Trumponomics

As U.S. election rhetoric reaches a fever pitch, politicians aren't the only ones taking a stand on issues. Some of the biggest brands around -- Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and Apple -- are wading into politics, a behavior that may only intensify as November approaches. Georgetown researchers Kurt Carlson and Chris Hydock join Tori to discuss the economic consequences companies face when they take a position on divisive issues, and how it's easier than ever for consumers to vote with their wallets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Worries about China's slowdown have dominated headlines since the beginning of the year. But beneath the day-to-day volatility is a simmering crisis: A rapidly aging population and an already shrinking workforce. Enda Curran, Bloomberg's chief Asia economics correspondent, joins Aki to discuss what these demographic trends will mean for a country still in the midst of transitioning from a developing to developed economy, and how China won't be alone in facing the consequences of an older society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presidential candidates including Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Jeb Bush have touted plans that will inspire growth twice as fast as what the U.S. has seen during the recovery. But can they actually follow through on those promises, or is the U.S. consigned to expansions that pale in comparison to decades past? Jason Furman, chairman of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, joins Tori and Dan to discuss how fast the economy can expect to grow given population and productivity trends, and whether that changes the reality of the American Dream.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India has the world's fastest-growing major economy and a population that's on course to be the world's largest -- eclipsing China -- within a decade. The nation's leaders are just as ambitious, launching the global "Make in India" campaign to buttress its status as a manufacturing powerhouse for cars, electronics and engineering equipment. Maybe you've seen the billboards in Hannover or San Francisco. It's the sort of issue that Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned on two years ago. He won in a landslide of epic proportions, but since then much of his agenda has stalled. What's holding India back? Bloomberg's Unni Krishnan, who covers Indian politics and economics in New Delhi, joins us this week to explain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bank of Japan's new rules on negative interest rates went into effect this week, with a quarter of the global economy now run by central banks that have deployed this unorthodox tool to stimulate growth. With stock markets in turmoil and recession fears running high, Federal Reserve officials are being asked if they'll consider going negative should economic conditions deteriorate. Karen Shaw Petrou, co-founder of Federal Financial Analytics, joins the hosts to explain exactly what negative interest-rate policies mean and what dangers -- and benefits -- may come with such an extraordinary step.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there's one place in the world that's close to cracking the secret on gender equality, it's Norway. But even this Scandinavian utopia has some way to go. Bloomberg Oslo correspondent Saleha Mohsin joins Tori and Aki this week to talk about Norway's successes and failures, weaving in her own experiences as a mother, a wife and a young woman with a career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mosquitoes don't have very many redeeming qualities. They drink our blood, they make us itch and they carry illnesses like Zika, a virus that's exploding across Latin America. They can also do some serious economic damage. From health care expenses to productivity losses -- even harm done to quality of life -- the economic costs associated with mosquitoes add up. So shouldn't we get rid of them all? Tori discusses this and more with Don Shepard, a health economist at Brandeis University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. is awash in inexpensive oil. That's usually been a plus for the economy, because even though energy companies get squeezed, drivers get a break at the pump. Now, that relationship's gotten a bit hairier. Oil producers have slashed jobs and investment, yet consumers haven't picked up the slack you'd expect from more affordable gas. So here's the question: Is cheap oil now bad for the economy? Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody's Analytics, joins Benchmark co-hosts Tori and Dan to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who wants to be a millionaire? Most people we know, at least. But individuals' odds of accumulating that much wealth diverge wildly as race, age and education are factored in, according to an exclusive dataset created by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for Bloomberg News. Researchers William Emmons and Bryan Noeth join Aki and Tori to discuss the way these three traits shape financial success, and how the deck is clearly stacked against some Americans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial markets around the world have been rocked as investors worry that a slowdown in China will spread to other nations as well. But how closely is the stock market actually linked to what's happening in the economy? Bloomberg stocks reporter Oliver Renick joins Tori and Aki to discuss whether the turbulence is a warning about growth prospects, or if stock-market jitters will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.