Trumponomics

For criminals looking to sell drugs, fund terrorism, evade taxes or bribe government officials, cash is king. That's why a growing chorus of academics and policy makers want to do away with high-denomination bills around the world, culminating last week in the European Central Bank's decision to stop printing the 500 euro note. But does this put us on a slippery slope toward a cashless society, where Big Brother can monitor our every financial move? Tori and Aki discuss with Peter Sands, a senior fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School and the former CEO Standard Chartered Bank, whose research helped spark the debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Puerto Rico missed a $400 million debt payment on Sunday, and bigger, more consequential defaults could follow. But how did things get so bad in the first place? Michelle Kaske, Bloomberg's municipal bonds reporter, joins Dan and Aki to discuss the best- and worst-case scenarios for the U.S. Territory as its next payment deadline approaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Affordable Care Act is back in the news, as insurers around the nation complain they're losing money in exchanges designed to bring health coverage to millions of Americans. A host of economic woes have been ascribed to Obamacare, including a higher incidence of part-time work and sour business sentiment, which opponents cite as evidence the federal government shouldn't have tried to remake the health insurance market. Supporters, meantime, argue the law achieved its primary goals and just needs further refinement. They also point to a jobless rate of 5 percent and ask how on earth can it be hurting employment? For both sides of the story, Tori and Dan are joined by Kathleen Sebelius, the former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services who helped shepherd the law through Congress, and Jim Capretta, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who has spent more than two decades studying U.S. health care policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's been having a tough time lately. The central bank used unorthodox tools to jumpstart growth -- and has little to show for it. It's closing in on deflationary territory. And now, the nation also has to worry about a strengthening yen, which has the potential to worsen both those issues. Dan and Tori discuss Japan's options, joined by Bloomberg reporter Toru Fujioka on the ground in Tokyo, and Jeff Young, co-founder and chief economist at DeepMacro LLC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Reserve has two mandates: price stability and full employment. Yet now many wonder whether the Fed, like many large and powerful organizations, has outsourced policy. And no, we're not talking about China or Mexico -- but rather to the financial markets. Instead of setting policy and letting markets respond, are investors really in the driver's seat? Is the Fed merely following their cue? Bloomberg's Rich Miller discusses the new dynamic with Dan, while Bob Burgess and Madeleine Lim try to let him know who's boss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems as if everywhere you turn these days you hear the same refrain: The rich are getting richer at the expense of the poor. Economists blame everything from from technology to globalization and tax policies. Now you here's another reason: The rise of associative mating, or when people marry others who share the same educational or socioeconomic status. So how can we fix who we fall in love with? Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution joins Aki and Tori to discuss the latest research, the downside of online dating and what the future holds for social mobility across the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home prices are surging around the world and in many of our favorite U.S. cities. It doesn't get much worse than tech-fueled San Francisco, where the price of a single starter home will fetch you 40 houses in Detroit. What can the rest of the world learn from the Bay Area? Ken Rosen of UC Berkeley joins Tori and Aki to discuss, and offers Aki some tips as she prepares to move back to California from Japan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, women in Saudi Arabia know how to drive. They can vote, at least in local elections. And every Saudi citizen, men and women, may be about to see the end of generous, oil-driven subsidies that explain a lack of income taxes and utility costs so low as to be practically free. Change is coming to the House of Saud -- and it's accelerating as the most destructive crash in oil prices in a generation forces the Kingdom's rulers to reset the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

(Bloomberg) -- Every year, millions of people make New Year's resolutions. Every year, millions fail, often wasting money and working against their best interest in the process. That doesn't sound very rational. Katy Milkman, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, joins Aki and Tori to walk through seven proven strategies to stay on target by harnessing economics research aimed at saving us from ourselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- As everyone else makes predictions for 2016, we zoom ahead to 2024. Which jobs will be on the rise, and which jobs will disappear? Heidi Shierholz, chief economist at the U.S. Labor Department, joins the hosts to navigate the government's projections for this brave new world, and offers tips for all of us to stay employable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- This year has been full of cheaters. From bad boy pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli to the Patriots' Tom Brady to Volkswagen, allegations and incidents of cheating have been front-page news fodder. But is there sometimes an economic case to be made for such duplicitous dealings? Robert Stonebraker, a professor at Winthrop University, joins Benchmark podcast hosts Aki Ito and Tori Stilwell to discuss how the decision to cheat is a rational one, and why it's becoming an easier one to make thanks to globalization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve finally raised its main interest rate, after years of keeping it near zero to help pull the U.S. out of a severe recession. What does that mean for Americans' everyday lives? Michelle Meyer, deputy head of U.S. economics at Bank of America, joins the hosts to break down why this week's event was so significant for the economy, and how consumers, businesses and the government could all be affected by the central bank's move.