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EXTRA

An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update)

A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy.

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Episode 94

Fireworks Shows

Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and backs away quickly.

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Episode 69

Does Death Have to Be a Death Sentence? (Update)

Palliative physician B.J. Miller asks: Is there a better way to think about dying? And can death be beautiful?

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Episode 634

“Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job”

Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is less reserved than the average banker. He explains why vibes are overrated, why the Fed’s independence is non-negotiable, and why tariffs could bring the economy back to the Covid era.

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