AI Economics Research Podcast

Latest episodes

• Federal Reserve: How Peer Influence More Than Doubles Odds of Feminine Pronoun Use in Economics (Explained)

  25 Oct 2026 · 00:10:43

  This episode explores a Federal Reserve working paper that analyzes how cultural change, specifically regarding gendered pronoun use, spread within economic theory from 1970 to 2019. The research reveals that peer influence is a powerful driver: when an author’s peers shift from 20% to 70% feminine-only pronoun use, the author’s odds of adopting the feminine form more than double. This study explains how social networks and co-authorship dynamics accelerate norm evolution in academic writing. Th

• Bank of England: Why Simply Simplifying Language Doesn't Make Central Bank Messages 'Get Through' (Explained)

  18 Oct 2026 · 00:08:04

  This episode dives into a Bank of England research paper that explores why complex messages from policymakers, like central banks, often fail to 'get through' to the public. We break down the crucial difference between merely simplifying language and addressing the deeper 'conceptual complexity' that truly impedes understanding, even for economics-trained individuals. Learn more about the findings and share your thoughts at feedback@econpod.org after checking out the full paper at https://www.ba

• Federal Reserve: How Ponzi Schemes Build Trust and Why They Unravel (Explained)

  10 Oct 2026 · 00:09:36

  This episode delves into a Federal Reserve research paper that develops a new model of Ponzi schemes, focusing on how these frauds operate under asymmetric information. We explain in plain English how scheme operators build trust and reputation over time, the conditions under which these frauds can persist, and what interventions are most effective in preventing them. Want to discuss this or other economic research? Reach out to feedback@econpod.org. Find the full paper at https://www.chicagofed

• Federal Reserve: How Survey Wording Changes What We Know About Consumer Spending (Explained)

  4 Oct 2026 · 00:09:02

  This episode unpacks a Federal Reserve working paper that reveals why economists get vastly different estimates of the Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) – how much people spend from an unexpected windfall – depending on how survey questions are phrased. Using a randomized survey experiment, researchers show that subtle differences between 'direct' and 'filtered' questions dramatically alter reported spending intentions, impacting our understanding of consumer behavior and policy effectiveness

• Bank of England: When Inflation Indexes Misguide Monetary Policy (Explained)

  25 Sept 2026 · 00:09:00

  This episode explains a Bank of England research paper that challenges whether the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is always the best guide for monetary policy, arguing that expenditure weights and stabilization weights can diverge. It unpacks how differentiating between "discretionary" and "necessity" inflation components can lead to better welfare outcomes, especially for the euro area, by aligning policy actions with sectors most responsive to interest rates. We break down this crucial concept in

• Federal Reserve: Why Don't More Americans Get Economics PhDs? (Explained)

  19 Sept 2026 · 00:10:50

  This episode breaks down a recent Federal Reserve research paper exploring who earns economics PhDs in the U.S. and the structural factors shaping access and success in the field. We delve into why U.S.-born students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, face barriers and what pipeline programs and mentorship models can do to expand opportunities in advanced economics research careers. Read the full paper at https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/working-papers/2026/2026-13 and

• Bank of England: Why Did UK Homeowners Choose Pricier 2-Year Fixes After the Mini-Budget Rate Shock? (Explained)

  12 Sept 2026 · 00:07:42

  Dive into a new Bank of England research paper that unpacks how UK homeowners reacted to the September 2022 mini-budget's interest rate shock. This episode explains in plain English why many borrowers opted for shorter, pricier two-year fixed-rate mortgages, prioritizing flexibility and potential equity extraction over longer-term rate insurance. Join us to understand the complex decisions behind mortgage refinancing and the trade-off between rate protection and financial agility. You can find t

• Bank of England: Why Interest Rate Hikes Hurt Innovation Differently Across Firms (Explained)