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Many soon-to-be parents worry about the impact that paternal leave will have on their careers. One of them is our very own Dan Moss, who's expecting a baby daughter any day now. Tori and Aki enlist the help of Willem Adema, a senior Paris-based economist with the OECD, to walk Dan through everything economics has to say about his next few weeks, and how nations around the world approach time off for new parents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Adele's new album, "25," has been flying off the shelves. Was she smart to withhold it from Spotify? Tori and Aki discuss the economics of a brutally transformed recording industry, with the help of Bloomberg entertainment reporter Lucas Shaw, who gives us a peek into how we'll be consuming music in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- With Black Friday kicking off retailers' most important shopping season of the year, economist Joel Waldfogel shares his advice for buying presents: Don't. Waldfogel, author of the book "Scroogenomics," discusses his notorious theory on the inefficiencies of bad gift-giving, with suggestions for what to do instead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Americans now owe a record $1.2 trillion in student loans, and a growing chorus is asking why they should even have to go into debt to get a college degree. Other countries provide free higher education. Could the U.S.? Education reporter Janet Lorin joins Tori, Dan and Aki to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- How much money do you need to be rich, ultra rich and out-of-your-mind rich? Tori and Aki discuss, along with what growing income inequality means for the U.S. economy. Executive pay reporter Caleb Melby drops by to recount his exchanges with billionaires, including Donald Trump.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- It's been both a depressing month and decade for U.S. manufacturing. But with the economy transitioning to one driven by services, why do economists continue to pay close attention to factory data? Tori, Dan and Aki discuss the role manufacturing still plays in America, with the help of Tori's mom, who's spent four decades in North Carolina's factories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- It's that time of the year again, when Washington erupts in heated debate over the decision to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. How worried should you really be? Hosts Tori, Dan and Aki discuss with debt historian John Steele Gordon, who also channels his inner Alexander Hamilton to offer advice to contemporary lawmakers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Are social skills the last barrier between you, your job and a robotic replacement? Aki, Tori and Dan, with a little help from Siri, explain which jobs are the most resistant to automation. Meantime, Dan is forced to defend his humanity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- There's one honor that trumps all others in economics, and it's winning the Nobel Prize. Tori catches up with the 2015 winner Angus Deaton, who talks about the 6:10 a.m. phone call congratulating him, the research that earned him the award and how his work ended up on Orange is the New Black.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Hosts Aki and Tori discuss foreign exchange markets through the lens of a very special event: the Portguese wedding of Bloomberg data editor Catarina Saraiva. Find out why the dollar is strengthening over the euro, and what that dynamic says about their respective economies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices around the globe aren't rising as fast as they need to, a phenomenon that's got economists and central bankers debating how to fix it. But what's so wrong with stagnant prices in the first place? Hosts Aki, Tori and Dan discuss, with help from Carl Riccadonna, chief U.S. economist at Bloomberg Intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- With Dan on vacation, Tori and Aki take the chance to talk about their generation: the millennials. They push past the stereotypes and fact-check some common assumptions using real data. Listen to find out if millennials are forever scarred by the recession, when they'll start having children, and just how big the consequences of their economic decision-making could be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Hosts Tori Stilwell, Aki Ito and Dan Moss talk paychecks. Why have Americans' wages been stagnant for more than six years, when will that change and which industries' workers are in the best position for a raise? The hosts use Labor Department data and a Magic 8 ball to get to the bottom of things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- When stocks crash in the world's second-largest economy, people pay attention. In this bonus episode, Brookings senior fellow Kenneth Lieberthal joins the team to discuss what's happening in China, where its economy is heading and what Dan discovered while back-to-school shopping for his son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Every week, hosts Tori Stilwell, Dan Moss, and Aki Ito bring you a jargon-free dive into the stories that drive the global economy. In this episode, the team enlists Brookings senior fellow Barry Bosworth to discuss productivity. Productivity growth has come to a screeching halt in America, and economists are really worried. So what exactly is productivity? Why should you care? And what does it have to do with Twitter? Listen to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Bloomberg) -- Welcome to episode zero of the Bloomberg Benchmark Podcast! Every week, hosts Tori Stilwell, Dan Moss, and Aki Ito bring you a jargon-free dive into the stories that drive the global economy. In this short episode, Tori and Dan tell you what to expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.