PODCAST · news
Mostly Economics
by Center for Economic and Policy Research and Dean Baker
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. BurnamMotion Designer: Arturo ValladolidProduction Interns: Madison Belo, Daniel Stone
Episodes
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #56: Solve It At the State and Local Level with Joel Rogers
What if most of the problems we blame on Washington could be solved in our own statehouses and city halls? The Right figured out years ago that they could wield considerable power at the local level. On this episode of Mostly Economics, Dean Baker talks with Joel Rogers, the Noam Chomsky…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #55: Who pays when the AI bubble bursts with Ed Zitron
Today, Ed Zitron, renowned AI critic and writer of Where's Your Ed At, returns to Mostly Economics with Dean Baker to follow the money trail of today’s AI ‘revolution.’ They dig into Amazon's strange $8 billion chip deal, Oracle's mounting debt troubles, and the hundreds of billions in computing...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #54: Can the AI Bubble Wipe Out Your Retirement with Helaine Olen
Today, Dean Baker speaks with Helaine Olen of the American Economic Liberties Project about how regular people can protect their savings when the AI bubble bursts. Which index funds limit your exposure? Should you rebalance? Are bonds really safe? And why should crypto and private equity stay out...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #53: Get Dark Money Out of American Politics with Tiffany Muller
In today's Mostly Economics episode, Dean takes a sobering look at the many levers of corruption shaping US politics with Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United. They discuss the influence of AI and big money on politics, the impact of the Citizens United decision, the consequences of a...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #52: Rebuilding Worker Power with Heidi Shierholz
Dean Baker has a conversation with EPI president Heidi Shierholz about her new report, The Case for Tripling Union Membership. They discuss the economic benefits of boosting unionization rates, why employers can get away with union busting so often, and policy fixes like the PRO Act. This episode...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #51: Boycott Starbucks with Vicente Martinez
Dean Baker speaks with Vicente Martinez, a Texas-based barista of eight years, about the Starbucks Workers Union new boycott campaign launched after five years of stalled talks with the company. Vicente recounts their own experience with understaffing, fighting to get enough hours to make a…
more -
Mostly Economics #50: Iran War, the West Bank, and Medicare for All with Ro Khanna
Rep. Ro Khanna joins Dean Baker to talk about the Iran war and his firsthand account of settler violence in the West Bank. He also makes the case for lowering the Medicare age to 50, calling it the kind of pragmatic, wage-boosting policy that would appeal to working class voters. -- Learn about...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #49: The Economy We Deserve with Gerald Epstein
In a recent conversation, Dean Baker welcomed Gerald Epstein, PERI/UMass Professor of Economics, to discuss the innovative collection of policy essays titled Game Changers: Economic Policies for a Working America. This project, comprising contributions from around 40 experts, aims to propose...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #48: US Control over the International Financial System with Mark Weisbrot
Dean Baker speaks with economist and CEPR co-founder and co-director Mark Weisbrot about the rare conditions that prompted the IMF to issue a lifeline to developing countries in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in 2021, defying the US treasury. Allocating SDRs helped the global south…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #47: Disposable Workers with Paul Osterman
Dean Baker talks with MIT economist Paul Osterman about his new book, Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment. Osterman explains how employers avoid W-2 responsibility for workers through contracting, freelancing, and "marginal" jobs, now affecting roughly 35% of the workforce, and...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #46: Tariffs, Trade Deficits, and Vibes with Josh Bivens
Is AI spending the only thing keeping US growth alive? Dean Baker and EPI chief economist Josh Bivens dig into that question. They also explain how a financial transactions tax mainly eliminates wasteful Wall Street trading, plus tariff chaos and manufacturing's decline. -- Follow Josh Bivens...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #45: Nobody Wins a Trade War with Chad P. Bown
Chad Bown, Peterson Institute for International Economics economist, joins Dean Baker to discuss his new book (co-authored with Soumaya Keynes), How to Win a Trade War. They dig into the real gains from trade, why locking in agreements matters more than tariff levels, lessons from 1980s Japanese...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #44: How Patents Made Our Medicine Cost More with Tahir Amin
On this episode of Mostly Economics, Dean Baker talks with Tahir Amin, co-founder and CEO of I-MAK and co-author of Pharma Monopoly, about how drug patents drove up prices and blocked vaccines during the pandemic. Find out how a drug like Humira made $114 billion off patent monopolies and more.…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #43: Millions Lose Health Insurance with Sabrina Corlette
This week on Mostly Economics, Dean Baker talks with Sabrina Corlette, Research Professor at Georgetown University's Center on Healthcare Insurance Reforms, about the ramifications of Trump's one big ugly bill, which gutted Affordable Care Act coverage. People are grappling with expired subsidies...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #42: Hope is not a Plan with Matt Sedlar
Dean Baker sits down with CEPR climate analyst Matt Sedlar to unpack how Trump's cuts to FEMA and NOAA are leaving states, especially poorer Republican ones in Appalachia, dangerously exposed. They cover insurance markets pulling out of Florida and California, the fight over community driven...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #41: Race, Jobs, and Justice under Trump with Algernon Austin
