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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Justin Wolfers
Inflation
Federal Reserve
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Tariffs
Iran
Oil Prices
Economics
Gas Prices
Donald Trump
Kevin Warsh
Canada
Consumer Sentiment
Bond Market
Gas Tax Holiday
Labor Share Of Income
Free Press
Census Bureau
Oil
Healthcare

From world events to everyday decisions, economics explains it all. Platypus Economics makes it clear, useful, and actually fun.

PublishesDailyEpisodes149Founded6 years ago
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CoursesEducationScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Latest Episodes

The economy is growing — so why does your paycheck feel like it's shrinking?

GDP is up 3.4%, unemployment is near record lows, the stock market keeps hitting highs — and yet it doesn't feel good. On this Halloween episode of Off the Clock, Justin Wo... more

GDP grew 3.4% last quarter — so why does inflation still hurt? Justin Wolfers untangles it.

The last big data dump before the 2026 midterms just landed, and it's a tangle: GDP grew at a 3.4% annualized rate last quarter — faster than forecasters exp... more

Why did the Fed hold interest rates steady when inflation is still above 2%?

Inflation is running hot by every measure — PCE at 3.4%, core at 3.0%, and the CPI that tracks your actual cost of living at 3.7% — yet the Federal Reserve just chose to do... more

President Trump brags that he's brought $21 trillion in new investment into America. Justin Wolfers already debunked that number (the White House's own list only reaches $11.3 trillion), so in this office-hours episode he answers your questions about... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Leisman
CNBC senior economics reporter
CNBC
Episode: What Is The State of Your Economy?
Stacey Vanek Smith
Bloomberg Businessweek columnist and co-host of Everybody's Business
Bloomberg
Episode: What Halloween Candy Reveals About Inflation | Off the Clock
Augusta Chapman
Producer at Platypus Economics
Platypus Economics
Episode: Why Official Inflation Can Seem Too Low | The Professor Is In
Mary Harris
Journalist at Slate, host of What Next
Slate/Slate's What Next
Episode: Trump Wants Cheap Money. Why Are Rates Going Up Anyway?
Olivia Mitchell
Officer/Professor at Morton? co-author of Ana Maria Lassati's work mentioned in conversation
Morton and co-author with Ana Maria Lassati
Episode: Are Your Financial Mistakes Making Someone Else Rich? | The Professor Is In
Chad Jones
Economist, friend of the host, expert on economic growth
Anthropic (mentioned); Stanford (former)
Episode: How Much Should We Spend to Prevent an AI Catastrophe? | Diving In
Ben Meissel
From Midas Touch, invited guest to discuss bond market dynamics and policy signals
Midas Touch
Episode: What the Heck is Going On In the Bond Market? | Diving In
Hillary Vipond
Author of the research on Victorian bootmaking
(mentioned as author in interview)
Episode: What Victorian Bootmakers Can Teach Us About The Future of Work | Diving In
Justin Wolfers
Professor of Economics and Public Policy at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: Economics Is Not a Subject — It's a Toolkit | Economics Matters

Hosts

Justin Wolfers
Host associated with Platypus Economics and frequently guides discussions on policy, economics, and the future of work.
Megan Connors
Co-host moderating discussions and audience Q&A segments, helping translate complex econ concepts into accessible dialogue.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Top Notch!

    I had previously recommended the early episodes (2020) of this show to parents of young teens because the early episodes are very family-friendly lessons in the principles of economics. The more recent episodes (2026) are fantastic for adults and anyone who follows current events and wants to understand how economics intersects with what you hear in the news. Justin et al. make economics so accessible that soon we’ll all be thinking like an economist.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Spittingchicken
    United States21 days ago
  • I always enjoyed economics …

    I took micro economics in college for one semester. I enjoyed the thought experiments and teasing out market behaviour from economic theory. Justin and Amanda make this an enjoyable and informal chat rather than a chore.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    consistent21
    Canada22 days ago
  • Great stuff!Explains everything simply.

    Justin provides the numbers that just don’t lie!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Refined Taster
    United States23 days ago
  • Love this show

    I love this podcast. It is so educational and really provides powerful lessons abd insights into economics. I never was given the option to take Econ in school and I missed out on learning this way of thinking. Ps. My kids had Econ in high school but I got Driver’s Ed. It just wasn’t part of the curriculum for Bio majors but it should have been.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Busymom13
    United States23 days ago
  • Must listen

    Clear presentation of how to apply the principles of economics to the stories in the headlines as well as to everyday decision making. Professor Justin keeps it interesting and entertaining.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Percustitude
    United States24 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, accessible economics with practical real-world examples.
Occasional ad-heavy episodes can interrupt the flow for some listeners.
High-quality explanations that make complex topics understandable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Don’t Be Fooled by Trump’s Diesel Gimmicks | The Professor Is In
Q: Is there any economic rationale for politicians to try to use that lever to change prices? Are there economic examples of that working really well?
There is only so much diesel available, so making it cheaper for truckers shifts fuel away from farmers rather than increasing supply. Prices help allocate scarce fuel to buyers willing to pay, though willingness to pay can reflect ability to pay as well as need.
Don’t Be Fooled by Trump’s Diesel Gimmicks | The Professor Is In
Q: The tax is supposed to pay for roads, but if President Trump gets it forgiven, who will make up the difference?
The shortfall could lead to higher taxes, cuts to other spending, more government debt, or less road repair. If roads deteriorate, drivers bear costs through traffic, vehicle wear, and accidents.
Why Americans Don't Believe the Good Economic News | The Professor Is In
Q: Does sentiment even matter here then? Like if people say they're miserable, but they keep spending, is this maybe just not a useful measure of how people are feeling? Is this a meaningful survey?
Wolfers says sentiment may help forecast economic activity and may influence spending and investment decisions, even though evidence is limited and some economists prefer to focus on observed behavior. He also argues that expectations about future policy can affect choices regardless of how sentiment is measured.
Why Americans Don't Believe the Good Economic News | The Professor Is In
Q: Which way does the causality run here? People are gloomy about the government, or do we think maybe people just are gloomy and then they blame whoever is in charge for that?
Wolfers says the pattern is consistent with distrust in economic leadership contributing to pessimism about the future, rather than generalized gloom. He points to the stronger relationship between distrust and questions about future economic conditions, while emphasizing that he is not claiming to establish causality.
What Is The State of Your Economy?
Q: Will prices ever be able to come back down or is the goal just to slow the increases to make it so that wages keep up with the increase in prices?
Leisman says broad price declines are not the goal because they can also reduce incomes. Economic policymakers generally aim for inflation near 2%, so the objective is to slow the rate at which prices rise.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Platypus Economics

What is Platypus Economics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Plenty of episodes center on big-picture economics made practical, with hosts unpacking how technology, policy, and markets shape everyday life. Frequent threads include wage trends, the distribution of income between labor and capital, the impact of AI and automation on work, and how policy design—welfare programs, tariffs, and tax rules—affects households. The show blends rigorous economic concepts with real-world examples, audience questions, and occasional humor to illuminate how macro forces translate into personal decisions, business strategy, and public policy. A notable edge is the willingness to explore nontraditional scenarios (like AI-owned capital) and to compare domestic and international policy dynamics, which can be especiall... more

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1. To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
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5. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

How many episodes of Platypus Economics are there?

Platypus Economics launched 6 years ago and published 149 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Platypus Economics?

Recent guests on Platypus Economics include:

1. Steve Leisman
2. Stacey Vanek Smith
3. Augusta Chapman
4. Mary Harris
5. Olivia Mitchell
6. Chad Jones
7. Ben Meissel
8. Hillary Vipond

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