The World Trade Organization is the referee for 164 trading partners, each with their own political and economic agendas. Lately, those agendas have gotten more complicated — especially with President Trump’s tariff blitz. Roberto Azevêdo, head of the W.T.O., tells us why it’s so hard to balance protectionism and globalism; what’s really behind the loss of j ... Show More
Today
Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)
<p>The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s also a big moneymaker — at least we think it is: when it comes to parade economics, Macy’s is famously tight-lipped. In this 2024 episode, we try to loosen them up. (Part on ... Show More
52m 31s
Nov 14
653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?
<p>Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “<a href="https://freakonomics.com/the-horse-is-us ... Show More
1h 1m
Nov 2022
Why The United States No Longer Leads on Free Trade
<p>Chris, Melanie, and Zack try to understand the U.S. government's approach to global trade. Two successive presidential administrations have turned their backs on trade liberalization, and there is little enthusiasm in Congress for free trade – and a fair amount of outright hos ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2023
Calling for the "reglobalization" of trade: WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
<p>Ian Bremmer sits down with World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first person from Africa to lead the organization, for a conversation about the good, the bad, and the future of global trade on the GZERO World podcast. In the last ... Show More
17m 42s
Feb 2024
#252 - Is Globalization Good or Bad? The Effects of NAFTA & Global Supply Chains ⛓️
On December 8th, 1993, Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law. In his remarks at the signing, Clinton proclaimed, “NAFTA means jobs. American jobs and good-paying American jobs. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't support this agreement.” ... Show More
31m 9s
Nov 2023
A Turning Point for Global Trade
International trade has shaped the world for much of the past century. Countries benefited from the global flow of goods, and the world became richer and safer. At the same time, many Americans lost their jobs to cheaper overseas competitors. Now, a series of compounding challeng ... Show More
40m 12s
Jan 2024
The uphill battle to beat Trump
<p>Wage growth is slowing in the world’s largest economies, a federal judge stopped JetBlue’s planned deal to buy Spirit Airlines, and the EU’s tax on ‘dirty’ imports could fragment global trade. Plus, the FT’s Lauren Fedor explains the uphill battle for the Republican presidenti ... Show More
10m 46s