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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

Justin Wolfers
Inflation
Federal Reserve
United States
Artificial Intelligence
Tariffs
Iran
Oil Prices
Economics
Gas Prices
Canada
Bond Market
Kevin Warsh
Gas Tax Holiday
Free Press
Census Bureau
Trump Accounts
Democracy
Geopolitical Risk
Baby Bonds
Education

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes136Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Platypus Economics

Latest Episodes

Justin Wolfers takes apart a headline that circled the globe: the G7 announcing it will release 100 million barrels of oil it had already promised to release back in March 2026. On this episode of Diving In, producer Augusta Chapman brings him your q... more

Justin Wolfers digs into President Trump's new executive order letting truckers fill up with red diesel — the tax-free fuel normally reserved for farmers, construction crews, and miners — and deferring the 24.4-cent federal highway tax until after th... more

Trump calls it a massive win: 100 million barrels of emergency oil and fuel released to bring diesel prices down. In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers reads the G7 communique line by line and finds something much smaller — an agreement to fin... more

The September jobs report landed weak, and the numbers for July and August got quietly revised downward. Economist Justin Wolfers takes your questions on what that actually means — and why a statistical agency that corrects itself is more trustworthy... more

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Recent Guests

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
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 1.2k ratings
  • Fan girl

    Major fan after 3 pods. Good to hear an Aussie accent in American economics! Logical, easy to follow, on the right topics. Get on it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SazetteFNQ
    Australiaa month ago
  • Wonderfully clear exposition

    The U.S. tariff attack on Canada brilliantly explained (though the episode aired before the latest Trump round) . I think now more than ever the advice given to Carney is so sound- cry squirrel and point in a different direction!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Travelmia
    New Zealanda month ago
  • Economics made simple

    Justin Wolfers is the Carl Sagan of economic communicators. He has a singular ability to explain complex economic concepts in terms that are relatable to everyone.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CCI_Grampaw
    United Statesa month ago
  • Essential listening.

    Important information delivered in an entertaining manner.

    Excellent.******

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zed_55
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States2 months 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.

How Accountability Shapes National Borrowing Rates | The Professor Is In
Q: Does interference with the free press have a downstream effect on markets?
Yes. When the press is constrained, politicians may face weaker accountability, leading to poorer policies and higher risk for investors, which then translates into higher borrowing costs and less favorable market outcomes.
How Governments Manipulate Statistics Without Lying | Professor Is In
Q: How can we trust the most recent jobs numbers given potential political interference?
There is no evidence of widespread manipulation in most numbers, with a notable exception related to the 2020 election voter fraud report; overall, trusted official agencies remain the baseline, and skepticism should focus on the political context rather than the data itself.
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.

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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Which podcasts are similar to Platypus Economics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Platypus Economics:

1. To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
2. The Bulwark Daily
3. Talking Feds
4. Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov
5. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

How many episodes of Platypus Economics are there?

Platypus Economics launched 6 years ago and published 136 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. Olivia Mitchell
2. Chad Jones
3. Ben Meissel
4. Hillary Vipond
5. Jamison Greer
6. Brad Reese
7. Justin Wolfers
8. Stacey Vanek Smith

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