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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Justin Wolfers
Inflation
Federal Reserve
Tariffs
Artificial Intelligence
Gas Prices
Oil Prices
United States
Iran
Gas Tax Holiday
Bond Market
Trump Accounts
Baby Bonds
Gross Domestic Product
Tax Policy
Healthcare
Federal Budget Deficit
Met Gala
US Debt
National Debt
The Effect Of School Phone Bands

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes105Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Latest Episodes

On this Fed-heavy episode of Off the Clock, Justin Wolfers and Bloomberg's Stacey Vanek Smith dig into new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's argument for a quieter, less transparent central bank — and why it doesn't hold up. Warsh defended saying less, insisti... more

In this episode of the Professor Is In, Justin answers your questions from his earlier episode debunking the Census Bureau’s claim that 24,000 noncitizens voted in the 2020 election.

He starts by addressing the elephant in the room: even if the faul... more

The Census Bureau just published a report claiming 24,000 noncitizens illegally voted in the 2020 election. In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers takes the report apart and shows why it reads less like statistics and more like propaganda. The ... more

Do sanctions on Iran actually work? Sixty years of the Cuba embargo say probably not.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just announced what he's calling an "economic D-Day" against Iran — a threat aimed not just at Tehran but at every foreign firm, ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Jamison Greer
United States Trade Representative; central figure in Trump administration's tariff agenda
Trump administration
Episode: The Lawyer’s Theory of Trade | Diving In
Brad Reese
Grandson of the Reese's founder, discussed in clip about Reese's products and skimflation
Reese's/Brad Reese open letter to Hershey's
Episode: What Reese's Cups and Canadian Wildfires Can Teach Us About Economics | Off the Clock
Justin Wolfers
Economist and professor at University of Michigan; host of Platypus Economics
Platypus Economics
Episode: Sifting Through the Wreckage of An Ill-Informed War| Slate's What Next + Platypus Economics
Stacey Vanek Smith
Economics journalist; Bloomberg columnist
Bloomberg
Episode: Is Inflation Going to Ruin the Summer? | Off the Clock

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 1.1k ratings
  • Smart podcast - and fun!

    Justin is my newest “who would you invite to a dinner party” answer. Smart, witty, well researched.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cfpnh
    United States22 days ago
  • Would’ve Given Half a Star

    This podcast is very little substantive information in between a lot of commercials.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hagsploitated
    United States23 days ago
  • Data center locations

    Justin, can data centers be built in the middle of nowhere, far from communities and cities?

    If data centers are far away from communities then they won’t compete with communities for electricity and water.

    Can they be built so they don’t emit loud noise or pollute air (no gas generators, for example)?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BGDem
    United States24 days ago
  • too many commercials

    I enjoy this podcast, but there are way too many commercials.

    Keep them to the bare minimum like most of the podcast that are enjoyed.

    When 40% of the show is commercial commercials that means it’s time for me to Unfollow the show

    You’re not that important you don’t deserve all those commercial commercials

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jeff Win57
    United Statesa month ago
  • Bugs

    I honestly love Justin Wolfers, when I see/hear him interviewed by others he is engaging and a wonderful teacher; sometimes I listen to his segments again because he can explain things with such technical, and refreshingly moral, clarity.

    But this podcast has not found its footing. Strangely, it's as if I can't "hear" him - the rhythms are way off - someone is editing out the natural rhythms of human speech - don't do that, please! Spoken English has powerful rhythms of stress and phrasing, es... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Stilph
    United Statesa month 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.

What the Heck is Going On In the Bond Market? | Diving In
Q: Why are bond yields rising, and what is actually happening with Scott Bessent's program?
Yields rose due to heavy government borrowing and expected higher inflation risk, but the Treasury's program is intended to smooth market functioning by providing liquidity in parts of the bond market that have few buyers or sellers, potentially signaling a short-term stabilizing intent.
Should Canada answer Trump's tariffs? | The Professor Is In
Q: Given all of that, do you think it's possible to rebuild trust on trade for a post Trump America?
Yes, but it requires a return to Congress-led processes for trade agreements, clear commitments that survive changes in administration, and a reinvestment in the deep, regional integration that underpins competitiveness—especially across North American manufacturing corridors—so that future deals are about shared long-term gains rather than episodic concessions.
Should Canada answer Trump's tariffs? | The Professor Is In
Q: Okay, what are the long-term implications for the US of this new style of trade negotiation that we're engaging in?
The US risks eroding its credibility as a reliable trading partner, with American consumers absorbing tariff costs and investment flowing away from integrated regional industries. The point is to recognize that durable, mutually beneficial deals require credible commitments and stakeholder buy-in, not episodic signaling that undermines previously established trade arrangements.
Should Canada answer Trump's tariffs? | The Professor Is In
Q: Okay. So how do you think Canada should respond in this moment? What advice would you give them?
Use a long-run, countercyclical approach: avoid escalatory tariffs, emphasize interoperability under USMCA, and lean on congressional processes to create durable commitments that are harder to reverse unilaterally. The key is to protect long-term economic integration (especially auto supply chains) while signaling that Canada will resist short-term provocations without resorting to mutual destruction in trade.
Justin Answers Your Questions on Trump Accounts | The Professor Is In
Q: OK. One last question for you. Despite all the criticisms we've talked about, do you think the next administration, whether they're Democrat or Republican, do you think they will extend the $1,000? And maybe more importantly, or instead, should they?
The host argues that the sensible stance is to scrap the whole thing, while recognizing the political pull that could renew it; the guest suggests that even if renewed, the policy should be evaluated on its broader effects and whether it improves opportunity, not just as a political expedient.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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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Which podcasts are similar to Platypus Economics?

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1. Freakonomics Radio
2. Planet Money
3. People I (Mostly) Admire
4. Marketplace
5. Odd Lots

How many episodes of Platypus Economics are there?

Platypus Economics launched 6 years ago and published 105 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. Ben Meissel
2. Hillary Vipond
3. Jamison Greer
4. Brad Reese
5. Justin Wolfers
6. Stacey Vanek Smith

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