Aug 24, 2022

Russia’s economy after 6 months of war

Russia's financial isolation has contributed to the recovery of the ruble's value. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

The ruble has rebounded, but Russia is suffering a brain drain and remains economically isolated. Plus, how the Fed's changing role in the bond market could help tame inflation.

Segments From this episode

6 months into the war, how's the Russian economy faring?

by Kai Ryssdal and Anais Amin

Aug 24, 2022

Russia remains economically isolated and it's suffering a brain drain of young, educated professionals, explains Kristy Ironside of McGill University.

Russia's financial isolation has contributed to the recovery of the ruble's value.

Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

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Why is college so expensive to begin with?

by Stephanie Hughes

Aug 24, 2022

In the past fifty years, tuition at both public and private schools has more than tripled, even after accounting for inflation.

Biden recently announced a student loan forgiveness plan, which will forgive up to a certain amount of loans for people who make under $125,000.

Getty Images

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The Federal Reserve is unwinding its bond-buying program. Will that help deflate the inflation balloon?

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Aug 24, 2022

The Fed uses its buying power in the bond market to raise or lower interest rates by manipulating how much money is available in the economy.

The Fed blew up the "balloon" of the economy during the pandemic by, in part, ratcheting up its bond buying and flooding financial markets with money.

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For every unsold good, there's a liquidator waiting

by Kristin Schwab

Aug 24, 2022

Big-box retailers are dumping excess inventory because of lower sales. Liquidators, who resell that merchandise, are thriving.

sinopics/Getty Images

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Why small businesses are getting rid of excess inventory

by Justin Ho

Aug 24, 2022

Like many businesses, small businesses stocked up on inventory early in the pandemic, given the congested supply chain. Now, many are trying to get rid of that inventory, as the economy grows more uncertain.

Major retailers, like Target, have also been adjusting inventory to meet lower anticipated demand.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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For this firm, the 4-day workweek just didn't work

by Kai Ryssdal and Sarah Leeson

Aug 24, 2022

After a 10-week trial, an employee survey revealed stress tied to the altered schedules. But the CEO is still working on solutions.

Some companies have experimented with schedules to boost satisfaction and reduce stress. At Alter Agents, though, an employee survey showed that "a lot of the numbers that we expected to go up, went down," said CEO Rebecca Brooks.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

All We Got Louis Zong

68 State Gorillaz

Ungodly Fruit Wax Taylor

Phthalo Blue Monster Rally

Conduction Mocky

Ghost in the Graveyard A Sunny Day In Glasgow

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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