Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers

10:58

How Early Access to Trump’s Truths Will Drain...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/08/06

Justin unpacks the new $100,000-a-year Truth Social API—a special "pipe" that will allow the president's posts to hit Wall Street computers a second or so before the rest of us see them. In this episode of Diving In, he explains why one second is an eternity for a high-frequency trading computer: it can read a post announcing a strike on Iran, figure out what it means for markets, and sell before the news reaches your phone. Justin lays out three problems. It's bad for democracy — a

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13:24

What Victorian Bootmakers Can Teach Us About The...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/08/05

When the CEO of Anthropic warns AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, it's easy to picture the destruction. Justin Wolfers wants you to picture the other half of the story. In this episode of Diving In, he uses a carefully researched study of Victorian bootmaking — where a labor-saving sewing machine let each worker make four times as many boots — to show how a technology can completely remake an industry while total employment barely moves. The numbers are almost

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70:43

Economics Is Not a Subject — It's a Toolkit |...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/08/04

This is a conversation between Justin and Larry Kotlikoff, fellow economist and host of the Economics Matters podcast. And it was a fun one, in which Larry encouraged Justin to look both backwards and forwards. Backward at some of the work he's most proud of, and forward at the growing challenges we face as an economy and a nation. In the process, Justin and Larry philosophized over the role of economics and the duty of economists in helping tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. This

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50:25

Tariffs, Take Three: The Dumbest Round Yet | Off the...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/08/02

Justin and Stacey are back for Off the Clock — helping you figure out what economic news to actually worry about, what you can safely ignore, and where to find some silver linings. This week was a big one for economic news and data. Justin starts by explaining to Stacey why this latest round of tariffs is the dumbest one yet. And Stacey brings in some reporting to highlight how small businesses are struggling under the weight of constant chaos and confusion. Then they dig into the Fed and why

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18:18

How SNAP's New Rules Make Eligible Families Go Hungry...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/08/01

Recent changes to SNAP quietly cut food assistance from 4 million Americans — 1.5 million of them children (plus elderly, disabled, and other eligible recipients who were never the intended target). In this follow-up to his earlier video Diving In to SNAP cuts, Justin Wolfers answers follow-up questions and explains how the policy actually plays out for real people. Justin walks through why administrative burdens do so much damage: when it's harder to apply, appeal, or bring in paperwork, the

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21:47

The Lawyer’s Theory of Trade | Diving In

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/29

Donald Trump's trade representative Jamison Greer thinks about trade like a litigator: clients, injuries, bad actors, and remedies. Justin Wolfers takes Greer's own words from his recent interview with The Daily and shows why that worldview rests on muddled thinking about what trade actually is — and why it ends up costing you. In this Diving In episode, Justin lays out the tells and discusses the bottom line. The numbers are blunt: New York Fed research finds roughly 90% of the tariff burden

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21:42

Should Canada answer Trump's tariffs? | The Professor...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/25

In this episode of The Professor Is In, Justin Wolfers digs into the latest tariffs on Canada, answering subscriber questions and responding to comments from his earlier Diving In He addresses the suspicious timing of these new tariffs, break down the confusing dairy tariff-rate quota, and argues that total US-Canada dairy trade — about a billion dollars against hundreds of billions in overall trade — isn't worth blowing up either economy over. On whether Canada should retaliate, Justin

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13:55

The Biggest Economic Story Nobody's Talking About |...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/22

Last summer, Congress passed one of the biggest cuts to food assistance in a generation. SNAP — the program a lot of folks still call food stamps — pays about $188 a month, roughly $6 a day for groceries like milk, eggs, rice, and peanut butter. It's not enough to live on, but it's the thing that lets a parent say yes to fruit this week instead of no. In this Diving In episode, Justin walks you through what actually happened in four parts: what SNAP is and who leans on it, how the cuts

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21:56

Why Trump’s New Tariff Is Bigger Than Canada | Diving In

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/21

Trump's new 50% tariffs on Canada bypass USMCA — here's what it really means for you. President Trump just hit a limited set of Canadian goods with 50% tariffs, and he did it by dusting off Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — a law last used when Herbert Hoover was in the building. Justin Wolfers walks you through what actually happened, why it's stranger than it sounds, and why the direct cost to the U.S. is smaller than the message behind it. Here's the twist: throughout the

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19:45

Justin Answers Your Questions on Trump Accounts | The...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/20

In this latest episode of The Professor Is In, Justin answers listener questions and responds to comments from his latest episode dispelling the hype around Trump Accounts. Justin argues that Trump accounts are really two policies bundled together. There’s the attention-grabbing $1,000 payment for newborns, which has a genuine “kernel of genius” if the goal is to introduce families to saving, investing, and compound interest. But that piece is temporary. The larger, more durable

