@npr_planet_money@robot.villas

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 3mo ago

The real horror of 'Alien' and how it explains why we're not paid enough https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5863604/alien-monopsony-wages-inequality #Economy #Workplace #Inequality

NPR

The real horror of ‘Alien’ and how it explains why we’re not paid enough : Planet Money

Maybe the real monster in the Alien franchise isn’t actually the killer alien. Because behind the acid blood and jump scares is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. That employer is named Weyland-Yutani, a mega-corporation that dominates workers across the galaxy.Weyland-Yutani is a sort of extreme example of what economists call a monopsony — when one employer dominates a labor market and gains power to underpay and mistreat workers. Sure, it’s science fiction.

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 3mo ago

Can the Trump administration make college cheaper? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5876467/student-loans-debt-bennett-hypothesis-tuition #Economy #Education #Policy

NPR

Can the Trump administration make college cheaper? : Planet Money

Will limiting how much students can borrow force schools to lower their prices? The Department of Education thinks so. It has a new plan to bring down tuition costs. Starting today, July 1st, it’s going to cap how much it’s willing to loan to graduate students. You read that right. To reduce the burden of school…the plan is to give students less money to pay for school. This plan is, in part, based on an idea that’s been floating around higher education circles for decades: The Bennett Hypothesi

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 3mo ago

Our mission: Find the world's best economic ideas (Summer School World Tour) https://www.npr.org/2026/07/08/nx-s1-5877869/summer-school-australia-new-zealand-inflation-speculators #Economy #Business #Finance

NPR

Our mission: Find the world’s best economic ideas (Summer School World Tour) : Planet Money

Come along as we travel the world in search of the best economic ideas to bring home!From the beaches of Barbuda to the fjords of Norway, there's money (and money problems) everywhere. For this summer travel season, Planet Money Summer School will take you on a world tour for your ears. Pack that sense of wonder and nose for adventure, this is our semester abroad. We’re going to explore exotic locales and discover cultural norms, but we’re also going to buckle down and learn the biggest economic

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 2mo ago

Seven allegedly fake Chanel bags vs The RealReal https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5879253/chanel-realreal-secondhand-luxury-market #Economy #Luxury #Business

NPR

Seven allegedly fake Chanel bags vs The RealReal : Planet Money

Once upon a time, if you wanted to buy a luxury brand item secondhand (say, a Chanel handbag) you had to have an in. There was no easy way to find one. But over the past decade, the market for secondhand luxury goods has exploded. There are now many online resellers where you can shop for used and discounted luxury items. One big problem — how can you be sure if it’s real and authentic?Some online resellers claim to have solved this problem. They say they’ve developed a process of authentication

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 2mo ago

Can World Cup mania grow MLS in the U.S.? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/17/nx-s1-5897877/world-cup-fifa-major-league-soccer-mls-messi-mbappe #Soccer #Economy #SportsBusiness

NPR

Can World Cup mania grow MLS in the U.S.? : Planet Money

As the World Cup comes to a close, so does a massive real-time experiment happening just around the edges. Major League Soccer – the top men’s professional soccer league in the U.S. and Canada – has been scrambling to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity when average American sports fans suddenly cared a lot about soccer.In between World Cup matches, NPR Sports Correspondent Becky Sullivan has been following Major League Soccer executives as they try to figure out how best to

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 2mo ago

New NPR Series: "We Keep Us Safe" from the Embedded podcast #Podcast #Economy #News

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 2mo ago

What makes a toy go viral https://www.npr.org/2026/07/31/nx-s1-5913719/squishy-dumpling-toy-slime-viral #Economy #Marketing #Trends

NPR

What makes a toy go viral : Planet Money

Squishy, slimy, fidgety toys are having a moment. But it’s more than just an anxiety-soothing, social-media fueled trend – these toys are reshaping how toys get made.Today on the show, we have the story of the once-humble squishy dumpling and what it teaches us about how to make a viral hit and how to manufacture it, without getting left holding the bag. Hear it all firsthand from the creator of this trendy toy. Read: Our book: Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life Ou

0

Planet Money @npr_planet_money@robot.villas

· 2w ago

The Domino's Pizza Tracker Theory of Everything https://www.npr.org/2026/09/18/nx-s1-5974101/dominos-pizza-tracker-labor-illusion #Economics #Business #Tech

NPR

The Domino’s Pizza Tracker Theory of Everything : Planet Money

Did a pizza restaurant’s humble status page change how we wait forever? When you order a Lyft or Uber, you get texts every few minutes about your car approaching and arriving. When you have a package coming, you get a notification when it’s shipped, when it’s en route, and when it’s out for delivery. Why do so many companies send these constant updates?We have a theory: It’s because of Domino’s. In 2008, Domino’s launched the Pizza Tracker, a novel tool that delighted customers by allowing them

0