Algernon Austin, director of Race and Economic Justice at CEPR, joins Dean Baker to examine how the Trump administration is reversing black economic progress through DOGE cuts, military purges, weakened affirmative action, and the Supreme Court's assault on voting rights. They also discuss...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #40: Greenspan's Legacy and the New Fed Chair with Jared Bernstein
On today's episode, Dean Baker and Jared Bernstein reflect on Alan Greenspan's legacy, from his bold full employment experiment in the 1990s to his failure to address financial bubbles. Jared and Dean speculate about what Kevin Warsh's Fed tenure could mean for workers and policy transparency at...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #39: When Companies Run the Courts with Brendan Ballou
What if every new service contract you've signed secretly stripped away your right to sue? Senior Economist and CEPR co-founder Dean Baker speaks with Brendan Ballou, former federal prosecutor and founder of the Public Integrity Project, about his new book When Companies Run the Courts. From the...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast 38: More Money, Less Problems with Arindrajit Dube
Economist 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #37: South Korea, Shareholder Capitalism, and Trump with Ha-Joon Chang
Ha-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-Joon...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #36: From AI Boom to AI Bubble with Ed Zitron
Dean 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #35: Tax the Worker, Spare the Wealthy with Amy Hanauer
The 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #34: Another Lie, Another War with Matt Duss
Today'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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #33: Nexstar-Tegna Merger and Media Partisanship with Milo Vassallo
Right-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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #32: How the War on Iran is Shaping the US Economy with Claudia Sahm
In 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....
-
Season 1 Finale: Your Questions Answered with Jared Bernstein
In 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #30: What Real Freedom Requires with Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #29: The Assault on Federal Workers with Sasha Abramsky
Dean 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...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #28: Fighting the Media Oligarchy with Milo Vassallo
This week Dean speaks to Milo Vassallo, Executive Director of the Media and Democracy Project, about wresting back the free press from media oligarchs. As corporate consolidation has gutted local newsrooms and created vast news deserts, communities can rebuild civic journalism from the ground up.
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #27: Why America's Wage Gap Keeps Growing with Kim Weeden
This week Dean speaks to Kim Weeden, Professor of Sociology at Cornell University and Director of the Center for the Study of Inequality, about why America's wage gap keeps growing. While protections for minimum wage workers have weakened over the past 40 years, the rules that protect high…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #26: The ACA and the Shutdown with Sarah Lueck
Health policy expert Sarah Lueck of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities joins Dean Baker to discuss the Affordable Care Act's future amid a prolonged government shutdown. They unpack how expiring premium tax credits could raise costs for millions, the ACA's major achievements, and why...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #25: Why the IMF Model Keeps Poor Countries Poor with Ha-Joon Chang
Today on Mostly Economics, Ha-Joon Chang, Professor at the Department of Economics at SOAS University of London and Senior Research Fellow at CEPR, critiques the IMF and World Bank's Washington Consensus model. He explains how neoclassical economics locks poor countries into existing…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #24: Rethinking Worker Power with Suresh Naidu
Dean Baker speaks with Suresh Naidu, Professor of Economics at Columbia University, about unions' role in reducing inequality, how employer wage-setting power shapes labor markets, sectoral bargaining experiments in California and Minnesota, the problems with H-1B visa programs, and why Democrats...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast: What Economists Got Wrong with Heather Boushey
Dean Baker speaks with Heather Boushey, former Council of Economic Advisers member and current Professor of Practice at UPenn's Climate Center for Energy Policy, about the Biden administration's economic legacy. They discuss the historic manufacturing boom, infrastructure investments in…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #22: The Case for a Four Day Work Week with Juliet Shor
Economist Juliet Schor discusses her groundbreaking four-day workweek research, revealing how companies maintain productivity while dramatically improving worker well-being. From 90% retention rates to reduced burnout, Schor explains why this workplace revolution is gaining momentum post-pandemic...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #21: Preserving Progress at State Level with Laura Dresser
Dean Baker interviews Laura Dresser, Associate Director of Wisconsin's High Road Strategy Center, about the power of state and local policy to improve working people's lives. They discuss how Wisconsin's anti-union legislation devastated labor organizing, successful state-level initiatives on...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #20: Fighting the Anti-Vaccine, Climate Denial Machine with Michael Mann and Peter Hotez
Climate scientist Michael Mann and vaccine researcher Peter Hotez discuss their book "Science Under Siege," examining how plutocrats, petrostates, press, pros, and propagandists undermine scientific truth. They reveal how wealthy individuals fund anti-science campaigns, authoritarian regimes…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #19: Trump's Economic Chaos with Robert Pollin
