Planet Money Summer School 4: Who are all these regulations protecting?
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Jul 30, 2025 
Joanne-Ricard Uguet, an associate professor in political science, joins former co-host David Kestenbaum to dive into the complex world of government regulations. They discuss whether regulations truly protect consumers or merely the wealthy elites. The conversation takes lively turns as they explore the licensing hurdles faced by hair braiders and the innovative quest to patent meat processing methods. Tune in for an insightful look at how regulations can stifle creativity while also keeping public safety in check.
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Meat Cutting Innovation Saves Business
- Gene Gagliardi, an 82-year-old meat inventor, saved his family business by inventing a unique way to cut and prepare steak for Philly cheesesteaks.
- He patented this new method, leading to $20 million in sales and numerous other meat-related patents.
Patent Law Defaults to Granting
- Patents are supposed to encourage new, useful ideas by granting temporary monopolies to inventors.
- The default in patent law is to grant patents for anything new and non-obvious, even if the usefulness is questionable.
Patents Favor Innovation Mostly in Rich Countries
- Intellectual property rights promote innovation and economic growth mainly in developed countries.
- Poorer countries sometimes benefit more from flexible rules that allow idea sharing to spur faster growth.