Podcasts by Think Like An Economist

Useful Economics in Everyday Life from 2021-12-07T05:00

We're all actors in the economy, with different habits, dilemmas and choices. And economics is about everyday decisions in our daily lives as much as it is about government policy. As economics ...

A Conversation with Larry Summers: The Influence of Economic Ideas and the Dangers of Secular Stagnation from 2021-11-09T05:00

Larry Summers has been at the forefront of economic thinking for decades - a World Bank chief economist, Professor at Harvard and U.S. Treasury Secretary. He's also warned that the global econom...

A Conversation with Greg Mankiw: Financial Crisis, Recessions and Communicating Economics from 2021-11-02T05:00

Professor Greg Mankiw is one of the most influential economists today: a New Keynesian, advisor to Presidents, and a good friend of Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. In this episode, the thre...

Behavioral Economics - We're only human! from 2021-09-21T04:00

We all can make mistakes when faced with choices. Biases and old habits can get in the way of good economic decision making. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers discuss the way our psychology af...

Making Decisions in an Uncertain World from 2021-09-14T04:00

Uncertainty and risk are all around us. So how can we make good decisions when we don't know what will happen? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers show you how to understand risk, and your react...

Game Theory - Thinking Strategically from 2021-09-07T04:00

In business, as in life, we often have to make decisions based on what others choose. But how do we make the right strategic decisions? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers unpick the problems of...

Business Strategy - How to boost profitability from 2021-08-31T04:00

Great entrepreneurs identify opportunities for long-term profits before other people can. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers will help you learn how to spot your business opportunities and show...

Entry, Exit and Long-Run Profitability - How to get ahead in the Market from 2021-08-24T04:00

If there are profits to be made, entrepreneurs will be there to start their business. But how can they stay ahead of the competition and deter new rivals from entering the market? Betsey Stevens...

Why wages vary - Why some of us get paid more than others from 2021-08-17T04:00

Why do some people earn so much more than others? How does society value certain jobs over other jobs - and how can we make sure we get a higher wage? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers help na...

Think Like An Economist gets back to business from 2021-08-10T04:00

Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers are back to help you think like an economist. This season is our mini-MBA, and we'll unpack even more economic tools, with a focus on showing you h...

Aggregate Demand&Aggregate Supply from 2021-05-11T04:00

It's time to explore macroeconomics from a new yet familiar perspective, using economy-wide supply and demand curves to forecast the economy's total output and average price level. Betsey S...

Budget Deficits and Government Debt from 2021-05-04T04:00

Government deficits and debt are at record levels in many countries, provoking widespread anxiety. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain why governments run deficits and rack up debt, whet...

Fiscal Policy - Government Spending and Taxes from 2021-04-27T04:00

There's no bigger player in the economy than the government, which can adjust billions of dollars worth of taxes and spending. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how policymakers can ad...

Monetary Policy - The Financial Levers That Tame Business Cycles from 2021-04-20T04:00

Central Banks around the world, such as the Federal Reserve, work to keep the economy running smoothly. They set interest rates and adjust financial conditions to keep inflation and unemployment...

The Fed Model - Predicting what will happen to the Economy from 2021-04-13T04:00

When a shock such as the Covid pandemic sends waves through the global economy, how do economists find ways to respond? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers guide you through the Fed Model - the ...

Inflation and the Phillips Curve from 2021-03-30T03:00

Why do we end up paying higher prices than we used to? And what are the main causes of this economy-wide inflation? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers talk us through how expectations influence...

Connecting Interest Rates&Output from 2021-03-23T04:00

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...

The Boom and Bust of Business Cycles from 2021-03-16T05:00

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 ...

Exchange Rates&International Finance - The flow of currencies around the world from 2021-03-09T05:00

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...

The Financial Sector - Bonds, Stocks and Shares - should you or shouldn't you? from 2021-03-02T05:00

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 ca...

Investment - Upfront costs for future gains from 2021-02-23T05:00

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 ...

Consumption and Saving - Spend Now or Save to Spend Later from 2021-02-16T05:00

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 choi...

Assignment: Spending and Saving from 2021-02-09T05:00

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.

See Privacy ...

Inflation - When money loses its value from 2021-02-02T05:00

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 ...

Unemployment - Does joblessness have to mean hopelessness? from 2021-01-26T05:00

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 u...

