How the Fed Works, Currency Crises, and TikTok ban [Listener Mailbag]

In today's episode of Econ 102, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg tackle more listener questions: the Fed's impact on inflation and the economy, theories behind interest rates' unexpected effects, and 'greedflation'. The discussion also extends to shifts in Japan's economic policies amid currency valuation concerns, housing price disparities between the US and Canada, gentrification, balanced budget amendments, and the geopolitical dynamics between Saudi Arabia and Iran, finishing with thoughts on TikTok. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions. Keep 'em coming: [email protected]

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Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns

Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0epyYBAxLeF0PsNagdDJAJ

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/company-breakdowns/id1743119197

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SEND US YOUR Q's FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: [email protected]

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LINKS:

Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:53) What if the dollar was no longer the world’s reserve currency?

(04:50) Fair taxation

(08:20) Level of redistribution in the US

(10:30) Lowering inequality by increasing economic growth

(18:26) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Harmonic

(20:26) Education reform

(30:07) Fixing rising costs in healthcare

(34:12) Limitations of UBI

(39:09) Massive gap between US and China’s manufacturing capacity

(46:25) US potential gateway to Africa

(54:28) Impact of foreign aid

(59:20) Revitalizing small US cities

(01:04:58) Wrap

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