Podcast: Freakonomics Radio (LS 83 · TOP 0.01% what is this?)
Episode: The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Pub date: 2026-03-04

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Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.

SOURCES:
- Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News.
- Jack Farchy, energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News.
RESOURCES:
- The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources, by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021)
- The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich, by Daniel Ammann (2010).
EXTRAS:
- "How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update)" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
- "The First Great American Industry," by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

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