, about things we spend a lot... more

06 Dec 2023 · 19 minutes
Why are we so bummed about the economy?

Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off, financially, than you were a year... more

01 Dec 2023 · 23 minutes
So you want to sell marijuana across state lines

In the state of Oregon, there is a glut of grass. A wealth of weed. A crisis of chronic. And,... more

29 Nov 2023 · 23 minutes
A very Planet Money Thanksgiving

Here at Planet Money, Thanksgiving is not just a time to feast on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles... more

22 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
Economic fact in literary fiction

Some of the most influential and beloved novels of the last few years have been about money, finance, and the... more

18 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
China's real estate crisis, explained

China's economic growth for the past few decades has been extraordinary. And much of that growth was fueled by real... more

15 Nov 2023 · 20 minutes
The alleged theft at the heart of ChatGPT

When best-selling thriller writer Douglas Preston began playing around with OpenAI's new chatbot, ChatGPT, he was, at first, impressed. But... more

10 Nov 2023 · 23 minutes
Never have I ever

The world of economics has these two different sides. One one side, there are the economists in their cozy armchairs... more

08 Nov 2023 · 28 minutes
FTC Chair Lina Khan on Antitrust in the age of Amazon

When Lina Khan was in law school back in 2017, she wrote a law review article called 'Amazon's Antitrust Paradox,'... more

03 Nov 2023 · 30 minutes
Antitrust in America (classic)

Earlier this fall, the Federal Trade Commission filed a high-stakes lawsuit against Amazon.In that suit, the FTC claims Amazon is... more

01 Nov 2023 · 40 minutes
All you can eat economics

You might expect to find economic concepts in the pages of an economics textbook. But you know where you can... more

27 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
Cutting school... by 20%

Right now, a lot of school districts across the country are making a pretty giant change to the way public... more

26 Oct 2023 · 23 minutes
How unions are stopped before they start

Union membership in the U.S. has been declining for decades. But, in 2022, support for unions among Americans was the... more

20 Oct 2023 · 27 minutes
Indicator exploder: jobs and inflation

When someone says "the economy is doing well"—what does that even mean? Like, for workers, for employers, for the country... more

18 Oct 2023 · 18 minutes
Maria Bamford gets personal (about) finance

Note: There is swearing in this episode.In 2017, The University of Minnesota asked comedian Maria Bamford to give their commencement... more

13 Oct 2023 · 27 minutes
Why the price of Coke didn't change for 70 years (classic)

Prices go up. Occasionally, prices go down. But for 70 years, the price of a bottle of Coca-Cola didn't change.... more

11 Oct 2023 · 19 minutes
A man, a plan, wind power, Uruguay

In 2007, Uruguay had a massive problem with no obvious fix. The economy of this country of 3.5 million people... more

06 Oct 2023 · 23 minutes
The flight attendants of CHAOS

When contract negotiations between Alaska Airlines and their flight attendants' union broke down in 1993, the union had a choice... more

04 Oct 2023 · 28 minutes
A trucker hat mystery, the curse of September and other listener questions

Ba-dee-yah! Say do you remember? Ba-dee-yah! Questions in September!That's right - it's time for Listener Questions!Every so often, we like... more

29 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
The natural disaster economist

There seems to be headlines about floods, wildfires, or hurricanes every week. Scientists say this might be the new normal... more

27 Sep 2023 · 23 minutes
A black market, a currency crisis, and a tango competition in Argentina

The Nobel-prize winning economist Simon Kuznets once analyzed the world's economies this way — he said there are four kinds... more

23 Sep 2023 · 23 minutes
"Based on a true story"

When a group of amateur investors rallied around the stock for GameStop back in 2021, the story blew up the... more

20 Sep 2023 · 28 minutes
How to launder $600 million on the internet

Erin Plante is a private detective who specializes in chasing down stolen cryptocurrency. In March of 2022, she got the... more

16 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
China's weakening economy in two Indicators

In China, data on the economy is sometimes difficult to come by. The Chinese government has put a pause on... more

13 Sep 2023 · 18 minutes
Is economists' favorite tool to crush inflation broken?

When economists and policymakers talk about getting inflation under control, there's an assumption they often make: bringing inflation down will... more

08 Sep 2023 · 23 minutes
The prince of prints and his prints of Prince

In 1981, photographer Lynn Goldsmith took a portrait of the musician Prince. It's a pretty standard headshot — it's in... more

