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

In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why Moby-Dick is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.") SOURCES:Michele Baggio, professor of economics at the University of Connecticut.Mary K. Bercaw-E ... Show More

For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat was also on a few menus. But today, demand for whale products is at a historic low. And yet some countries still have a whaling industry. We find out why. ... Show More

Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue to grow elsewhere? And is that whale vomit in your perfume? (Part 1 of “Everything You Ne ... 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

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 dou ... 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

Intermediate French Podcast with Transcript. Learn French in Context with these Fascinating Topics. Depuis quelques années, l’idée de « revenu universel » est de plus en plus présente dans les médias.  Mais de quoi s’agit-il exactement ? Tout simplement de laisser l’Etat donner d ... 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

A historic intergenerational shift in money, power and influence is coming our way – is this a reset moment for our economies, societies and future?Ken Costa is a leading figure in global investment banking, and the author of The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer - an urgent ex ... 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