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The Economy Explained
The lawsuit that could shake up the rental market
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Indicator

The lawsuit that could shake up the rental market

by , , ,

A number of lawsuits against Texas-based company RealPage are putting increased attention on how algorithms can interact with the rental market. In the lawsuit, RealPage is accused of facilitating a cartel between major property managers that results in higher prices for renters and increased profits for landlords who use RealPage's software. RealPage, however, denies any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit that could shake up the rental market

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Why oil in Guyana could be a curse

As Guyana seeks to ramp up oil production, it opened bids on September 12, 2023 for several oil blocks available for exploration and development. Matias Delacroix/AP hide caption

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Matias Delacroix/AP

The Indicator

Why oil in Guyana could be a curse

by , , ,

In 2015, Guyana changed forever when ExxonMobil discovered major oil deposits off its coast. The impoverished South American country known for its thick rainforest was suddenly on course to sudden wealth.

Why oil in Guyana could be a curse

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The Universal Basic Income experiment in Kenya
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Planet Money

The Universal Basic Income experiment in Kenya

by , , ,

There's this fundamental question in economics that has proven really hard to answer: What's a good way to help people out of poverty? The old-school way was to fund programs that would support very particular things, like buying cows for a village, giving people business training, or building schools.

The Universal Basic Income experiment in Kenya

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Ad targeting gets into your medical file
Catherine McQueen/Getty Images

The Indicator

Ad targeting gets into your medical file

by , , ,

More doctors' offices are ditching clunky clipboards and embracing digital records and online check-ins. But some patients may be unaware that their sensitive health data could be accessible to more than just their health care provider. Today on the show, how ad targeting has moved into the doctor's office, why that's rubbing some patients the wrong way, and why health companies say it can lead to better care.

Ad targeting gets into your medical file

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Five reasons why Americans and economists can't agree on the economy
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Planet Money

Five reasons why Americans and economists can't agree on the economy

by Paddy Hirsch , , ,

One of the most puzzling developments for economists in recent months is the disconnect between positive traditional economic data and how people say they feel negatively about the economy. Add to that, people's behavior tracks with what economists would normally expect for happy times. So what's going on?

Five reasons why Americans and economists can't agree on the economy

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Higher wages, fewer temp workers and indicators of the year results
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Indicator

Higher wages, fewer temp workers and indicators of the year results

by , , , , ,

The U.S. economy added a solid number of jobs, the unemployment rate held steady, and a lot of people got raises. But, today we ask whether fewer temporary workers could mean recession, and whether higher wages might cause interest rates to stay high.

Higher wages, fewer temp workers and indicators of the year results

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The case of the serial sinking Spanish ships
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Planet Money

The case of the serial sinking Spanish ships

by , , ,

Picture the Pacific Ocean of the 16th century. Spanish Galleons sail the wide open seas, carrying precious cargo like silver, porcelain, and textiles. The waters are dangerous; ship logs show concerns over pirates. But pirates are not to blame for a mysterious event that keeps happening.

The case of the serial sinking Spanish ships

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WTF is a bitcoin ETF?
Chris McGrath/Getty Images

The Indicator

WTF is a bitcoin ETF?

by , , , ,

On today's show, we find out what the buzz is around something called a "spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund." Despite a volatile year for cryptocurrency companies, U.S. federal regulators are expected to approve this new financial product. So WTF is a bitcoin ETF?

WTF is a bitcoin ETF?

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What a pot of gumbo can teach us about disinflation
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator

What a pot of gumbo can teach us about disinflation

by Drew Hawkins , , Stephan Bisaha , ,

News about inflation made a lot of noise in the past two years, but the national CPI reports seem to indicate that inflation is starting to normalize within the Federal Reserve's target range. However, the national CPI basket of goods can have trouble representing inflation at a local level.

What a pot of gumbo can teach us about disinflation

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Red Sea tensions spell trouble for global supply chains
-/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator

Red Sea tensions spell trouble for global supply chains

by , , ,

The Red Sea is a crucial piece of the global supply chain, accounting for around 15% of the world's shipping. This includes oil tankers and massive container ships transporting everything from microchips to furniture. Recent attacks by Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have destabilized the region and prompted the U.S. to organize a multinational naval force to protect commercial ships. Today on the show, what's going on with shipping in the Red Sea.

Red Sea tensions spell trouble for global supply chains

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The Rest of the Story, 2023
NPR

Planet Money

The Rest of the Story, 2023

by , , , , ,

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

The Rest of the Story, 2023

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Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse (Classic)
Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi/Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi

The Indicator

Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse (Classic)

by , , Brittany Cronin ,

How often do you hang out with people in a different socioeconomic bracket than you? And where do you meet and congregate? Economist Maxim Massenkoff, and his co-author Nathan Wilmers, looked at cell phone location data to figure out where people with vastly different incomes commune together. Today on the show, Maxim discusses his research, and Darian and Alexi head to a restaurant to try and witness some of this class mixing in action.

Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse (Classic)

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'Let's Get It On' ... in court (Update)
Left: Tolga Akmen (Getty), Right: Nancy Kaye (AP)

The Indicator

'Let's Get It On' ... in court (Update)

by , , Brittany Cronin ,

*This episode originally aired on April 20th, 2023*

'Let's Get It On' ... in court (Update)

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The Indicators of this year and next
Kenny Malone, Jeff Guo, Wailin Wong/NPR

Planet Money

The Indicators of this year and next

by , , , , ,

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

The Indicators of this year and next

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We buy a lot of Christmas trees (Update)

Nick Fountain hawks a Frasier Fir in Brooklyn. Robert Smith/NPR hide caption

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Robert Smith/NPR

Planet Money

We buy a lot of Christmas trees (Update)

by , , , Bryant Urstadt

*Note: This episode originally ran in 2020*

We buy a lot of Christmas trees (Update)

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Predicting next year's economic storylines

Whose indicator will be the leading economic story of 2024? Kenny Malone with interest rates? Jeff Guo on 'Bidenomics'? Or Wailin Wong taking out junk fees? Kenny Malone, Jeff Guo, Wailin Wong/NPR hide caption

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Kenny Malone, Jeff Guo, Wailin Wong/NPR

The Indicator

Predicting next year's economic storylines

by , , , ,

It's time for another intra-Family Feud! The friendly game-show competition where our hosts from Planet Money and The Indicator duke it out over which indicator will be the leading economic story in 2024. Will interest rates decline? Will 'Bidenomics' catch on? Will junk fees get taken out with the garbage?

Predicting next year's economic storylines

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The 'Yellowstone' effect on Montana
Willy Sanjuan/Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

The Indicator

The 'Yellowstone' effect on Montana

by Nate Hegyi , , ,

Yellowstone first aired in 2018, quickly becoming one of television's most popular shows. The show follows John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, as he feuds with real estate developers threatening to encroach on his family ranch. Today on the show, how life imitates art in Montana, where tourism has boomed, the population has grown and housing prices have soared.

The 'Yellowstone' effect on Montana

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Dollarizing Argentina
Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images

Planet Money

Dollarizing Argentina

by , , ,

Argentina has been on a decades-long search for economic stability, but it always seems to be out of reach. High inflation has been plaguing the country and just surpassed 160% a year.

Dollarizing Argentina

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How economics can help you stick to your New Year's resolution
Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

The Indicator

How economics can help you stick to your New Year's resolution

Talk of New Year's resolutions is bubbling up as 2024 quickly approaches. Whether it's a fitness goal, wanting to learn a new skill or just trying to develop better habits, a new year is the perfect excuse to start. However, it can be difficult to maintain as time passes by.

How economics can help you stick to your New Year's resolution

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