Greg Rosalsky

How much power does the Fed chair really have? On paper, the Fed chair is just one vote among many. In practice, the job carries far more influence. We analyze what gives the Fed chair power.

how powerful IS the Fed, actually? www.npr.org/sections/pla... @elliswonk.bsky.social @planetmoney.bsky.social

This housing program helped kids escape poverty — by changing who they befriended : Planet Money In the 1990s, Congress created HOPE VI, a program that demolished old public housing projects and replaced them with more up-to-date ones. But the program went further than just improving public…

In the 90s, Congress created a program to improve public housing and economically desegregate poor neighborhoods. The hope was that this would improve opportunities for the people who lived there. But no one knew whether it worked … until now.

Thanks! Maybe I will!

Is a 50-year mortgage really that much crazier than a 30-year one? Last week, the internet piled on President Trump's proposal for a 50-year mortgage. But maybe it's not as crazy as it sounds.

This article has a lot of really interesting information about the history of mortgages; I didn't realize the way we handle them in the US is this distinctive and the look at how they affect the housing market was very enlightening.

Germany thrived in the first China Shock. But the next one could prove catastrophic. The export-led industrial model that Germany has pursued for decades is now at a crossroads.

This article is seriously worth your time reading.
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Germany thrived during the first China Shock. But the next one could prove catastrophic.
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway Why evil histories sell. A visit to Hitler's bunker, and a deep dive into the economics and ethical quandaries of "dark tourism."

Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway. www.npr.org/sections/pla...

A Planet Money guide to 5 fascinating new econ papers The Planet Money newsletter rounds up some new economics studies.

PM's @elliswonk.bsky.social rounds up recent econ papers:
-economic history of firewood in America
-political spending after school shootings
-NIMBYism spreads to the Sunbelt?
-economic effects of Native American casinos
-longer kindergarten days boost mothers' work hours
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Partially a result of all the federal workers who lost jobs?

Can bringing back manufacturing help the heartland catch up with 'superstar' cities? In recent decades, America has seen economic opportunities concentrated in superstar cities. Manufacturing boosters hope reshoring factories could help change that. We look at the theory and evidence.

🔑 Is reviving manufacturing the key to local economic development? Today’s installment of @planetmoney.bsky.social addresses this question, ft. commentary from David Card and Enrico Moretti #econsky #policysky

Why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? Leaders from both major political parties have been working to bring back manufacturing. But American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have.

Leaders from both political parties have been working to bring back manufacturing. But American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have. www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Are Trump's tariffs a bargaining chip for a new global economic order? It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.

It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.

Are Trump's tariffs a bargaining chip for a new global economic order? It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.

Why and how Trump's tariffs may be leverage in service of reshaping the global economic order....and whether being the reserve currency is a privilege or a burden: www.npr.org/sections/pla... @elliswonk.bsky.social

Are Trump's tariffs a bargaining chip for a new global economic order? It's not just tariffs. The White House is rethinking the central role of the dollar in the global economy.

"We have not seen in our lifetimes an effort to blow up the international economic order as we know it. So now we're in a world where anything that we used to take for granted — and that certainly includes the international role of the dollar — is suddenly in doubt."

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Tariffs: what are they good for? : Planet Money What are tariffs good for?For years, mainstream economists have basically said: tariffs are not good. They are an import tax paid by consumers, they've said, and they discourage free trade, and we wan...

we've heard so much abt how tariffs are bad. but surely tariffs have been useful EVER, or they wouldn't exist, right? RIGHT?

today on @planetmoney.bsky.social, we hear the ways in which tariffs CAN be useful, and how they fit into the Trump administration's worldview
www.npr.org/2025/04/02/1...

Crumbling trust in American institutions: A MAHA activist takes on Girl Scout cookies A controversial study raised the specter that Girl Scout cookies are unsafe. Authorities say they are safe, but the whole saga highlights a breakdown of trust in American institutions.

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

today's @planetmoney.bsky.social newsletter by @elliswonk.bsky.social is on rising levels of distrust in American institutions, especially with respect to food safety:

Trump is asserting extraordinary power over independent agencies. Is the Fed next? The rise and potential fall of independent agencies.

The rise and potential fall of independent agencies.

Can President Trump ignore Congress' spending laws? The debate over 'impoundment' Since taking office, the Trump administration and DOGE have been seeking to unilaterally override the spending plans set by Congress. Can they do that under the U.S. Constitution?

Since taking office, the Trump administration and DOGE have been seeking to unilaterally override the spending plans set by Congress. Can they do that under the U.S. Constitution?

Why economists got free trade with China so wrong The "China Shock" is revisited, and it raises questions about why economists failed to see the costs of free trade.

The "China Shock" is revisited, and it raises questions about why economists failed to see the costs of free trade.

Why the AI world is suddenly obsessed with a 160-year-old economics paradox The primer on Jevons paradox that you didn't know you needed.

The primer on Jevons paradox that you didn't know you needed.

Why the AI world is suddenly obsessed with a 160-year-old economics paradox The primer on Jevons paradox that you didn't know you needed.

The primer on Jevons paradox that you didn't know you needed.
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Downward sloping demand curve *with very elastic demand*! I agree it's not really a paradox. But for total spending to go up need demand to be really reactive to fall in price.

This economist survived a wildfire. Now she's taking on California's insurance crisis An economist's harrowing escape from fire, and her big ideas to rescue California from its insurance doom spiral.

An economist's harrowing escape from fire, and her big ideas to rescue California from its insurance doom spiral.

This economist survived a wildfire. Now she's taking on California's insurance crisis An economist's harrowing escape from fire, and her big ideas to rescue California from its insurance doom spiral.

'Houses continue to be valuable investments in these fire-prone communities. Not only that. The economists find that, between 2001 and 2015, the properties that burned down and got rebuilt were actually significantly more valuable within five years of the catastrophe.'

This skateboarding economist suggests we need more skateparks and less capitalism A skateboarder presented an unusual paper at this year's big meeting of American economists.

IN: academic papers about skateboarding
OUT: capitalism (?)
read more from @elliswonk.bsky.social :
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

Check out this great writeup in @planetmoney.bsky.social by @elliswonk.bsky.social about our working paper and the types of cognitive biases that might be affecting medical care surrounding various holidays--or really any day
www.npr.org/sections/pla...

We should have just got the third winner 🤔

What’s your address? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Proud of this latest piece. It’s part 2. Give em both a read would ya?