Think Like An Economist

What is the most important price in the economy? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers say that it's the interest rate, and they dig into where it comes from, and how it drives all spending in the economy. These big ideas yield a framework called the IS-MP model which policymakers use to help devise fiscal and monetary policies to kick-start the economy.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

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Even economists find navigating the ups and downs of expansions and recessions tricky. With the COVID-19 recession still affecting millions around the world, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help you make sense of the business cycles that affect all of our lives. And they have some handy tools to help you understand where the economy is headed.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can a change in the currency markets change the price of a loaf of bread? And is a strong currency useful? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how imports and exports are affected by foreign exchange markets.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you thinking about investing in the Financial Markets? Should you put some of your retirement savings into bonds, or stocks and shares? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how you can invest and have some simple words of advice for you.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.

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When businesses invest, they're weighing upfront costs against future gains. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how executives make smart investment decisions, and how you can use the same ideas to figure out whether to invest in your education, your health, or your financial future.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all make decisions about when to spend our money and when to save for our future selves. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you the tools to make the right spending and saving choices at different times of your life, and what it all means for the macroeconomy.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Think Like An Economist team are taking a break this week, but we'll be back next week to look at consumption and savings. See you then, Betsey, Justin and Nas.

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We might watch the inflation rate to see how the cost of living is changing, and how our money changes value over time. But what happens when we can't trust money any more? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain inflation - what it is, the harm it can do, and how you can protect yourself against it.

Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being unemployed can be very stressful, so what can economists do to help people back to work? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers discuss what it means to be jobless, and what to do if you're unlucky enough to lose your job.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When an economy grows, we live better lives. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how economic growth is fuelled by the mix of skilled workers, the right investments and new ideas. As one idea leads to another, innovation helps boost the economy and can make the world a better place.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're diving into Macroeconomics with a look at Gross Domestic Product and how it counts everything in the economy - from output, to spending and the income earned. And Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers also show you how even the great yardstick that is GDP ignores some vital elements of society.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

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Now we've learned the tools of microeconomics, it's time to step up to macro. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers are here to show you how millions of individual microeconomic decisions affect the macroeconomic world - and how macroeconomics gives decision makers the tools to make our lives better.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you know something that others don't? Or they know something you don't? These information asymmetries can great create a fog of mistrust, and doing business can get tricky. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help clear the economic fog, and find ways to restore that trust.

Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production

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Discounts for the elderly or students may seem generous - but they win more customers. When businesses ask how they can make as much money as possible from each customer, they need a sophisticated pricing strategy. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers take a look at who gets a discount and why.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the competition? When businesses have less competition, they have more market power and can raise their prices. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explore competition in the market place and the way it shapes prices - and profit.

Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How hard is it to move out of poverty and up the economic ladder? Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson explore how economic inequality is shaped by people's backgrounds and opportunities. And they look at the tools available for making a more equal society.

Co-Host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America’s President-elect has made his choice for the new Secretary of the Treasury. Janet Yellen is an economist and friend of the Think Like an Economist team, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. Before the election, Janet Yellen shared her thoughts on the power of thinking like an economist. And in this special episode, Justin reflects on what decisions Janet Yellen will be making.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.

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The U.S. presidential election may be over, but what does the new president need to do to get the economy back on track and prepare for future shocks? In this special episode, Justin Wolfers has some economic advice for the new president. And of course, Betsey Stevenson will be back for the next episode.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media Production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can you do to make sure you're working in the right job, and getting paid the right salary? Or, if you're the boss, how can you make sure you're making the right hiring decisions? Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson show you how to make good decisions, as a worker or an employer.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when others benefit from your choices, like your decision whether or not to wear a mask? Or when your choices hurt others, like smoking?  Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers delve into the world of externalities and explore how policy makers can help ensure effects on others are taken into account. 

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When countries do something well, they can sell that in the global market place. But how do consumers and producers get the most out of international trade? Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how people around the world can benefit from international trade.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you doing what you should be doing, and delegating tasks that others should do? Make sure you get the most out of your comparative advantage, as Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers reveal how this economic tool helps run their household. They've written the economics textbook for the 21st century and want to share their love of economics with you.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the joy of buying something that's worth more to you than what you paid? Or that jolt when you sell something for more than what it is worth to you? Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers reveal how to know whether our trades spark joy.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does government affect the market? And how can a jar of coins help you understand how taxes affect buyers and sellers. Leading economists Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson have written the economics textbook for the 21st century, and share their insight on how the economy is influenced by government.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When prices go up, buyers want less and sellers want more. But how much more? Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers discuss how responsive people are to price changes, and why.

Co-host: Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. Editor: Alastair Elphick. A Modulated Media production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.