06 Sep 2023 · 28 minutes
How to fight a patent pirate

Back in the 1990s, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar was in his office in New Delhi when he came across a puzzling... more

01 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Summer School 8: Graduation and the Guppy Tank

Congratulations to the Planet Money Summer School Class of 2023! Today, you become masters of business administration... spelled with lower-case... more

30 Aug 2023 · 31 minutes
The secret entrance that sidesteps Hollywood picket lines

Across Hollywood right now, writers and actors are picketing in front of studio lots. They're walking back and forth, holding... more

26 Aug 2023 · 21 minutes
Summer School 7: Negotiating and the empathetic nibble

How do you get the best deal? How do you know you're getting the best deal? Whether you're talking down... more

23 Aug 2023 · 33 minutes
Vacation, and why the U.S. takes so little of it

Do you work more for more money? Or work less for more time? For some, this is the ultimate economic... more

18 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Summer School 6: Operations and 25,000 roses

"It's difficult to control everything," says our guest professor for this week, Santiago Gallino. "What is not difficult is to... more

16 Aug 2023 · 32 minutes
The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans

This summer, the Supreme Court struck down Biden's plan to forgive student loan debt for millions of borrowers. Except, on... more

11 Aug 2023 · 27 minutes
Summer School 5: Tech and the innovator's dilemma

For anyone running a business, technology is both threat and opportunity. Today, we run through techniques entrepreneurs can use to... more

09 Aug 2023 · 34 minutes
A tarot card reading for the U.S. economy

Predicting the future of the economy is always a dicey proposition. That is especially true after more than three years... more

04 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Summer School 4: Marketing and the Ultimate Hose Nozzle

In this session of Planet Money Summer School, we are getting the word out about your brand. How do you... more

02 Aug 2023 · 32 minutes
Tackle your medical debt with Life Kit

There's an estimated $195 billion of medical debt in America. But just because a medical bill comes in the mail... more

31 Jul 2023 · 17 minutes
Did two honesty researchers fabricate their data?

Dan Ariely and Francesca Gino are two of the biggest stars in behavioral science. Both have conducted blockbuster research into... more

28 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Summer School 3: Accounting and The Last Supper

Usually, the first class that an MBA student takes is accounting. That involves, yes, equations and counting widgets...but it's more... more

26 Jul 2023 · 34 minutes
Planet Money Paper Club

We here at Planet Money love economics papers. And that is also the case for so many of the economists... more

21 Jul 2023 · 23 minutes
Summer School 2: Competition and the cheaper sneaker

For episode 2 of Planet Money Summer School, we are talking strategy. You have your million dollar business idea, and... more

19 Jul 2023 · 31 minutes
Surprise, you just signed a contract! How hidden contracts took over the internet

When you make an account online or install an app, you are probably entering into a legally enforceable contract. Even... more

15 Jul 2023 · 23 minutes
Summer School 1: Planet Money goes to business school

Find all episodes of Planet Money Summer School here.Planet Money Summer School is back! It's the free economics class you... more

12 Jul 2023 · 32 minutes
The quest to save macroeconomics from itself

When it comes to big questions about the economy, we're still kind of in the dark ages. Why do some... more

07 Jul 2023 · 18 minutes
Two Indicators: After Affirmative Action & why America overpays for subways

Two stories today.First, as we start to understand post-affirmative action America, we look to a natural experiment 25 years ago,... more

05 Jul 2023 · 19 minutes
Supply, demand, extinction

Back in the 90s, Ivan Lozano Ortega was in charge of Bogota's wildlife rescue center. And he kept getting calls... more

30 Jun 2023 · 28 minutes
Planet Money Live: Two Truths and a Lie

The shocks of the pandemic economy gave us a bunch of enormous natural experiments, which helped to prove or disprove... more

28 Jun 2023 · 23 minutes
Mike The Mover vs. The Furniture Police

In 1978, a young man named Mike Shanks started a moving business in the north end of Seattle. It was... more

23 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Twins (classic)

Twins are used to fielding all sorts of questions, like "Can you read each other's minds?" or "Can you feel... more

21 Jun 2023 · 20 minutes
The 60-day job race

People come from all over the world to work in U.S. tech. And during the tech boom years, the industry... more

16 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Two Indicators: The economics of innovation

Innovation is crucial for game-changing advancements in society, whether it's treatments for serious diseases, developments in AI technology, or rocket... more

14 Jun 2023 · 19 minutes
The town that changed economics

In the early 90s, when a young economist named Michael Kremer finished his PhD, there had been a few economic... more

