Podcast
Mostly Economics
Hosted by Center for Economic and Policy Research and Dean Baker · EN
Mostly Economics is a weekly show hosted by Center for Economic and Policy Research Senior Economist and co-founder, Dean Baker, about ways US economic policies affect everyday lives—from household budgets to global trade relationships. New episode released every Thursday.
Producer and Art Direction: Lisa N. Burnam
Motion Designer: Arturo Valladolid
Production Interns: Madison Belo, Daniel Stone
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Mostly Economics Podcast 38: More Money, Less Problems with Arindrajit Dube
1w ago00:50:56Tap to summarizeEconomist Arindrajit Dube joins Dean Baker to discuss his book The Wage Standard, making the case that higher wages create fewer economic problems than we've been told. They examine why the federal minimum wage has stagnated for over a generation and why sectoral wage standards may be the key to rebuilding the middle class.-- Follow Arindrajit Dubehttps://bsky.app/profile/arindube.bsky.socialhttps://x.com/arindubeFollow Dean Baker and CEPRhttps://x.com/DeanBaker13https://x.com/ceprdchttps://bsky.app/profile/deanbaker13.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ceprdc.bsky.social
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #37: South Korea, Shareholder Capitalism, and Trump with Ha-Joon Chang
2w ago00:40:07Tap to summarizeHa-Joon Chang, Cambridge economist and author, joins Dean Baker to discuss how South Korea went from one of the world's poorest countries to an economic powerhouse. They also dig into Trump's tariffs, shareholder capitalism, and the Iran war's ripple effects.Read Ha-Joonhttps://hajoonchang.net/writings/books-i-have-written Follow Dean Baker and CEPR: https://x.com/deanbaker13 https://x.com/ceprdc https://bsky.app/profile/deanbaker13.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/ceprdc.bsky.social
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #36: From AI Boom to AI Bubble with Ed Zitron
3w ago00:42:29Tap to summarizeDean Baker sits down with Ed Zitron, CEO of Media Relations and Primary Research and one of the most prominent voices sounding the alarm on the AI bubble. They dig into Nvidia's ballooning valuation, data centers that exist mostly on paper, circular financing schemes, and why this bubble may be worse than the dot-com crash. The math isn't adding up for Dean or Ed. -- www.mostlyeconomics.com --Follow Ed Zitron: https://x.com/edzitron https://bsky.app/profile/edzitron.com Follow Dean Baker and CEPR: https://x.com/deanbaker13 https://x.com/ceprdc https://bsky.app/profile/deanbaker13.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/ceprdc.bsky.social
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #35: Tax the Worker, Spare the Wealthy with Amy Hanauer
4w ago00:43:26Tap to summarizeThe US tax code is not broken. It is working exactly as the wealthy designed it. Spare the wealthy, tax the worker. Dean Baker sits down with Amy Hanauer, Executive Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, to expose how loopholes like carried interest were deliberately built to protect fortunes and make working people foot the bill. The result is a rigged system that keeps rewarding wealth and punishing work. -- Follow Dean Baker & CEPR https://x.com/DeanBaker13 https://x.com/ceprdchttps://bsky.app/profile/deanbaker13.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/ceprdc Follow Amy Hanauer https://x.com/amyhanauer https://bsky.app/profile/amyhanauer.bsky.social Follow ITEP https://bsky.app/profile/itep.org
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #34: Another Lie, Another War with Matt Duss
May 1400:43:00Tap to summarizeToday's episode is about the US-Israel war on Iran, its legitimacy and the economic impacts on people in the US. Our guest, Matt Duss, is the Executive VP at the Center for International Policy, former foreign policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, and co-host of Undiplomatic Podcast. Matt debunks myths about Iran's nuclear ambitions and Middle East conflicts. This discussion challenges mainstream narratives and unpacks the lies that's gotten the US into yet another war. -- Follow Dean Baker https://x.com/DeanBaker13 Follow Mass Duss https://x.com/mattduss Follow Undiplomatic Podcast https://x.com/UnDiplomaticPod
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #33: Nexstar-Tegna Merger and Media Partisanship with Milo Vassallo
May 700:50:23Tap to summarizeRight-wing billionaires are buying up local TV news networks and a federal regulator is helping them do it. In this week's episode, Dean Baker and Milo Vassallo, executive director of the Media and Democracy Project, break down what media consolidation means for communities across. They dig into the Nexstar-Tegna merger, the FCC's role under Brendan Carr, the fall of local journalism, and what a coalition of state attorneys general is doing to fight back. Follow: CEPR on X/TwitterDean Baker, Mostly Economics Host and Senior Economist and CEPR Co-Founder
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #32: How the War on Iran is Shaping the US Economy with Claudia Sahm
May 100:47:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dean Baker and renowned macroeconomist Claudia Sahm discuss the economic shocks from attacking Iran and the Federal Reserve's policy stance amid geopolitical tensions. Gain insights into how global events influence US inflation, energy markets, and monetary policy decisions. Claudia Sahm is the Chief Economist at New Century Advisors and a former Federal Reserve economist.
Transcribe →Season 1 Finale: Your Questions Answered with Jared Bernstein
Nov 2700:49:07Tap to summarizeIn the Season 1 finale, Dean Baker and Jared Bernstein answer listener-submitted questions on the biggest economic issues of the moment: the affordability crisis gripping American families, the surprising Democratic victories in off-year elections, and how the government shutdown is erasing critical economic data. From policy solutions to political implications, Dean and Jared tackle your questions with their wonderful blend of expertise and candor. Thank you for supporting our first season of Mostly Economics. We will return in 2026!
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #30: What Real Freedom Requires with Joseph Stiglitz
Nov 2100:39:27Tap to summarizeNobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz discusses his book "The Road to Freedom," explaining why real economic freedom means more than just keeping government small. Stiglitz breaks down how access to healthcare and education creates freedom, why drug companies profited from taxpayer-funded vaccines, and how pollution is really about property rights. Despite exploring serious inequality challenges, he shares an optimistic vision for building an economy that works for everyone.
Transcribe →Mostly Economics Podcast #29: The Assault on Federal Workers with Sasha Abramsky
Nov 1400:47:07Tap to summarizeDean talks with Sasha Abramsky, freelance writer for The Nation and author of the forthcoming book "American Carnage," which examines how the Trump administration and Elon Musk's DOGE systematically targeted federal workers in 2025. Abramsky shares stories from CDC employees, IRS workers, and National Park staff who faced mass layoffs through automated quota systems rather than performance reviews, revealing the human cost of dismantling vital government services and the impact on public health, environmental protection, and consumer safety.
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