The Pie: An Economics Podcast

The secret to winning in a rigged economy isn't changing the rules, argues Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather, but mastering the game. In this episode, Fairweather, the first Black woman to earn a PhD from UChicago's Economics Department, reveals economic "cheat codes" for navigating the modern workplace, from decoding performance reviews to discovering your true market value.

When couples move for work, whose career takes the hit? UChicago economist Matt Notowidigdo discusses research showing that when heterosexual couples relocate, men's incomes increase by 10-15% while women's earnings barely budge, generating earnings gaps that last for years. Plus, couples are more likely to move when the man loses the job compared to the woman.

Nobel laureate James Heckman, a University of Chicago professor renowned for his work on early childhood economics, emphasizes the crucial role of the first five years in brain development. He reveals how low-cost home-visiting programs often yield better outcomes than expensive institutions. Heckman highlights that early skills create pathways for future learning, discusses the long-term health benefits of early interventions, and critiques the current trends in economic research for losing sight of broader implications.

Yana Gallen, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, dives into the impact of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision on contraceptive choices. She reveals the surprising spikes in long-acting contraceptive methods like IUDs and sterilization following the ruling. Analyzing health insurance data, Yana discusses how young adults saw lasting increases in sterilization. The conversation also tackles broader implications, revealing how policy changes can lead to unexpected shifts in reproductive behavior, while noting that overall fertility impacts may be minor.

Virginia Minni, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, explores the impact of personal purpose on workplace motivation. She reveals insights from a trial with 3,000 employees who attended a 'Discover Your Purpose' workshop, highlighting how individual meaning can boost productivity. Minni discusses the surprising benefits, including improved satisfaction and team cohesion, and emphasizes that connecting personal goals to work not only enhances fulfillment but also drives better business outcomes.

Peter Ganong, an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago focusing on housing, and Yoni Appelbaum, Deputy Editor at The Atlantic and author of *Stuck*, delve into America's mobility crisis. They discuss how restrictive housing regulations have hindered economic opportunities, creating a divide where only the affluent can relocate to thriving cities. Historical insights reveal how moving once shaped American life, while today, rising costs and zoning laws limit movement and impact community dynamics. The conversation even spices up with a playful culinary lightning round!

Chad Syverson, a distinguished economics professor at the University of Chicago, shares his insights on the housing market's complexities. He reveals that construction costs and housing prices have become 'completely decoupled' over the last 75 years. Syverson challenges the belief that rising building costs are to blame for increasing home prices, highlighting broader economic factors at play. He discusses significant historical trends and regional influences, emphasizing that the housing affordability crisis extends beyond just construction expenses.

Evan Rose, an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, specializes in labor markets and job perks. In this discussion, he reveals that job satisfaction extends beyond salaries, spotlighting the significance of flexible hours and workplace culture. By analyzing insights from over 20,000 Danish workers, Rose uncovers how hidden benefits play a crucial role in employee retention. The conversation also touches on the disparities in job value perceptions between the US and Denmark, and concludes with a light-hearted segment on creative pie-making.

Textbooks don't just teach facts, they shape how children understand the world and their place in it. In this episode, UChicago economist Anjali Adukia discusses her study of textbooks across public schools, religious private schools, and homeschools. Using advanced AI tools to analyze tens of thousands of pages, she uncovers both unexpected similarities between politically divergent states and meaningful differences in how religious and secular curricula present topics from evolution to gender representation.

In this discussion, Eduardo Montero, an Assistant Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy, dives into the economic consequences of religious prohibitions, particularly within the Seventh-day Adventist community. He reveals how restrictions on farming certain crops impact local economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating intriguing trade-offs for believers. Montero also explores the adaptability of religious tenets amid economic pressure, emphasizing how communal bonds transform in the face of shared sacrifices while pondering the interplay of faith and market dynamics.