09 Jun 2023 · 24 minutes
The Spider-Man Problem (update)

(Note: This episode originally ran back in 2022.)This past weekend, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had the second largest domestic opening... more

07 Jun 2023 · 30 minutes
AI Podcast 3.0: Dial M for Mechanization

It's the thrilling conclusion to our three-part series on AI — the world premiere of the first episode of Planet... more

02 Jun 2023 · 33 minutes
AI Podcast 2.0: The host in the machine

In Part 1 of this series, AI proved that it could use real research and real interviews to write an... more

31 May 2023 · 31 minutes
AI Podcast 1.0: Rise of the machines

We used to think some jobs were safe from automation. Though machines have transformed industries like agriculture and manufacturing, the... more

26 May 2023 · 34 minutes
Green energy gridlock

Lyle Jack wants to build a wind farm on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But to make the... more

24 May 2023 · 22 minutes
Predictions: Jobs!

It's time for another installment of ... Planet Money Predictions! *air horn* Last year, we invited two economic forecasters to... more

19 May 2023 · 20 minutes
How AI could help rebuild the middle class

For the last four decades, technology has been mostly a force for greater inequality and a shrinking middle class. But... more

17 May 2023 · 21 minutes
Inflation and the Profit-Price Spiral

Economists say that inflation is just too much money chasing too few goods.But something else can make inflation stick around.If... more

12 May 2023 · 26 minutes
The Day of Two Noons (Classic)

(Note: this episode originally ran in 2019.)In the 1800s, catching your train on time was no easy feat. Every town... more

10 May 2023 · 18 minutes
How to fight a squatting goat

Back in 2005, Burt Banks inherited a plot of old family land in Delaware. But when it came time to... more

06 May 2023 · 28 minutes
Two Indicators: the influencer industry

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut, a doctor or maybe... more

03 May 2023 · 19 minutes
Financial advising while Black

After a successful career in advertising, Erika Williams decided it was time for a change. She went back to school... more

28 Apr 2023 · 27 minutes
The zoo economy (classic)

Note: This episode originally aired in September, 2014.Zoos follow a fundamental principle: You can't sell or buy the animals. It's... more

26 Apr 2023 · 16 minutes
The quest for the factory-built house

Imagine if we built cars the same way we build houses. First, a typical buyer would meet with the car... more

21 Apr 2023 · 26 minutes
Tax Code Switch

This past January, researchers uncovered that Black taxpayers are three to five times as likely to be audited as everyone... more

19 Apr 2023 · 24 minutes
The life and possible death of low interest rates

Right now, the economy is running hot. Inflation is high, and central banks are pushing up interest rates to fight... more

15 Apr 2023 · 25 minutes
Two innovation market indicators

Right now, the economy is all over the place. And when things get confusing, we look to basic economic indicators... more

12 Apr 2023 · 18 minutes
Your banking questions, answered

It's been a month since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank touched off the worst episode of banking turmoil since... more

08 Apr 2023 · 26 minutes
The battle for Puerto Rico's beaches

Puerto Rico's beaches are an integral part of life on the island, and by law, they're one of the few... more

05 Apr 2023 · 23 minutes
The safety net for banks

In the first half of March, three banks - Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate - all had relatively... more

01 Apr 2023 · 23 minutes
A Great Recession bank takeover

Earlier this month, we saw the largest bank collapse since the 2008 financial crisis. For many of us, seeing Silicon... more

30 Mar 2023 · 18 minutes
The battle over Osage headrights

Richard J. Lonsinger is a member of the Ponca tribe of Oklahoma, who was adopted at a young age into... more

25 Mar 2023 · 23 minutes
Inside a bank run

Sometimes you hear these stories about an airplane that suddenly nosedives. Everyone onboard thinks this is it, and then the... more

23 Mar 2023 · 33 minutes
Planet Money Records Vol. 3: Making a hit

Since we started Planet Money Records and released the 47-year-old song "Inflation," the song has taken off. It recently hit... more

18 Mar 2023 · 29 minutes
How Silicon Valley Bank failed

Silicon Valley Bank was the 16th largest bank in America, the bank of choice for tech startups and big-name venture... more

16 Mar 2023 · 21 minutes
Dude, where's my streaming TV show?

Over the past year, dozens of shows have been disappearing from streaming platforms like HBO Max and Showtime. Shows like... more

11 Mar 2023 · 26 minutes
The value of good teeth

As a kid, Ryanne Jones' friend accidentally hit her in the mouth with a hammer, knocking out her two front... more

