NPR: Planet Money

A new study looks at the experiment with a guaranteed basic income in Stockton, California.

McDonald's is one of the nation's largest employers of low-wage workers. And because it's everywhere, it's a great place to test the effects of minimum wage laws.

Taxes may lack the razzle dazzle of meme-fueled stock rallies. But they might prove a better way to curb Wall Street excesses.

A new study adds to the growing mountain of evidence that says that poverty impairs people's ability to think.

A new study investigates whether common ownership of cereal makers by institutional investors is leading them to become a kind of stealth monopoly.

We talk with the authors of Why Nations Fail about whether the Capitol insurrection is a sign that our nation is failing and, if so, whether there's anything we can do about it.

A hundred years ago, a world war and a pandemic wreaked havoc on baseball and other industries. But pent-up demand helped them come roaring back.

A new study looks at ways to make New Year's resolutions succeed.

A new book digs into the social science of athletic greatness and reveals patterns leading to glory.

In mountains across America, skiers and snowboarders are ditching ski lifts and heading into the backcountry. We talked with a pioneer of backcountry snowboarding about how we got here.

A new study did experiments on millions of Lyft riders to figure out how much they value time. Researchers found time is worth more money than previously thought.

In the early 2000s, Joe Biden helped bring China and America closer. Now, not so much.

There are so many appointees the government publishes a book to help keep track of them and that might not be enough.

Despite the pandemic — or maybe because of it — new businesses are starting at record rates.

A furniture salesman used a sports bet as insurance.

A furniture salesman used a sports bet as insurance.

The way the government tracks recessions is largely the same as it was 70 years ago. A research group is working to change that and is revealing a lot about the lopsided recovery along the way.

The way the government tracks recessions is largely the same as it was 70 years ago. A research group is working to change that and is revealing a lot about the lopsided recovery along the way.

Since COVID-19 hit our shores, economists have been crunching data to see how it's affecting our economy.

Since COVID-19 hit our shores, economists have been crunching data to see how it's affecting our economy.

The Federal Reserve launched a massive program to lend to small and midsize businesses. It has hardly loaned out anything.

The Federal Reserve launched a massive program to lend to small and midsize businesses. It has hardly loaned out anything.

Kamala Harris has called her time at Howard University "one of the most important aspects of my life." Much of that time was spent studying economics.

Kamala Harris has called her time at Howard University "one of the most important aspects of my life." Much of that time was spent studying economics.

Bar fight!

Bar fight!

Big furniture companies have relied on a century-old model for selling desks and chairs. It doesn't work in the age of the home office.

Big furniture companies have relied on a century-old model for selling desks and chairs. It doesn't work in the age of the home office.

This is the story of how Guinness got into the business of record-breaking, and how one Planet Money intern broke a world record involving the president of Georgia.

This is the story of how Guinness got into the business of record-breaking, and how one Planet Money intern broke a world record involving the president of Georgia.

It feels like cash has disappeared. But there's more paper money out there than ever. That might be a problem.

One America is living in a housing boom. The other needs support from the government or family for an affordable place to live.

Why people are buying their own firetrucks.

COVID-19 and tariffs are reconfiguring trade. And companies are reevaluating how and where their products get made.

In-person service jobs, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, are disproportionately done by women. Yet the unemployment rate is only part of the story.

COVID-19 safeguards have created a black market for gyms.

Viral conspiracy theories are dangerous, and maybe profitable.

The debate over liability and the coronavirus.

There was once a time when there were only occasional federal taxes, no 9-to-5 jobs and farmers markets as far as the eye could see.

Restaurants are getting squeezed. How many will survive? And what should we do about it?

Federal agencies say a life is worth $10 million. This is the story of how they got that number.

As America experiences a coin shortage, Planet Money takes a look at the value of the penny.

Cheap beer sales are surging but are still losing ground to craft beer. Yet craft breweries are still suffering. What is going on?

A new study shows that about half of the entire workforce is now remote. The case for why "this portends a much bigger shift in the economy."

A blockbuster new study digs into the economics of the pandemic.

It's gonna be different, that's for sure. But we promise it will be fun and educational.

Despite turmoil in the real economy, the stock market spent months surging. That is, until recently. We speak with a Nobel laureate about what might be happening.

Despite political and social progress, African Americans still lag far behind economically.

The problem goes deeper than police misconduct.

Among the bottom fifth of income earners, who are more likely to be black and Latino, about 35% of them lost their jobs.