The U.S. economy is doing better than many had anticipated. Some 80 percent of jobs lost during the pandemic have been regained, and people are making, and spending, more.
But Americans seem to feel terrible about the financial outlook.
Why the gap between reality and perception?
Guest: Ben Casselman, a reporter covering economics and business for The New ... Show More
Today
The Autism Diagnosis Problem
<p>Once primarily limited to severely disabled people, autism began to be viewed as a spectrum that included children and adults far less impaired. Along the way, the disorder also became an identity, embraced by college graduates and even by some of the world’s most successful p ... Show More
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Yesterday
Sunday Special: Wicked, Good?
<p>“Wicked” was one of the biggest movies of 2024. It was culturally ubiquitous, a box office smash and an Oscar nominee for Best Picture. Now, a year later, “Wicked: For Good” arrives in theaters to finish the tale of the complicated friendship between Glinda the Good Witch and ... Show More
51m 44s
Oct 2022
The US Middle Class Is Doing Fine. Why Are They So Worried?
Hello and welcome to The Big Take Podcast! Today: The good news, and not so good news, about the US middle class. With inflation rising, the stock market ping-ponging and housing prices softening, that broad swath of Americans who form the backbone of the US economy are getting h ... Show More
29m 38s
Jun 2024
The Economic Theory That Explains Why Americans Are So Mad
<p>There’s something weird happening with the economy. On a personal level, most Americans say they’re doing pretty well right now. And according to the data, that’s true. Wages have gone up faster than inflation. Unemployment is low, the stock market is generally up so far this ... Show More
1h 31m
Apr 2022
The Economy Is Weird Right Now
Unemployment in the United States is near record lows, wages are growing quickly, and spending in the service sector is increasing as the pandemic lulls.
But there's also some worrying news: more job openings than people who want to fill them, global economic uncertainty stemming ... Show More
14m 29s