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44:26

What Reese's Cups and Canadian Wildfires Can Teach Us...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/18

In this episode of Off the Clock, Justin and Stacey break down some of the week’s biggest economic news — letting you know what to actually worry about, what you can safely ignore, and where to find some silver linings. This week they discuss the collapse of the Iran ceasefire and what it might mean for the economy. They also break down the latest inflation numbers, why the relief is probably short lived, and how inflation is starting to show up in less obvious and more surprising ways

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18:50

The Truth About Trump Accounts (Read the Fine Print)...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/15

In this episode of Diving In, Justin Wolfers explains why the new Trump Accounts are actually two very different policies jammed into one. First, there’s the headline-grabbing piece: a one-time $1,000 government deposit for babies born in a narrow window between 2025 and 2028, alongside a permanent tax-advantaged savings account that mainly helps families who can afford to keep contributing. The central problem, Justin argues, is that the biggest gains go to households with higher incomes,

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14:45

Good News on Inflation — With a Very Big Asterisk

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/14

The latest CPI report came in better than expected: headline inflation slowed to 3.5% and experienced its largest one-month decline since April 2020. But better-than-expected does not mean problem solved. Falling energy prices were largely responsible for this positive news, and a renewed war with Iran could quickly reverse that progress. As oil prices rise once more, those costs can spread quickly from the gas pump to airfare, shipping, groceries and beyond. In this episode, Justin also

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18:09

Could Price Comparison Apps Be Making Gas MORE...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/11

Justin is back for another episode of The Professor Is In, answering questions, responding to comments, and clarifying his previous takes. The gas price story is not just about your local station—it runs through refining, production constraints, inventories, retail competition, and consumer behavior. When oil prices rise, gas prices can adjust within days, but when they fall, the trip back down is slower—and there are several possible reasons, from tacit collusion to slower consumer

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11:21

The Hidden Pattern in Gas Prices (And How to Beat It)...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/08

Oil prices spike and pump signs change almost instantly. But when crude falls, the savings trickle in slowly — if they arrive at all. This pattern, known as "rockets and feathers," is real and measurable across decades of data. But does it prove oil companies are gouging you, or is something else entirely responsible? In this episode, Justin Wolfers breaks down what the data actually reveal about gas price asymmetry, explores three plausible mechanisms that could create it — from

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47:12

Feel Your Feelings: Jobs, Trump Accounts, and...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/04

Justin is back with Stacey Vanek Smith for another episode of Off the Clock just in time for America’s 250th birthday. The two of us dive into the latest economic news, and sift through the noise so you don’t have to. This week’s conversation covers the latest jobs report (disappointing but far from a disaster), the possible causes of the ongoing disconnect between economic statistics and consumer sentiment, the pros and cons and a less transparent Fed, and America’s newest

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10:58

June Jobs Report: Not Sinking, But Not Surging. Just...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/02

Is a “bad” jobs number is closer to normal than you think? In this 10-minute breakdown, Justin Wolfers explains how to read the latest jobs report without overreacting to a single headline. June payroll growth came in at 57,000, which looks weak by the standards of a few years ago. But those older standards may no longer fit an economy with slower population growth and lower immigration. The labor market may now need only around 60,000 new jobs a month to stay in balance. Justin also

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18:22

Navigating Inflation: Smart Strategies for Better...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/07/01

Inflation doesn't just raise prices — it tricks you into staring at bigger dollar numbers instead of asking what those dollars can actually buy. A two percent pay raise sounds great until inflation is running at three percent. Your savings account pays more interest until you realize it's still losing purchasing power. This is “money illusion,” and it costs you real money. In this episode, Justin Wolfers explains why inflation is like driving through fog: The signals are still

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15:29

How Food Delivery Killed Competition (And Took Your...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/06/24

Getting food delivered should be simple — but somehow it's gotten outrageously expensive. In this video, Justin Wolfers break down why food delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub make it nearly impossible to compare prices, and why that's no accident. Justin Wolfers spent half an hour pricing the same dinner order across four platforms, and the results will make you rethink every takeout order you've ever placed. This is what happens when bad design is there by design. This isn't

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25:53

Sifting Through the Wreckage of An Ill-Informed War|...

Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers ·

2026/06/23

In this episode of Slate's What Next, we examine the economic costs of the conflict with Iran and why the true price of war extends far beyond the immediate impact on oil prices. From higher energy costs to the effects of rising geopolitical risk on economic growth, we explore how economists measure the consequences of uncertainty — and why those costs are felt most by the world’s most vulnerable households. The conversation also looks at the broader economic implications of weakened

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