Economic Growth - Improving our Lives from 2021-01-19T05:00

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 on...

Gross Domestic Product - Adding Up Everything We Do from 2021-01-12T05:00

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 Just...

Thinking Big, Remembering Small - From Micro to Macro from 2021-01-05T05:00

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 t...

Private Information - I Know Something You Don’t Know from 2020-12-22T05:00

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. Bet...

Price Discrimination - Why some people pay less from 2020-12-15T05:00

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 sophisticat...

Market Power - Why businesses charge more from 2020-12-08T05:00

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...

Inequality - Understanding the Gap between Rich and Poor from 2020-12-01T05:00

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 the...

A New Treasury Secretary - Who is Janet Yellen and what will she do? from 2020-11-24T05:00

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 Wolf...

Presidential Econ 101 - A To Do List from 2020-11-17T05:00

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...

The Labor Market - Live to Work, or Work to Live? from 2020-11-10T05:00

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 Wo...

Externalities - The Full Cost of the Choices we make from 2020-11-03T05:00

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 Steve...

International Trade - Cars from Corn from 2020-10-27T05:00

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 Justi...

Gains From Trade - Why Ringo played the drums from 2020-10-20T04:00

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 ho...

Economic Surplus - Getting the Most out of Life from 2020-10-13T04:00

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 Steve...

When Governments Intervene - Taxes, Price&Quantity Regulations from 2020-10-06T04:00

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...

Elasticity - What will you do when prices change? from 2020-09-29T04:00

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.

Equilibrium - Balance in a Busy World from 2020-09-22T04:00

Where Supply meets Demand. Markets are everywhere, but what happens when buyers and sellers get down to business? Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers reveal how markets find t...

Supply - Getting the Best Out of What You Sell from 2020-09-15T04:00

We're all suppliers. But how do we decide how much to sell? Economists and the authors of the 21st century textbook on economics, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, steer us through the influe...

The Law of Demand - How You Choose to Buy from 2020-09-08T08:00

Do you need to buy that? Should you buy one more? Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain how you as a buyer can stay in control - and how to make the Law of Demand work for you.<...

Juggling Work and Childcare During a Pandemic from 2020-09-02T19:46:04

Betsey and Justin help you figure out how to decide how much time to spend working versus looking after your family, when everyone needs more attention these days. Could the decisions you make n...

Is now the time to improve yourself? from 2020-08-25T08:00

Betsey & Justin are getting ready for another year of teaching economics. And with all the recent challenges in the world, Betsey and Justin have some real-world advice for you - does invest...

Core Principle 4 - The Interdependence Principle - No Decision is an Island from 2020-08-18T08:00

Buying an extra cup of coffee means less money for a cup of tea. It also means less coffee for the next person, it will change the prices of milk and sugar and effect the countries which make th...

Core Principle 3 - The Marginal Principle - Just One More? from 2020-08-18T08:00

How many hours should you work? How many people should you hire? How many children should you have? Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers teach us how to make decisions about ‘how many’ of pretty ...

Core Principle 2 - The Opportunity Cost Principle - Or What? from 2020-08-18T08:00

What would you do instead of taking that dream job? What would you eat for dinner instead of that burger? And how would you spend your lunch hour if not at the gym? Betsey Stevenson and Justin W...

Core Principle 1 - The Cost-Benefit Principle - The Pros&Cons from 2020-08-18T08:00

Making a pros-and-cons list when you’re stuck isn’t a bad piece of advice, it’s actually a staple of Thinking Like An Economist. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers walk us through thinking abou...

Why Should You Think Like an Economist? from 2020-08-04T05:00

Want to make ‘no regrets decisions’? This podcast will teach you how! Betsey Stevenson and

Justin Wolfers are on a mission to equip everyone with key tools from economics that can

tr...

Introducing: Think Like An Economist from 2020-07-16T14:10:34

Think Like an Economist and you’ll see the world more clearly, empowering you to make better decisions at work, at home, and in your community. Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wol...

Introducing: Think Like An Economist from 2020-07-16T14:10:34

Think Like an Economist and you’ll see the world more clearly, empowering you to make better decisions at work, at home, and in your community. Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wol...

Introducing: Think Like An Economist from 2020-07-16T14:10:34

Think Like an Economist and you’ll see the world more clearly, empowering you to make better decisions at work, at home, and in your community. Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wol...