09 Mar 2023 · 22 minutes
Seinfeld-onomics

The 90s sit-com Seinfeld is often called "a show about nothing." Lauded for its observational humor, this quick-witted show focussed... more

03 Mar 2023 · 18 minutes
CBOhhhh, that's what they do

If you are a congressperson or a senator and you have an idea for a new piece of legislation, at... more

01 Mar 2023 · 24 minutes
Meow Money Meow Problems

More than 20 years ago, something unusual happened in the small town of Dixfield, Maine. A lady named Barbara Thorpe... more

25 Feb 2023 · 27 minutes
Hollywood's Black List (Classic)

This episode originally ran in 2020.In 2005, Franklin Leonard was a junior executive at Leonardo DiCaprio's production company. A big... more

22 Feb 2023 · 23 minutes
Jay & Shai's debt ceiling adventure

Every year, the U.S. government spends more money than it takes in. In order to fund all that spending, the... more

18 Feb 2023 · 26 minutes
Two Indicators: Inside the Fed, then and now

A lot of the time, economic policy can seem pretty impersonal — cold, hard, data-driven. But at the heart of... more

16 Feb 2023 · 18 minutes
Our 2023 valentines

Every Valentine's Day, we at Planet Money consider the things that we love, the things that we can't stop talking... more

11 Feb 2023 · 26 minutes
The ice cream conspiracy

Take a look in any supermarket ice cream freezer section and you may see a mystery. There are big containers... more

08 Feb 2023 · 24 minutes
Baby's first market failure

Anyone who has tried shopping for day care knows that it is tough out there.For one, it is hard even... more

03 Feb 2023 · 23 minutes
Groundhog Day 2023

It's Groundhog Day, and once again, the eyes of the nation have turned to a small town in Western Pennsylvania.... more

01 Feb 2023 · 24 minutes
To all the econ papers I've loved before

A great economics paper does two things. It takes on a big question, and it finds a smart way to... more

27 Jan 2023 · 24 minutes
The story of "Monopoly" and American capitalism

Monopoly is one of the best-selling board games in history. The game's staying power may in part be because of... more

26 Jan 2023 · 22 minutes
Charles Ponzi's scheme

Some of history's biggest financial scams owe their name to Charles Ponzi. Here's the story of the man behind the... more

21 Jan 2023 · 22 minutes
Big Rigged (Classic)

Driving a truck used to mean freedom. Now it means a mountain of debt.Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts... more

18 Jan 2023 · 24 minutes
Two Indicators: The 2% inflation target

If the Fed had a mantra to go along with its mandate, it might well be "two percent." We look... more

13 Jan 2023 · 18 minutes
Planet Money Movie Club: It's a Wonderful Life

Welcome to the Planet Money Movie Club, a regular series from Planet Money+ in which we watch an economics-related movie... more

11 Jan 2023 · 22 minutes
The economics lessons in kids' books

All sorts of lessons (even about economics) can be learned from kids' books. On today's show, we visit an elementary... more

06 Jan 2023 · 28 minutes
The Rest of the Story, 2022

It's that time of year again! Our annual year-end tradition of checking in on previous stories to hear what happened... more

31 Dec 2022 · 24 minutes
Which economic indicator defined 2022?

2022 was a year of big economic changes. But what economic story most defined the year? Our hosts from Planet... more

28 Dec 2022 · 10 minutes
In defense of gift giving

Cold economic reasoning says, supposedly, that gifts are inefficient transfers of wealth. But Planet Money host Jeff Guo believes in... more

24 Dec 2022 · 21 minutes
Two Indicators: The fight over ESG investing

"ESG" investing – Environmental, Social, Governance – has attracted a lot of attention from investors, and from Republican politicians who... more

21 Dec 2022 · 21 minutes
The sports ticket price enigma

Inflation is making prices go up, except not for...sports tickets? So, we set out on a daylong sporting event marathon... more

16 Dec 2022 · 28 minutes
Spam call bounty hunter

Telemarketing calls are not only annoying; in some cases, they are illegal. Congress even gives you the right to sue... more

14 Dec 2022 · 26 minutes
The case of the missing cheese racks

Jelle Peterse's company ships cheese all over the world, but they don't always get their cheese racks back. In this... more

09 Dec 2022 · 27 minutes
When women stopped coding (Classic)

A lot of computing pioneers were women. For decades, the number of women in computer science was growing. But in... more

