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The Economy Explained

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Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell speaks with Lisa Cook, member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

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Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed

The Federal Reserve has been under intense pressure from President Donald Trump as he pushes for more control over the historically independent agency. The Fed is tasked with keeping inflation and unemployment under control, and it’s supposed to be insulated from politics so it can do whatever is necessary for the economy. But Trump has been openly saying he wants interest rates to be lower. A lot lower.

Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed

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The Hers app arranged on a smartphone in New York, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Buy discount Ozempic here now click this link

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Summer School 7: Trade blocks and blockages

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Summer School 7: Trade blocks and blockages

Tariffs are the favorite tool of our current president, but there are lots of other ways that governments insert themselves into the free exchange of goods and services. Some of these trade barriers are so insidious and have been going on for so long that it may surprise you that they even exist. 

Summer School 7: Trade blocks and blockages

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When our inflation infeelings don’t match the CPI
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When our inflation infeelings don’t match the CPI

For most Americans, we just lived through the highest period of inflation in our lives. And we are reminded of this every time we go grocery shopping. All over TikTok, tons of people have posted videos of how little they got for… $20. $40. $100. Most upsetting to us: an $8 box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

When our inflation infeelings don’t match the CPI

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Summer School 6: When the markets need a designer
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Summer School 6: When the markets need a designer

In economics, a market is a place (even virtual) where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods or services. Economists love markets. It's like all of our supply and demand graphs have come to life. Almost everything you buy goes through some sort of marketplace—your cup of coffee came from trading in the bean markets. Your spouse might have come from the dating marketplace on the apps. Even kids will tell you one Snickers is worth at least two Twix.

Summer School 6: When the markets need a designer

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Govt 6: When the markets need fixing (Market Design)

Planet Money Summer School in text, with graphics of a pink flamingo, palm trees, and a pencil. NPR hide caption

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Govt 6: When the markets need fixing (Market Design)

In economics, a market is a place (even virtual) where buyers and sellers interact to exchange goods or services. Economists love markets. It's like all of our supply and demand graphs have come to life. Everything you buy goes through some sort of marketplace—your cup of coffee came from trading in the bean markets. Your spouse might have come from the dating marketplace on the apps. Even kids will tell you one Snickers is worth at least two Twix.

Govt 6: When the markets need fixing (Market Design)

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What happens when governments cook the books
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What happens when governments cook the books

After President Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, economists and statisticians across the board were horrified. Because the firing raises the spectre of potential manipulation – and it raises the worry that, in the future, the numbers won't be as trustworthy.

What happens when governments cook the books

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Would you trust an economist with your economy?
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Would you trust an economist with your economy?

Trust in experts is down. In all kinds of institutions and professions - in government, in media, in medical science... and lately, economists are feeling the burn acutely. In fact, President Trump just fired the economist who ran the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accusing her – with no evidence – of faking a jobs report that showed fewer gains than expected.

Would you trust an economist with your economy?

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The President's Golden Share in U.S. Steel

A general view of the exterior of the U.S. Steel Edgar Thompson Works, on March 20, 2024 in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images hide caption

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The President's Golden Share in U.S. Steel

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The President's Golden Share in U.S. Steel

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Govt 3: You are what you pay for (Budgets)
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Govt 3: You are what you pay for (Budgets)

Although it seems like the government can spend an endless amount of money, it cannot actually do all the things it wants to do. So the big question in this week's lesson is: How do we decide? Why does the government spend so much money on some things and not on others? And honestly, is there any limit?

Govt 3: You are what you pay for (Budgets)

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Why are we so obsessed with manufacturing?

Workers assemble Ford vehicles at the Chicago Assembly Plant on June 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Why are we so obsessed with manufacturing?

It seems like politicians cannot agree on a lot. But many seem to agree on... manufacturing. Leaders of both political parties have been working to try and make the U.S. a manufacturing powerhouse again.

Why are we so obsessed with manufacturing?

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Summer School 2: How taxes change behavior and the economy

Planet Money Summer School in text, with images of a pencil, palm trees and an inflatable pink flamingo. NPR hide caption

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Summer School 2: How taxes change behavior and the economy

We all know the government uses taxes to pay for things. But what about using taxes to control behavior? This week on Summer School, Professor Darrick Hamilton of The New School, helps us explore the true power of the tax code. Can taxes help lift people out of poverty? What about saving the planet?

Summer School 2: How taxes change behavior and the economy

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Made in America

A garment factory in Los Angeles. Garment Worker Center hide caption

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Garment Worker Center

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Made in America

What people might picture when they think of "Made in America" ... might not look like the "Made in America" we have today.

Made in America

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Summer School 1: A government's role in the economy is to make us all richer
NPR

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Summer School 1: A government's role in the economy is to make us all richer

Government. The Big G. We like to imagine the free market and the invisible hand as being independent from political influence. But Nobel laureate, Simon Johnson, says that influence has been there since the birth of economics. Call it political economy. Call it government and business. Call it our big topic each Wednesday through Labor Day.

Summer School 1: A government's role in the economy is to make us all richer

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The simple math of the big bill

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) (C) signs the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during an enrollment ceremony with fellow Republicans in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol on July 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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The simple math of the big bill

If we think about the economic effects of President Donald Trumps big taxing and spending and domestic policy bill, we can roughly sum it up in one line. It goes something like this:

The simple math of the big bill

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A thought experiment on how to fix the national debt problem

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 03: A view of a billboard that displays the current U.S. National debt at 36 Trillion dollars on December 03, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation) Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the Peter G. P hide caption

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Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the Peter G. P

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A thought experiment on how to fix the national debt problem

There's an economic fantasy you sometimes hear in D.C. It often gets trotted out when politicians are trying to add billions or trillions to the national debt. They claim that all the new spending will be worth it in the end because we will supercharge economic growth.

A thought experiment on how to fix the national debt problem

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