Sincerely appreciate that!

The hidden power keeping wages low For decades, economists gave short shrift to the idea of monopsony — a power employers can have to suppress wages. Now a wave of research suggests it's everywhere, and a new book argues it's key to un...

For decades, economists gave short shrift to the idea of monopsony — a power employers can have to suppress wages. Now a wave of research suggests it’s everywhere, and a new book by @arindube.bsky.social argues it’s key to understanding today’s inequality. www.npr.org/sections/pla...

The labor economics of 'Alien' — and its lessons for inequality on Earth Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of ineq...

More articles like this, please!

Using sci-fi, comics, and entertainment to make points about income inequality and labor economics seems like it was tailor made for my former Marvel/DC now EPI life but also a solid way to reach people!

www.npr.org/sections/pla... by @elliswonk.bsky.social

The labor economics of 'Alien' — and its lessons for inequality on Earth Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of ineq...

Did you need Planet Money using Weyland-Yutani from the Alien franchise to explain monopsonies? I didn't realize it, but I TOTALLY did.

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

The labor economics of 'Alien' — and its lessons for inequality on Earth Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of ineq...

This is the content I am here for. Alien science fiction and protecting against evil mega corporations. In case you were wondering, Musk is Burke.

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

"Sure, Alien is about an alien. But, on a deeper level, it's the story about the horrors of a cartoonishly evil company with unchecked power. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation is an extreme form of what's known in economics as a monopsony."

This is a fun Planet Money newsletter introduction to The Wage Standard.

The labor economics of 'Alien' — and its lessons for inequality on Earth Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of ineq...

Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of inequality on Earth. Featuring @arindube.bsky.social www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Out now: The Planet Money Book. Everywhere you get your books.

Also, we're going on tour - get your tix at the link in our bio.

🖼️ : Jackie Lay

Austin’s Surge of New Housing Construction Drove Down Rents After decades of explosive growth, Austin, Texas, in the 2010s was a victim of its own success. Lured by high-tech jobs and the city’s hip reputation, too many people were competing for too few…

“From 2015 to 2024, Austin added 120,000 units to its housing stock—an increase of 30%, more than three times the overall rate of growth in the United States (9%).”

The Wage Standard by Arindrajit Dube: 9780593471418 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books “The go-to guy on minimum wage” (Nobel Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Paul Krugman) tackles one of the thorniest social issues of our times—income inequality—from...

Great to chat today with Greg Rosalsky @elliswonk.bsky.social from NPR's Planet Money about The Wage Standard! www.thewagestandard.com

Sincerely appreciate it!

Is the YIMBY movement doomed? For decades, rising home prices have been an engine for middle-class wealth. Now a growing movement wants to slow — or even reverse — that trend. Are the politics around new housing development inhere...

Really thoughtful and nuanced work from NPR’s Planet Money!

Is the YIMBY movement doomed? For decades, rising home prices have been an engine for middle-class wealth. Now a growing movement wants to slow — or even reverse — that trend. Are the politics around new housing development…

“Many of the places that used to build a lot are starting to look more like the NIMBY strongholds on the coasts.”

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

By @planetmoney.bsky.social’s @elliswonk.bsky.social

The candy heir vs. chocolate skimpflation The grandson of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups creator has launched a campaign against The Hershey Company, which owns the Reese's brand. He wants them to stop skimping on ingredients.

Even the grandson of the Reese's candy guy thinks their candy sucks now lol.

Don't hate the replicator, hate the game : Planet Money The world of science has been stuck in an existential crisis over whether we actually know the things we thought we knew. Re-running an old study today doesn't always yield the same result. Same with ...

our @planetmoney.bsky.social report from attending a Replication Game -- one economist's proposal for how to help fix science's replication crisis. It was so fun, and so complicated: www.npr.org/2026/02/27/n...

Is the YIMBY movement doomed? For decades, rising home prices have been an engine for middle-class wealth. Now a growing movement wants to slow — or even reverse — that trend. Are the politics around new housing development inhere...

For decades, rising home prices have been an engine for middle-class wealth. Now a growing movement wants to slow — or even reverse — that trend. Are the politics around new housing development inherently stacked against them? www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Supply-side interventions were working to reduce the amount of cocaine being produced for export to the United States. Then the Colombian civil war ended, things started looking up, and the cocaine trade rebounded. Unintended consequences abound in this @elliswonk.bsky.social story for @npr.org

How much power does the Fed chair really have? On paper, the Fed chair is just one vote among many. In practice, the job carries far more influence. We analyze what gives the Fed chair power.

how powerful IS the Fed, actually? www.npr.org/sections/pla... @elliswonk.bsky.social @planetmoney.bsky.social

This housing program helped kids escape poverty — by changing who they befriended : Planet Money In the 1990s, Congress created HOPE VI, a program that demolished old public housing projects and replaced them with more up-to-date ones. But the program went further than just improving public…

In the 90s, Congress created a program to improve public housing and economically desegregate poor neighborhoods. The hope was that this would improve opportunities for the people who lived there. But no one knew whether it worked … until now.

Thanks! Maybe I will!

Is a 50-year mortgage really that much crazier than a 30-year one? Last week, the internet piled on President Trump's proposal for a 50-year mortgage. But maybe it's not as crazy as it sounds.

This article has a lot of really interesting information about the history of mortgages; I didn't realize the way we handle them in the US is this distinctive and the look at how they affect the housing market was very enlightening.

Germany thrived in the first China Shock. But the next one could prove catastrophic. The export-led industrial model that Germany has pursued for decades is now at a crossroads.

This article is seriously worth your time reading.
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Germany thrived during the first China Shock. But the next one could prove catastrophic.
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway Why evil histories sell. A visit to Hitler's bunker, and a deep dive into the economics and ethical quandaries of "dark tourism."

Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway. www.npr.org/sections/pla...

A Planet Money guide to 5 fascinating new econ papers The Planet Money newsletter rounds up some new economics studies.

PM's @elliswonk.bsky.social rounds up recent econ papers:
-economic history of firewood in America
-political spending after school shootings
-NIMBYism spreads to the Sunbelt?
-economic effects of Native American casinos
-longer kindergarten days boost mothers' work hours
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Partially a result of all the federal workers who lost jobs?

Can bringing back manufacturing help the heartland catch up with 'superstar' cities? In recent decades, America has seen economic opportunities concentrated in superstar cities. Manufacturing boosters hope reshoring factories could help change that. We look at the theory and evidence.

🔑 Is reviving manufacturing the key to local economic development? Today’s installment of @planetmoney.bsky.social addresses this question, ft. commentary from David Card and Enrico Moretti #econsky #policysky

Why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? Leaders from both major political parties have been working to bring back manufacturing. But American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have.

Leaders from both political parties have been working to bring back manufacturing. But American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have. www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Are Trump's tariffs a bargaining chip for a new global economic order? It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.

It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.