07 Dec 2022 · 17 minutes
My Favorite Tax Loophole

There's a big difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. But sometimes even avoiding taxes (legally) can feel like you're... more

03 Dec 2022 · 26 minutes
Messi economics

Soccer star Lionel Messi is currently hoping to lead Argentina to victory in the World Cup. His path to global... more

01 Dec 2022 · 27 minutes
One economist's take on popular advice for saving, borrowing, and spending

This episode was first released as a bonus episode for Planet Money+ listeners last month. We're sharing it today for... more

23 Nov 2022 · 32 minutes
How the cookie became a monster

30 years ago, Lou Montulli set out to solve a fundamental problem with the internet, and accidentally created an entirely... more

19 Nov 2022 · 26 minutes
Sam Bankman-Fried and the fall of a crypto empire

Sam Bankman-Fried built a reputation as the one reliable crypto bro. But within the span of days, his empire came... more

17 Nov 2022 · 23 minutes
The E-Book Wars

In 2019, a group of librarians (quietly) stormed the offices of a major publisher, Macmillan, to protest a controversial policy... more

11 Nov 2022 · 25 minutes
Peak Sand (classic)

Sand. It's in buildings, windows, your cell phone. But there isn't enough in the world for everyone. And that's created... more

09 Nov 2022 · 17 minutes
Planet Money tries election polling

Polling is facing an existential crisis. Few people are answering the phone, and fewer people want to answer surveys. On... more

04 Nov 2022 · 28 minutes
Two Indicators shaking China's economy

Xi Jinping recently secured his third term as China's president – so we're looking at two shocks to the world's... more

02 Nov 2022 · 19 minutes
Planet Money Records Vol. 2: The Negotiation

We got our hands on the long-lost "Inflation" song, and now it's time to put it out into the world.... more

29 Oct 2022 · 26 minutes
Planet Money Records Vol. 1: Earnest Jackson

We try to start a real record label. Just to put one song out there. It's a song about inflation,... more

27 Oct 2022 · 25 minutes
The high cost of a strong dollar

When it comes to international trade and finance, everyone pretty much speaks one language: the U.S. dollar. So when the... more

22 Oct 2022 · 27 minutes
The money fixers (classic)

How do you mend a broken bill? On this classic episode, we visit the Mutilated Currency Division.Subscribe to Planet Money+... more

19 Oct 2022 · 17 minutes
You asked for coupons, Delaware, and the truth about goldfish

On today's show, we're answering listener questions from the Planet Money inbox. Like, who really benefits from retail coupons? And... more

15 Oct 2022 · 23 minutes
Two Indicators: back to school

It's fall, so on this episode, we're taking you back to school. First, what sorority rush can teach us about... more

12 Oct 2022 · 17 minutes
Forging Taiwan's Silicon Shield

Taiwan is at the center of a global feud. Its main defense may be what some call its "Silicon Shield"... more

07 Oct 2022 · 30 minutes
Economic anarchy in the UK

Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the UK, was determined to change the British economy. Instead, her government's mini-budget... more

05 Oct 2022 · 21 minutes
Would you like a side of offshoring with that?

A lot of restaurants took a hit during the pandemic. And when they struggled to find workers, some found surprising... more

30 Sep 2022 · 22 minutes
The miracle apple (Classic)

Today on the show, how we got from mealy, nasty apples to apples that taste delicious. The story starts with... more

28 Sep 2022 · 13 minutes
Econ's Brush with the Law

What happens when you take some of the most powerful people in America — federal judges — and teach them... more

23 Sep 2022 · 22 minutes
The Midnight Connection

Texas's energy grid is largely disconnected from the rest of the U.S. That led to disastrous consequences last year when... more

21 Sep 2022 · 33 minutes
Vibecession Vibes Session

We're not in a recession, but why are the vibes feeling so off? We put the question to an economist... more

17 Sep 2022 · 26 minutes
The Good, the Bad, and the Uggly

Eddie Oygur is an Australian businessman who's sold sheepskin ugg boots for years. But one day, he was hit with... more

15 Sep 2022 · 30 minutes
Two Indicators: unlikely economic relationships

On today's show - how your social circle is one of the strongest predictors of economic mobility and how pop... more

09 Sep 2022 · 18 minutes
The salvage car Silk Road

A practically brand new Lexus with a New Jersey inspection sticker lands on an auto body lot in Turkmenistan. How... more

08 Sep 2022 · 28 minutes
Breaking down the price of gasoline

High gas prices have fueled speculation and investigations — is anyone raising prices and keeping prices high for profit? To... more

