Labor Hoarding: Retaining Workers During Economic Downturns

14min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter explores the concept of labor hoarding and its impact on inflation and disinflation in the economy. It discusses how companies hold onto their employees during economic downturns in anticipation of future demand, using the example of a toy factory retaining workers despite a decrease in sales. The chapter also highlights the challenges of finding new workers with necessary skills and how labor hoarding can delay disinflation.

After very high inflation, the United States is finally feeling some relief in the form of "disinflation." But, why exactly has inflation slowed down?

Three Planet Money hosts try to answer that question while competing to be the winner of our very own reporting challenge: Econ Battle Zone!

It's economics journalism meets high-stakes reality TV competition! Will our contestants be able to impress our celebrity judges? How will they manage to incorporate their mystery ingredients? Who will take home the championship belt? Tune in for the inaugural episode of...Econ Battle Zone!

This episode was hosted by Keith Romer, Amanda Aronczyk, Erika Beras, and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi. James Sneed produced this episode with help from Emma Peaslee. The show was edited by Molly Messick, engineered by Cena Loffredo, and fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy