The Indicator from Planet Money
Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level
We wrap up our series on the economics of the video game industry with a triple roundup. Today, how the new ban on noncompete contracts could affect t...
Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees
Employees at video game companies are known for working long hours to meet product launch deadlines. This pressure, known in the industry as crunch, h...
The boom and bust of esports
The origins of competitive gaming are rooted in college campuses going back to the early 1970s. Now a globally popular industry, esports is at the cen...
Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible
Gaming provides entertainment and community for billions of people worldwide. However, video games haven't always been accessible to those with disabi...
Forever games: the economics of the live service model
People used to pay one standard price for their favorite games in a one-off transaction. But now, many game companies are offering their games for fre...
Ticketmaster's dominance, Caitlin Clark's paycheck, and other indicators
It's highs and lows in this edition of Indicators of the Week! The surprisingly high amount of electricity needed for artificial intelligence, basketb...
Inside the epic fight over new banking regulations
After the financial crisis of 2008, regulators around the world agreed banks should have more of a cushion to weather hard times. Now, U.S. regulators...
Profiting off greater risk: the reinsurance game
When an insurance company can't cover all of its claims, it actually has its own insurance. This is called "reinsurance." How does that work and why d...
What is a 'freedom economy'?
Anti-vaccine activists, far-right groups and some religious conservatives convened in Las Vegas this spring to discuss the creation of a parallel econ...
Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions
We are back to answer your listener questions. On today's show, we explain reverse mortgages and their risks, why insurance has gotten so expensive, a...