03 Sep 2022 · 28 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 8: Productivity & Getting Lit

Productivity is our economic measure for how far our work goes, as individuals and as a society over all. It... more

31 Aug 2022 · 30 minutes
Wake up and smell the fraud

Sometimes online shopping can feel a little unsavory. There are the listings that make you question if you'll really be... more

26 Aug 2022 · 22 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 7: The Fed & Volcker's Socks

The Federal Reserve plays a very important role in the economy. When things start to look uncertain, the central bank... more

24 Aug 2022 · 31 minutes
Inflation Reduction Actually

Congress just passed the biggest, most ambitious climate bill in history. And it's called ... the Inflation Reduction Act of... more

19 Aug 2022 · 21 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 6: Trade & The Better Life

International trade is the web of cross-border relationships that binds economies together. Because of trade we have access to cheaper,... more

17 Aug 2022 · 32 minutes
Carried interest wormhole

The carried interest tax loophole is a way that wealthy Americans – often the people who manage hedge funds or... more

13 Aug 2022 · 26 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 5: Car Parts, Celery & The Labor Market

You can learn a lot about a person from their job. The same can be said of an economy. The... more

11 Aug 2022 · 32 minutes
A new way to pay for college (Update)

College has gotten incredibly expensive. And some colleges are offering students a new way to pay. It's not a scholarship.... more

05 Aug 2022 · 26 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 4: Inflation & Drinking Buddies

Inflation can be one of the scariest forces in the economy. As prices rise and your dollar doesn't go as... more

04 Aug 2022 · 30 minutes
We Buy a Superhero 8: Micro-Face: The Musical

This episode, Micro-Face: The Musical. A full concert recording of a one-of-a-kind Planet Money superhero musical, taped during our recent... more

01 Aug 2022 · 45 minutes
Two recession Indicators

So are we in a recession or not? The jury is still out, but there are some warning signs. GDP... more

29 Jul 2022 · 20 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 3: Booms, Busts & Us

Life has its ups and downs. Same for the economy. Today we ask, can the business cycle be tamed? Two... more

28 Jul 2022 · 32 minutes
Little House on the Blockchain

It has great bones, three bedrooms and one and half baths, and it comes with its own machine that mines... more

22 Jul 2022 · 21 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 2: GDP & What Counts

What even is "the economy"? And how do you measure it? Our path out of the economic darkness and into... more

21 Jul 2022 · 25 minutes
Best by, sell by, use by

Wait, wait...don't throw that out! What if much of what you've been told about food expiration dates is... wrong? |... more

16 Jul 2022 · 25 minutes
SUMMER SCHOOL 1: Recessions & Rap Battles

It's macro time! Today: Keynes vs. Hayek. Season 3 of summer school is here asking the biggest economic questions about... more

14 Jul 2022 · 31 minutes
A tale of two cityhoods

There's a movement underway in Georgia. More and more communities around Atlanta are choosing to keep their tax dollars very... more

08 Jul 2022 · 24 minutes
Two crypto crash Indicators

Two stories of consternation from inside the crypto world. Can a crypto crash spread to the wider economy? How does... more

06 Jul 2022 · 18 minutes
Suitcases, secret lists, and Citizens United

On today's show: the Watergate scandal you haven't heard about – that led directly to Citizens United and multi-billion dollar... more

01 Jul 2022 · 26 minutes
When Subaru came out (Classic)

In the early 90s, Subaru was struggling to stand out in a crowded automobile market. In their greatest time... more

29 Jun 2022 · 19 minutes
Recession referees

Whenever the economic data start to look rough, we're forced to confront a familiar question: Are we in a recession,... more

25 Jun 2022 · 23 minutes
The tale of the Onion King (Update)

How one man's quest to dominate the onion market changed commodities trading, and potentially how much you pay at the... more

22 Jun 2022 · 19 minutes
The debate over what's causing inflation

The last few months have made us acutely aware of inflation. We all agree that it's making our lives harder,... more

17 Jun 2022 · 19 minutes
Let them eat lunch

For many Americans, desk lunches are the norm. You might even be having one right now. But what if it... more

16 Jun 2022 · 22 minutes
The Gecko Effect

Years ago advertising was dominated by cars and beer. Today on the show, how a simple slogan and a talking... more

11 Jun 2022 · 27 minutes
On the case: Recession, formula, and greenbacks

It was just another day at the office. Then the phone started ringing and the caseload kept growing...on today's show,... more

