Podcast Episodes
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A Family Bill for a Shrinking U.S.
Season 1 Episode 9
The declining birth rate in the United States is often discussed not only as a major demographic shift, but as a looming economic disaster. Ideas bei…
1 year, 1 month ago
Progress is a Long Game
Season 1 Episode 8
What sparks progress? The right political conditions? Social pressure? Economic upheaval? In response to two listeners’ questions, Kathryn Edwards sa…
1 year, 1 month ago
Paid Sick Days for Lady Gaga (and Everyone Else Too)
Season 1 Episode 7
In the category of low-hanging policy fruit, why won’t any politician pluck the ripe, juicy goodness of federally mandated paid sick leave? About 30 …
1 year, 2 months ago
AI Suggested Five Horrible Titles for This Episode
Season 1 Episode 6
A recent article in the Washington Post proposed that U.S. labor data has just started to show the bite artificial intelligence is taking out of U.S.…
1 year, 2 months ago
Work Rules for the Modern World
Season 1 Episode 5
Never heard of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938? It’s why there’s a minimum wage, overtime pay, and 12-year-olds can’t legally have a job. It’s a…
1 year, 2 months ago
Robin Loves a Tax Story
Season 1 Episode 4
The United States is more than 20 years into a tax experiment – an era of a cumulative $7 trillion in tax cuts. So, asks economist Kathryn Edwards, h…
1 year, 2 months ago
Social Security Don’t Miss
Season 1 Episode 3
What’s with the persistent narrative of Social Security's impending doom? Are the baby boomers draining the trust fund? Are Americans living too long…
1 year, 2 months ago
Is This a Recession or Not?
Season 1
Wouldn’t it be funny if we launched a podcast called “Optimist Economy” at the very moment the economy started to slide? Nice timing, us! In this bon…
1 year, 3 months ago
An Elegy for the DEI Boogeyman
Season 1 Episode 2
Rapidly changed government and corporate policies mean the era of DEI is coming to a screeching halt. But gross racial discrimination in the U.S. lab…
1 year, 3 months ago
All We've Tried is Nothing!
Season 1 Episode 1
Who are we and what in the world is an “optimist economy?”
For our first show, we (economist Kathryn Edwards and editor Robin Rauzi) introduce ourselv…
1 year, 3 months ago