284. Is Income Inequality Inevitable? (E...

Epic Systems manages the electronic health records for hundreds of millions of people. This makes Faulkner a healthcare heavyweight and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in history. So why haven’t we ever heard much from her? Stephen Dubner travels to Verona, Wisc., ... Show More

New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, we ask: Is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us? SOURCE ... Show More

One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle. SOURCES: Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, auth ... Show More

Over time it is almost taken as given that science and technology will evolve and improve over time. But does the same hold true for the field of economics? Will future generations achieve superior levels of wealth due to advancements in economics or have we already solved everyt ... Show More

What do we mean when we talk about capitalism? Our economic system might seem inevitable, but it's a construction project hundreds of years in the making and no part of it is natural or left to chance. This week, we kick off our series on the past, present and future of capitalis ... Show More

<p>How can our families, businesses, cities, and even the global economy thrive — without destroying the planet? "Doughnut Economics" shows us the way. Listen now and learn the #1 factor that influences human behavior, why perpetual growth will destroy everything, and how "going ... Show More

We live in a society dominated by the aspiration to greatness, where the ancient ethical ideal of "the good life" is often framed in terms of wealth, fame and power. The notion that we might settle for a "good-enough life" seems oddly countercultural - but this week we're explori ... Show More

<p>Depuis quelques années, l’idée de « revenu universel » est de plus en plus présente dans les médias. </p> <p>Mais de quoi s’agit-il exactement ? Tout simplement de laisser l’Etat donner de l’argent à chaque citoyen sans condition pour pouvoir vivre, même sans travailler !</p> ... Show More

Introduction: It has been argued that, in order for citizens to be able to maintain an acceptable standard of living in a country, the government should institute a policy of payments to them regardless of their employment status. While such an idea may be appealing in principle, ... Show More

<p>A historic intergenerational shift in money, power and influence is coming our way – is this a reset moment for our economies, societies and future?</p><p>Ken Costa is a leading figure in global investment banking, and the author of <a href="https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/the-1 ... Show More

Professor Stuart Russell explores the future of work and one of the most concerning issues raised by Artificial Intelligence: the threat to jobs. How will the economy adapt as work is increasingly done by machines? Economists’ forecasts range from rosy scenarios of human-AI teamw ... Show More

Endless growth may actually be hurting our economy—and our planet. Economist Kate Raworth makes a case for “doughnut economics”: an alternative way to look at the economic systems ruling our societies and imagine a sustainable future for all.We're doing a TED Interview survey! If ... Show More