09 Jun 2022 · 20 minutes
Homer Simpson vs. the economy

When the beloved Simpsons family made its TV debut in 1989, it squarely represented middle-class America. Today ... not so... more

03 Jun 2022 · 19 minutes
The bank war (Classic)

In the 1800s, populist president Andrew Jackson went head-to-head with the most powerful banker in America over who should control... more

01 Jun 2022 · 20 minutes
We Buy a Superhero 7: Collectibles (Live Show!)

What transforms a regular object into a collectible? At our live show earlier this month, we went on a journey... more

28 May 2022 · 28 minutes
The NRA's Secret Tapes

Soon after the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, leaders of the National Rifle Association held a conference... more

26 May 2022 · 31 minutes
Investing in mediocrity

Is the key to success in financial markets a matter of luck or skill? One former bond manager shares his... more

20 May 2022 · 24 minutes
How the burrito became a sandwich (Classic)

A sandwich is generally defined as something delicious slapped between two slices of bread. New York tax code would beg... more

18 May 2022 · 15 minutes
Buy now, pay dearly?

A wave of companies that allow customers to pay for items from their favorite stores in four interest-free installments has... more

14 May 2022 · 21 minutes
A 12-year-old girl takes on the video game industry (UPDATE)

When Maddie Messer was 12 years old, she noticed an unfair dynamic in the video games she loved: playing as... more

11 May 2022 · 18 minutes
The day Russia adopted the free market

In the early 90s, American economist Jeffrey Sachs was a part of a team that tried to transform Russia's economy.... more

07 May 2022 · 30 minutes
Escheat show (Classic)

If you're looking for money you've forgotten about, there's a chance the government might have it. The good news is... more

04 May 2022 · 21 minutes
Planet Money book club

Behind every Planet Money episode is a ton of reading. Today, we share some of our favorite books from along... more

29 Apr 2022 · 16 minutes
Risky business

Two stories on how businesses are using insurance to navigate new kinds of risks. First, how music venues are handling... more

27 Apr 2022 · 18 minutes
We Buy a Superhero 6: The Comic Book

After many, many delays, the Micro-Face comic book is here! And we answer the burning question: Why did it take... more

22 Apr 2022 · 25 minutes
TikTok to the top

Thanks to TikTok, Tai Verdes went from struggling musician to Top 40 hitmaker. But first, he had to crack the... more

21 Apr 2022 · 21 minutes
The student loan paaaaauuuuuse

The pause on federal student loan payments was just extended for the sixth time in two years. So...what's that been... more

15 Apr 2022 · 20 minutes
Peanuts and Cracker Jack (Classic)

Ballpark vendors share their strategies and other secrets to selling the most hot dogs at baseball games. | Subscribe to... more

13 Apr 2022 · 21 minutes
How manatees got into hot water

While on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, manatees found sanctuary in the warm waters of Florida power plants.... more

08 Apr 2022 · 23 minutes
Turkey's runaway inflation problem

Turkey is facing really high inflation, over 60 percent. Its president is taking an unorthodox approach to dealing with it.... more

06 Apr 2022 · 20 minutes
When bricks were rubles

For a brief, strange period after the U.S.S.R. collapsed, "real" money was less valuable than tradeable objects like bricks or... more

01 Apr 2022 · 23 minutes
The Bond King

Investing legend Bill Gross revolutionized the bond market, built an empire, and lost it all. Our very own Mary Childs... more

30 Mar 2022 · 21 minutes
Fashion Fair's makeover

Fashion Fair was the first big national brand to make makeup for Black women, but it slowly faded into obscurity.... more

25 Mar 2022 · 24 minutes
Two inflation Indicators: Corporate greed and mortgage rates

Corporate profits are soaring. So are prices. Can corporations just not raise prices? Would that fight inflation? We examine this... more

24 Mar 2022 · 18 minutes
Tech giants and tiny dogs

What a business that makes ramps for wiener dogs teaches us about the massive power of tech giants. | Subscribe... more

18 Mar 2022 · 19 minutes
Escape from Russia

An American business owner with employees in Russia extracts her colleagues from the country. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter... more

16 Mar 2022 · 23 minutes
Grocery delivery wars

Behind the scenes at a new kind of grocery store that promises delivery in minutes. | Subscribe to our weekly... more

11 Mar 2022 · 16 minutes
The dollar at the center of the world (Classic)

After World War II devastated the global economy, there was a push for a new universal currency. This is the... more