Dean Baker and economist Robert Pollin discuss Trump's chaotic first weeks - from firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage paperwork to shutting down an 80% complete wind farm. They examine how erratic tariff policies hurt workers while creating business uncertainty, and why attacking clean...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #:18 Beyond 'I Have a Dream' - The Forgotten Economic Demands of 1963 with Dr. William P. Jones
Dean Baker speaks with historian Dr. William P. Jones about his book "The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom, and the Forgotten History of the Civil Rights Movement." They explore how the famous march began as a protest for jobs and economic justice, the crucial role of labor unions in organizing...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #17: Breaking the Billionaire News Monopoly with Katie Wilson
Dean Baker interviews Katie Wilson, Executive Director of the Transit Riders Union and Seattle mayoral candidate, about her "News Notes" proposal—a voucher system that would give residents around $100 in public credits to support local media outlets of their choice. Wilson explains how this...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #16: What does the data tell us with Doug Harris
In today's episode of Mostly Economics, we speak to Doug Harris, Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at Tulane University, about the recently launched "State of the Nation" project — and why Trump's war on data could undermine its existence in the future. Visit the State of the Nation...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #15: Is Trump the Real Problem? with Darrick Hamilton
AFL-CIO Chief Economist Darrick Hamilton explains how decades of failed economic policies created the conditions for Trump's rise—but also reveals why there's reason for hope. The surprisingly effective 2020 economic response wasn't an accident; it was the result of years of grassroots organizing...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #14 - America’s Healthcare Coverage Crisis with John Schmitt
Why do millions of working Americans still lack health insurance? Dean Baker sits down with economist John Schmitt to break down the massive gaps in U.S. healthcare coverage and what it means for workers across the country. They look at which workers are getting left behind, how the Affordable…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #13 - Subprime Lending Crisis Explained with Dr. Jacob Faber
Why do communities of color still face barriers to homeownership decades after civil rights legislation? In this eye-opening episode of Mostly Economics, host Dean Baker talks with Jacob Faber, Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Service at NYU's Wagner School and co-founder of the...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #12 - The Darkside of Private Equity with Eileen Appelbaum
In this episode, host Dean Baker speaks with CEPR co-director Eileen Appelbaum to unpack the dark world of private equity. They explore how PE firms use debt-heavy buyouts, exploit tax loopholes like carried interest, and profit from management fees while acquired companies bear the financial...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #11 - Medicare Advantage isn't Medicare with Emma Curchin and Brandon Novick
Dean Baker breaks down Medicare Advantage with experts Emma Curchin and Brandon Novick. They expose the marketing tricks, bureaucratic roadblocks, and hidden costs that trap beneficiaries. Essential viewing for anyone navigating Medicare or advocating for healthcare reform. Follow Dean Baker on…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #10: The changing landscape of who and how we organize unions with Richard Freeman
Dean Baker sits down with renowned economist Richard Freeman to explore the multifaceted role of unions-not only in securing higher wages and better working conditions, but also in empowering workers with a collective voice and boosting workplace productivity. The conversation also delves into…
more -
Mostly Economics Podcast #9: Remote work, who is it good for with Nick Bloom
In this conversation, Dean Baker and Nick Bloom discuss the evolution and current state of remote work, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. They explore the significant increase in remote work, the productivity implications, and the hybrid work model's benefits and challenges....
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #8 - Why is Everything So Expensive with Dr. Isabella Weber
Dean Baker speaks with renowned economist Isabella Weber about her influential concept of "sellers' inflation," which examines how firms with market power drive price increases during supply bottlenecks. Weber, an Associate Professor at UMass Amherst, shares her expertise on U.S.-China trade...
-
Mostly Economics Podcast #7 - Defending Social Security with Nancy Altman
Social Security has lifted millions of seniors out of poverty, but it's under attack. In our latest episode, Dean Baker sits down with Nancy Altman, who's spent 50 years defending this critical program. Nancy cuts through the political noise to reveal what's really happening: how interference in...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
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. BurnamMotion Designer: Arturo ValladolidProduction Interns: Madison Belo, Daniel Stone
HOSTED BY
Center for Economic and Policy Research and Dean Baker
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Mostly Economics have?
Mostly Economics currently has 56 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Mostly Economics about?
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...
How often does Mostly Economics release new episodes?
Mostly Economics has 56 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Mostly Economics?
You can listen to Mostly Economics on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Mostly Economics?
Mostly Economics is created and hosted by Center for Economic and Policy Research and Dean Baker.
URL copied to clipboard!