The Economics Show The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: Maga man and Mamdani
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Dec 3, 2025 
This conversation features Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist renowned for his insights on macroeconomics. He teams up with Martin Wolf to dissect the plight of American men in the workforce, addressing the decline linked to educational divides. They critique MAGA's promises of job restoration while evaluating the pragmatic policy approach of newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani. The duo discusses innovative solutions for housing affordability and regional support, ending with a cautious optimism for progressive reform amidst reactionary politics.
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Decline In Prime-Age Male Labor Force
- Prime-age American men have seen a sharp decline in labor-force attachment since the 1950s, especially those without college degrees.
- This decline links to demoralization and political radicalization, not just economics.
Women's Workforce Rise Reshaped Society
- Women's labor-force participation and educational attainment rose dramatically since the 1970s, transforming career expectations.
- This divergence intensified status loss among non-college men and reshaped political alignments.
Regional Job Loss Intensifies Cultural Mismatch
- The geography of job loss matters: former industrial heartlands have been stranded while opportunities concentrate in educated big cities.
- Remaining jobs in those regions often are in female-coded sectors, reinforcing cultural mismatch for men.
