NPR: Planet Money

Keith King was upset when his marriage ended. His wife had cheated, and his family broke apart. And that's when he learned about a very old type of lawsuit, called a heart balm tort. A lawsuit that would let him sue the man his now ex-wife had gotten involved with during their marriage.On this episode, where heart balm torts came from, what relationships looked like back then, and why these lawsuits still exist today (in some states, anyway.) And also, what happened when Keith King used a heart balm tort to try to deal with the most significant economic entanglement of his life: his marriage.This episode was hosted by Erika Beras and Sarah Gonzalez. It was produced by Emma Peaslee and edited by Molly Messick. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and engineered by Gilly Moon. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

For decades, Saudi Arabia's economy has been defined by its abundant oil reserves. Its ability to influence global oil supply propelled Saudi Arabia to one of the richest countries in the world. The Saudi royal family became important players on the world stage. However, waning dominance in the oil market is forcing the Saudi government to think differently about its reliance on the commodity.Today on the show, we explain Saudi Arabia's fantastical vision for its future and how the government is using its present influence in the oil market to fund it.Related episodes:Why oil in Guyana could be a curseFor sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

WeWork, DraftKings, Lucid Motors. These are a few companies that have taken an untraditional route to go public through something called SPACs or special purpose acquisition companies. The obscure investment vehicle took off during the pandemic, but has since fallen back to earth. Today, we consider the rise and fall of SPACs and how recent rule changes will affect these deals.Related episodes: The SPAC is backFor sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

There are tons of markets that don't exist because people just don't want to allow a market - for whatever reason, people feel icky about putting a price on something. For example: Surrogacy is a legal industry in parts of the United States, but not in much of the rest of the world. Assisted end-of-life is a legal medical transaction in some states, but is illegal in others.When we have those knee-jerk reactions and our gut repels us from considering something apparently icky, economics asks us to look a little more closely. Today on the show, we have three recommendations of things that may feel kinda wrong but economics suggests may actually be the better way. First: Could the matching process of organ donation be more efficient if people could buy and sell organs? Then: Should women seek revenge more often in the workplace? And finally, what if insider trading is actually useful? This episode was hosted by Mary Childs and Greg Rosalsky. It was produced by Willa Rubin and edited by Jess Jiang. It was engineered by Cena Loffredo. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

The singer and songwriter behind Planet Money's "Inflation" song has passed away.

In a new book, Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton offers a scathing critique of American politics and economic policy.

More than 70 percent of American fathers return to work less than two weeks after having a baby. Here is why I'm not one of them.

A blockbuster new study finds that America's elite private colleges are systematically giving huge advantages to rich kids over their equally bright, yet less privileged peers.

Over the last century, we've seen a huge improvement in the accuracy of weather forecasts. A new study suggests these better forecasts have tremendous value for our lives and our economy.

Over the last few decades, states and counties across America have liberalized the use of fireworks. It's just one reason why sales of fireworks have exploded.

Like an increasing number of national parks in the United States, Mount Vesuvius has begun rationing access with a quota system. The system has had some problems.

Financial stress. It feels personal, but it has big implications for the economy.

A new Netflix docuseries provides a fascinating picture of humanity's closest living relatives.

Financial literacy programs have been called useless in the past. But a new study suggests that's due to the way the subject is taught, rather than the subject itself.

We spoke with MIT's David Autor, one of the top labor economists in the world, about how AI could revolutionize the job market.

A group of economists conducted one of the first empirical studies of "generative AI" at a real-world company. They found it had big effects.

The answer could matter for your home value, stock portfolio, and the future of the economy.

Sanctions backfire. So why do we keep using them?

A new study finds that women are excelling in the book business. Yet, they still lag in other creative industries. We search for an explanation why.

What the HBO show 'Succession' can teach us about family companies

A new book argues the consulting industry is weakening businesses, harming the government, and distorting the economy.

A major bank in Silicon Valley experienced a bank run and failed. Fearing a cascading catastrophe in tech and banking, the government stepped in to prevent contagion.

Is that review real or fake? Most of us can't tell

Despite a stream of headlines last year about unionization drives throughout the nation, the share of American workers in unions fell to its lowest level on record. What's going on?

What your commute can do for you

A growing hospital movement aims to improve health outcomes of homeless patients with what might be considered the ultimate preventive care: providing them with a home.

A new book says the Great Resignation was really the Great Reshuffle.

A college kid's mission to prevent misuse of artificial intelligence.

In a fascinating new study, a group of economists measures the impact of immigrants on American innovation.

There are many more drinking options this Dry January if you like the taste of alcoholic drinks but don't like the effects of alcohol.

Germans are on a mission to transform their energy economy and reduce their consumption, including by — apparently — using lots of candles.

Santa's services are more in demand than ever — and he and his helpers are having a hard time keeping up.

When sanctions were enacted against Russia in February of this year, many forecasts were of an imminent collapse in the Russian economy. A new report looks at why that hasn't happened.

Could a shorter work week be the answer to the UK's productivity problem?

A scientific discovery could forever change China and the U.S. industrial balance.

Almost 50 years ago, a band made an incredible song about Inflation. Then the song was lost to the dustbin of history. Now, Planet Money is on a mission to make this record a hit.

Liz Truss is just the latest Prime Minister to be tripped up trying to tackle productivity.

The video game Citizen Sleeper critiques the gig economy in a cyberpunk "post-capitalist" future

A new book argues that for the U.S. to become more globally competitive and create good jobs, we must embrace and expand trade with Canada and Mexico.

Bronzeville, a neighborhood of Chicago, was the epicenter of a Black renaissance before it fell on hard times. Now, it's booming again. Here's the story of its incredible turnaround.

Since 2020, office workers have waged an epic battle to work remotely. They're mostly winning.

Is "quiet quitting" about being lazy or setting healthy boundaries? Is it even real? We dig into the data and ask workers themselves about what it means to them.

A Yale professor of finance read through 50 popular finance books to see how they square with traditional economic theory.

Car dealerships deploy tricks and traps to make as much money as they can from you. Here's what I learned when trying to buy a new car.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, automakers began adopting an anti-theft technology that dramatically reduced car thefts. But why did it take so long?

The Marshall Project asked people in prison to track their earning and spending — and bartering and side hustles — for 30 days. Their accounts reveal a thriving underground economy behind bars.

It's a summer of macro at Planet Money. Celebrate hot econ summer with our playlist.

A blockbuster new study reveals a key factor explaining rates of upward mobility.

The tech industry is in turmoil. But there's at least one startup that is thriving these days, and it's one that's helping other startups lay off workers.