Planet Money Summer School

Macroeconomics 8: Productivity & Getting Lit

Aug 31, 2022

30:12

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Highlights

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Episode notes

Is There Any Economic Concept That Gives You Hope in Dark Times?

01:37

Are We Reaching the End of How Much More Productive We Can Get?

01:51

The Roman Empire and Light

01:36

Introduction

2min

Productivity Is What Makes You Happier and Wealthier

2min

How Much Is Beef Fat?

2min

Youloa Candles

2min

How Much Does It Cost?

2min

How Much Light Are People Getting for Their Money?

1min

The Roman Empire and Light

2min

The Next Big Advance After That Is the Electric Lamp

2min

It's Not Enough to Get You to the World of Really Cheap Light

2min

10.

Edison Was a Good Innovator

2min

11.

Economic Growth Isn't All Good

2min

12.

The Story of Constant Economic Growth, Constant Productivity Improvement

3min

13.

Are We Reaching the End of How Much More Productive We Can Get?

2min

14.

Is There Any Economic Concept That Gives You Hope in Dark Times?

2min

15.

Productivity Is the Most Important Factor in Our Economy

4min

16.

Planet Money Summer School - The Old Lamplighter by the Browns

3min

Productivity is our economic measure for how far our work goes, as individuals and as a society over all. It plays an important role in determining our quality of life, the prices of our goods and services, and, to some extent, the amount of free time we have. Today, we explore how thousands of years of productivity advancements transformed something now so standard that we take it for granted: light. | At this Summer School, phones ARE allowed during class... Check out this week's PM TikTok! | Listen to past seasons of Summer School here.

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