10 Mar 2022 · 21 minutes
Of oligarchs, oil and rubles

Three stories about how the sanctions imposed on Russia are playing out – for regular Russian people, for Russia's super-rich,... more

05 Mar 2022 · 18 minutes
'Fortress' Russia put to the test

The U.S. is putting Russia's defense plan against sanctions to the test. Meanwhile, Russia's role as a huge exporter of... more

02 Mar 2022 · 17 minutes
Putin's big bet: Sanction-proofing Russia

The U.S. is imposing economic sanctions on Russia to punish it for invading Ukraine. But Russia has spent years trying... more

25 Feb 2022 · 14 minutes
How bad is inflation?

Two stories about the effects of inflation on the economy. We meet a gig worker who's seen an increase in... more

24 Feb 2022 · 19 minutes
Predictions: Inflation!

It's time for another round of "Planet Money Predictions!" Economic forecasters square off to predict the future of inflation and... more

18 Feb 2022 · 16 minutes
SPAM strikes back

Hormel Foods makes SPAM, and for generations, the company also created jobs for families in Austin, Minnesota. Today, the story... more

17 Feb 2022 · 28 minutes
Waste land (Bonus)

Recycling most plastic doesn't work. It never has. In 2020, we ran an episode showing how big oil companies misled... more

14 Feb 2022 · 23 minutes
Our Valentines 2022

We profess our love for our curiosities, obsessions, and the things we wish we'd thought of first. | Subscribe to... more

11 Feb 2022 · 26 minutes
A SWIFT getaway

In 2016, thieves tried to steal nearly a billion dollars from the Bank of Bangladesh's reserves without ever entering the... more

10 Feb 2022 · 21 minutes
Uncle Sam wants YOU to fight inflation

How war bonds, controlled prices, and a national network of nosy neighbors helped beat inflation during WWII. Subscribe to our... more

05 Feb 2022 · 21 minutes
The M&M anomaly (Classic)

Despite costing the same price, a pack of peanut butter M&M's weighs 0.06 ounces less than a pack of milk... more

02 Feb 2022 · 13 minutes
The Spider-Man Problem

Spider-Man isn't the first film franchise to be rebooted over and over again. But the infamous off-screen drama between Marvel... more

29 Jan 2022 · 25 minutes
Two indicators: supply chain solutions

Two stories about people trying to overcome supply chain challenges. We follow a ship that is forced to get creative... more

26 Jan 2022 · 18 minutes
'Soul Train' and the business of Black joy

When Soul Train first launched in 1970, Black audiences weren't understood as a viable target market. Don Cornelius changed that... more

21 Jan 2022 · 26 minutes
Patent racism (classic)

Economist Lisa Cook has been nominated to serve on the Federal Reserve board. In 2020, she talked to us about... more

19 Jan 2022 · 25 minutes
The rapid testing show

The Planet Money team fans out across the nation with one goal: to get a Covid test in 24 hours.... more

15 Jan 2022 · 20 minutes
No such thing as a free return

Lenient policies have shoppers making more returns than ever — around half a trillion dollars worth of products. Today, we... more

13 Jan 2022 · 22 minutes
HBO 2.0

What happens when the iconic symbol of your brand no longer makes sense? Today, HBO tries to evolve their sonic... more

08 Jan 2022 · 18 minutes
The rest of the story, 2021

On protests, pasta and forgiven payments. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

05 Jan 2022 · 28 minutes
The holiday industrial complex (Classic)

Where do holidays like National Potato Chip Day and Argyle Day come from? We trace the roots of one made-up... more

31 Dec 2021 · 17 minutes
The economic indicator of the year

Will it be inflation? Striketober? The supply chain? Our hosts make their case, and the choice is up to you.Learn... more

30 Dec 2021 · 15 minutes
Bell wars (Classic)

The two biggest handbell companies in the world have been locked in a feud for decades. Why? | Subscribe to... more

24 Dec 2021 · 19 minutes
Planet Money's Supply Chain Holiday Extravaganza

Planet Money's Supply Chain Holiday Extravaganza Did the supply chain wreck your holiday shopping? Planet Money comes to the rescue.... more

23 Dec 2021 · 26 minutes
No shortages of labor stories

We asked for your dispatches from the labor market, and boy did we hear back. | Subscribe to our weekly... more

18 Dec 2021 · 25 minutes
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What happens when the iconic symbol of your brand no longer makes sense? Today, HBO tries to evolve their sonic brand. This... more