Mostly Economics

Dean Baker speaks with historian Dr. William P. Jones about his book "The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom, and the Forgotten History of the Civil Rights Movement." They explore how the famous march began as a protest for jobs and economic justice, the crucial role of labor unions in organizing the event, and why the economic demands—including full employment and a living minimum wage—have been largely erased from pop...

Dean Baker interviews Katie Wilson, Executive Director of the Transit Riders Union and Seattle mayoral candidate, about her "News Notes" proposal—a voucher system that would give residents around $100 in public credits to support local media outlets of their choice. Wilson explains how this democratic funding model, similar to Seattle's existing Democracy Vouchers for political campaigns, would provide an alternative to billi...

In today's episode of Mostly Economics, we speak to Doug Harris, Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at Tulane University, about the recently launched "State of the Nation" project — and why Trump's war on data could undermine its existence in the future.

Visit the State of the Nation Project: https://stateofnation.org/

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AFL-CIO Chief Economist Darrick Hamilton explains how decades of failed economic policies created the conditions for Trump's rise—but also reveals why there's reason for hope. The surprisingly effective 2020 economic response wasn't an accident; it was the result of years of grassroots organizing by movements like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street. Hamilton breaks down how social movements forced politicians to abando...

Why do millions of working Americans still lack health insurance? Dean Baker sits down with economist John Schmitt to break down the massive gaps in U.S. healthcare coverage and what it means for workers across the country. They look at which workers are getting left behind, how the Affordable Care Act changed the game, and why low-income workers are still struggling to get coverage. Plus, they explore the maze that is our current ...

Why do communities of color still face barriers to homeownership decades after civil rights legislation? In this eye-opening episode of Mostly Economics, host Dean Baker talks with Jacob Faber, Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Service at NYU's Wagner School and co-founder of the Redlining Lab, about the deep roots of housing discrimination in America.

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In this episode, host Dean Baker speaks with CEPR co-director Eileen Appelbaum to unpack the dark world of private equity. They explore how PE firms use debt-heavy buyouts, exploit tax loopholes like carried interest, and profit from management fees while acquired companies bear the financial burden. The discussion covers PE's impact on retirement, inadequate regulatory oversight, and growing ethical dilemmas as private equity incr...

Dean Baker breaks down Medicare Advantage with experts Emma Curchin and Brandon Novick. They expose the marketing tricks, bureaucratic roadblocks, and hidden costs that trap beneficiaries. Essential viewing for anyone navigating Medicare or advocating for healthcare reform.

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Dean Baker sits down with renowned economist Richard Freeman to explore the multifaceted role of unions-not only in securing higher wages and better working conditions, but also in empowering workers with a collective voice and boosting workplace productivity. The conversation also delves into the recent wave of unionization among graduate students and post-docs, highlighting the broader implications for the academic workforce.

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In this conversation, Dean Baker and Nick Bloom discuss the evolution and current state of remote work, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. They explore the significant increase in remote work, the productivity implications, and the hybrid work model's benefits and challenges.

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Dean Baker speaks with renowned economist Isabella Weber about her influential concept of "sellers' inflation," which examines how firms with market power drive price increases during supply bottlenecks. Weber, an Associate Professor at UMass Amherst, shares her expertise on U.S.-China trade tensions and reflects on the evolution of academic responses to her once-controversial price control proposals.

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Social Security has lifted millions of seniors out of poverty, but it's under attack. In our latest episode, Dean Baker sits down with Nancy Altman, who's spent 50 years defending this critical program. Nancy cuts through the political noise to reveal what's really happening: how interference in the Social Security Administration puts our data at risk, why the system is actually incredibly efficient, and how fraud claims are being ...

In this episode, we are talking about the tipped minimum wage with Dr. Sylvia Allegretto, CEPR Senior Economist. unpacks the little-known but widespread practice of paying tipped workers a sub-minimum wage—just $2.13 an hour at the federal level since 1991. Dean and Sylvia discuss how this "tip credit" system effectively shifts much of the wage burden from employers to customers, enables wage theft, and leaves millions of wor...

Today's episode looks at the inefficiencies and inequities of the current U.S. healthcare system, highlighting the administrative waste and barriers to care created by private insurance, and explore how a single-payer system could deliver universal coverage, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes. The conversation also addresses the political and economic pathways to achieving Medicare for All, including the potential for major ...

Dean Baker talks with healthcare journalist Jonathan Cohn about the historic assault on Medicaid at the heart of the 2025 budget bill. The proposed legislation would slash hundreds of billions in federal funding for essential healthcare programs. They discuss how "work requirements" create bureaucratic traps rather than jobs, while revealing the cynical strategy to delay the harshest cuts until 2029. The Affordable Care Act has tra...

The untold story behind efforts to make life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs accessible across Africa. Love recounts his pivotal role in breaking down patent barriers and negotiating steep price reductions—transforming treatment from an unaffordable $10,000–$15,000 a year to just a few hundred dollars—thereby saving millions of lives and shaping global health policy. The conversation also explores ongoing challenges in drug...

An in-depth discussion on the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the American Rescue Plan, and the broader successes and challenges of the Biden administration's economic policies. Together, they analyze the trade-offs between inflation and full employment, the underappreciated gains for low-wage workers, and the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing through targeted industrial policy. The conversation also explor...

Dean Baker sits down with Stephanie Kelton to unpack the core ideas of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Kelton dispels common misconceptions about government spending, emphasizing that the real constraint on public programs is not money, but the availability of real resources like skilled workers and infrastructure. The conversation explores the mechanics of government finance, the implications of deficits, and current policy debates,...