Planet Money and the hidden laws that run our economy

Planet Money has been making economic news fun since 2008. And now it's the start of a new chapter for the beloved podcast... a whole book’s worth of chapters in fact.   Their new book is called Planet Money: A guide to the economic forces that shape your life.   On today's episode, Monica and Jo…

Where have all the diners gone? The disappearing middle class economy

The middle class economy is quintessentially American. It’s a whole range of businesses that cropped up to serve the growing middle class after World War II. Think coffee and apple pie at your neighborhood diner. Or back-to- school shopping at Sears.   But companies that cater to the middle class …

Could light rail across Lake Washington turn Seattle into the new Copenhagen?

It’s taken 10 years and almost $4 billion, but at long last, light rail will run across Lake Washington.   For people living near the new light rail, it’ll mean shorter commutes, and faster trips to the airport, sporting events, and public parks. But its impact will extend beyond those convenienc…

Is 'millionaire migration' really a thing? Lessons from states that already tax the rich

Washington state just passed a tax on incomes above one million dollars a year. The so-called “millionaires tax” has critics warning we’re about to see an exodus of Washington’s wealthiest residents. So we wanted to know whether “millionaire migration” is really a thing. Today, what states that …

From software engineer to bus driver: Where laid off tech workers are now

About nine thousand tech workers in the Seattle area have lost their jobs in the past year. That could be nine thousand people competing for a shrinking pool of tech jobs.  This year started off with the most layoffs we’ve seen in a January since the Great Recession, and the lowest hiring on recor…

From Control F: The weird way we decide who sits below the poverty line

How do we decide who gets financial support from the government? Usually, it comes down to the federal poverty line.   You might think a lot of data and research goes into establishing that number. But in reality, it’s much squishier. So squishy in fact that it involves Jello... Today, a special …

Will this summer's World Cup be an economic win for Seattle?

For the first time ever, cities across Mexico, Canada, and the United States will be sharing the world’s most viewed sporting event... the FIFA men’s World Cup.  But sports economists will tell you, the cost of hosting these games isn't always worth the reward. On today's episode, will the World …

Grocery sticker shock and the rise of the dollar-store dinner

If you have sticker shock at the grocery store, you’re not alone. In Seattle, the cost of groceries is about 30% higher today than before the pandemic.  Those high prices are straining family budgets and causing many people to change how they shop. Today, creative hacks for putting food on the ta…

Could the hottest real estate market become... driveways?

Twenty years ago, buying a house in Seattle felt like a stretch. Today, it feels like you need to win the lottery.  Homeownership is slipping out of reach for a lot of people, especially those with modest incomes.  But there’s a movement underway in Washington State -- one that could bring housin…

The great data center space race

Data centers needed more space, so they literally moved there.  This week, Elon Musk announced he has merged his rocket company, Space X – with his AI company, xAI. The reason? He wants to build AI data centers in space.  But his company is not the only one that wants to take the cloud... off the…