  5 Sept 2026 · 00:11:12

  This episode delves into a Bank of England research paper exploring how monetary policy's effects on innovation and productivity can be surprisingly persistent. We break down findings showing that firms without access to cash flow-based borrowing—lending against earnings rather than physical collateral—cut R&D significantly more after interest rate hikes, leading to lasting impacts on economic output. Discover the crucial role of firm financing in the transmission of monetary policy and how expa

• Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports: Federal Reserve Bank of New York: Unpacking "Ordinal Complementarity" for Stronger Economic Policy and Skill Formation (Explained)

  28 Aug 2026 · 00:10:12

  This episode delves into a new Federal Reserve Bank of New York research paper introducing "ordinal complementarity," a robust way to understand how inputs interact in production processes. We'll explain why this definition offers stronger, more reliable policy implications, particularly for social planner problems and the empirical study of cognitive skill formation in children. Read the full paper at https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr1199 and share your thoughts at feedback@e

• Bank of England: Does Higher Productivity Always Mean Lower Inflation? (Explained)

  21 Aug 2026 · 00:09:36

  This episode unpacks a recent Bank of England research paper, "Productivity and Inflation Dynamics," explaining in plain English why higher productivity doesn't always guarantee lower inflation. We delve into how the timing of demand and supply responses, alongside central bank policy, determines whether productivity growth fuels or dampens price pressures. Send your feedback or questions to feedback@econpod.org, and find the full paper at https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/workin

• Bank of England: How Cloud Computing Reshapes Competition in the Banking Sector (Explained)

  15 Aug 2026 · 00:07:09

  This episode dives into a new Bank of England staff working paper exploring how cloud outsourcing is impacting competition in the UK banking sector. We break down how banks' use of Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) affects their costs, deposit growth, and the competitive landscape, particularly for smaller institutions, and how this interacts with capital requirements. Learn how this technological shift could be reducing barriers to entry and reshaping financial stability. For questions or discussi

• Bank of England: Why Interest Rate Hikes Hit House Prices But Not Rents (Explained)

  8 Aug 2026 · 00:08:46

  This episode breaks down a new Bank of England research paper on how monetary policy impacts the housing sector. It explores why rising interest rates cause house prices to fall while rents remain stable for extended periods, and reveals the crucial role of individual landlords' behavior in this transmission. For more details, read the paper at https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/working-paper/2025/monetary-transmission-through-the-housing-sector.pdf, and share your thoughts at fee

• FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ST. LOUIS: How Job Switching Drives Inflation and Why Monetary Policy Must Adapt (Explained)

  2 Aug 2026 · 00:07:20

  This episode breaks down a recent paper from the FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ST. LOUIS that reveals how job switching—known as employer-to-employer (EE) transitions—significantly influences inflation and impacts optimal monetary policy decisions. We explore why central banks need to consider job mobility alongside unemployment rates to accurately forecast price changes and set interest rates, with examples from the Great Recession and the Great Resignation. Dive deeper into the research at https://f

• Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports: Federal Reserve: Why Programming Payments is Not the Same as Programmable Money (Explained)

  25 Jul 2026 · 00:08:24

  This episode explores a fascinating research paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, diving into the critical difference between programmable payments and programmable money. As central banks worldwide explore digital currencies, understanding this distinction is vital to ensure new monetary systems don't compromise the fundamental qualities of "good" money like uniformity and fungibility. Discover how a new framework clarifies this debate, and share your thoughts at feedback@econpod.or

• Bank of England: Why Imperfect Expectations Improve Our Economic Models (Explained)

  18 Jul 2026 · 00:07:29

  This episode unpacks a Bank of England staff working paper by Jamie Lenney and Biagio Rosso, exploring how economic models can better reflect real-world human behavior. We dive into a new flexible approach that moves beyond traditional rational expectations, allowing for agents to overreact or underreact to economic conditions and news. Learn how incorporating these 'behavioural expectations' significantly improves the empirical fit of macroeconomic models, especially when forecasting inflation.