Economics For the People

EP26: Political Economy of Voting Behavior, Insurance Markets

In our January episode, we engage in a dialogue with Professor Pavlina Tcherneva about formulating a winning policy agenda. What is the role of vision in elections and the policy process? Our Dollars & Sense Debrief this month focuses on the impact of climate change on insurance markets. Chris Sturr talks to Kenny Stancil, a senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project, about how insurance companies are "mitigating risk." #elections #voting #insurance #climate *** Feature interview with Professor Pavlina Tcherneva - 2:15 minutes Dollars and Sense Debrief with Chris Sturr and Kenny Stancil - 35:55 minutes [audio mp3="https://kkfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/upload_e4p_full_jan2026-1.mp3"][/audio]

EP25: The Greek Junta; Future of SNAP

In our December episode, we converse with Professor Neni Panourgia about the Greek military dictatorship of 1967-1974, known in Greece simply as the Junta. Professor Panourgia grew up during the Junta years and she shares with us her experiences of life under a military dictatorship. Does it hold any lessons for those of us living in the United States today? In our Dollars & Sense debrief, Chris Sturr interviews journalist Kalena Thomhave about the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and what changes are on the way for SNAP after the passage of the Trump administration's "Big, Beautiful Bill." #fascism #junta #greece #snap #foodstamps *** Feature interview with Professor Neni Panourgia - 3:20 minutes Dollars and Sense Debrief with Chris Sturr and Kalena Thomhave - 34:20 minutes [audio mp3="https://kkfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Upload_e4p_dec2025.mp3"][/audio]

EP24: The Advertising Industry; Credit Score Oligopoly

‘Tis the season to advertise! In our Special Feature this month, we replay Prof. Zoe Sherman's segment from November 2023. Zoe helps us peel back the glittering layers of advertising and the holiday season where capitalism meets celebration. Our Dollars & Sense Debrief features an interview of Rob Larson about the consumer credit industry. This is especially important as credit scores are utilized increasingly across the economy and not only in loan applications (e.g., by landlords and employers). #blackfriday #consumerism #advertising #creditscores *** Feature interview with Zoe Sherman - 3:15 minutes Dollars and Sense Debrief with Chris Sturr and Rob Larson - 35:37 minutes [audio mp3="https://kkfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/upload_e4p_nov2025-1.mp3"][/audio]

EP23: Economics of the Government Shutdown; Unhoused Deportees in Tijuana

In the October episode of our podcast, we discuss the economics of the government shutdown and the situation of unhoused deportees in Tijuana Mexico. First, in our Dollars and Sense Debrief, Chris Sturr interviews photojournalist David Bacon. In the U.S. media there is very little attention to what happens to most people when they’re deported. Many who are deported go home to communities far south of the border. But the people who are just dumped through the border gate and have no home to go to find themselves in cities like Tijuana. David documents their living conditions in detail. In our feature segment, Sirisha and Taki are in conversation with Professor Mathew Forstater from the University of Missouri Kansas City about the federal government shutdown. As of early November, approximately three million federal government employees have been directly impacted by the shutdown as most are on furlough. In addition, over 40 million food stamp recipients are impacted as SNAP benefits are significantly curtailed. Listen to Professor Forstater provide crucial insights as we move into the second month of the shutdown. #shutdown #immigration #mexico *** Dollars and Sense Debrief with Chris Sturr and David Bacon - 2:20 minutes Feature interview with Mat Forstater - 23:20 minutes [audio mp3="https://kkfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Edited_Oct2025-episode-1.mp3"][/audio]

EP21: Class and Inequality in India and China, Military Keynesianism

In the August episode of Economics for the People, we interview Professor Vamsi Vakulabharanam about his book Class and Inequality in India and China, 1950-2010. On the eve of Indian Independence from British rule, and upon the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War, both countries were similar in economic terms. However, their trajectories diverged significantly over the period of time under investigation. Why? In our regular Dollars and Sense segment, Chris Sturr interviews Richard Wolff about Military Keynesianism: how it ended the Great Depression, its impact on the US economy over the 20th century, and why the ruling class continues to support it. *** Feature interview with Vamsi Vakulabharanam - 2:07 minutes Dollars and Sense Debrief with Chris Sturr and Richard D. Wolff - 36:32 minutes