France has one of the most generous pension systems in the world. But several governments there have collapsed over questions about how the government will fund it. All over the world, aging populations are forcing governments to rethink their assumptions.
Today on the show, what France’s political fiascos teach all of us about the economics of an aging population, and what a retirement expert’s ideal retirement system might look like.
Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2025
Related episodes:
What would it take to fix retirement?
What does the next era of Social Security look like?
When Retirement Advice Goes Viral
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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NPR's Book of the Day - Philip Pullman’s new novel follows ‘The Golden Compass’ heroine into young adulthood
It’s been more than 30 years since Philip Pullman began the His Dark Materials series – and now, that story is coming to a close. Pullman’s latest book The Rose Field follows the series’ heroine Lyra Belacqua as she chases the same mystery she began unraveling as a child. In today’s episode, Pullman joins NPR’s Scott Detrow for a conversation that touches on organized religion, reimagining Lyra as an adult, and a central concept in the series – Dust.
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Short Wave - Do Birth Control Side Effects Make It Worth Skipping?
Recently, health influencers on Instagram and TikTok have been vocal about the side effects of hormonal birth control. Check out the most popular videos on the subject, and you’ll hear horror stories about sex drive and skin texture, depression and weight fluctuation. But doctors say that while some side effects are possible, the most extreme stories are often the rarest cases. And one of the most common side effects of not taking birth control … is unplanned pregnancy.
Interested in more health science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.
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Consider This from NPR - ‘Affordability,’ and the repercussions of the increasing global wealth gap
‘Affordability’ was the word that resonated across America during elections last week, reflecting voters’ demand for elected officials to address the rising cost of living. But the wealth gap in America and globally is increasing. Nobel-prize winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz talks about the repercussions for democracies worldwide.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Jordan-Marie Smith, with engineering by Peter Ellena.
It was edited by Ahmad Damen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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Up First from NPR - Carlson’s War: Part 1
What does it mean to live through war? And can someone who’s experienced war ever get over it? These are questions NPR’s Quil Lawrence has been asking himself for years. A decade ago, Lawrence did a story on David Carlson, a veteran who’d excelled at being a soldier but struggled at home with PTSD, drugs and finally incarceration. Could Carlson find a way out or would the trauma of war come to define his life?
Listen to Part 2 here.
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Up First from NPR - Carlson’s War: Part 2
Part 2: In part two of Carlson’s War, we find Dave Carlson locked up in prison while tormented by PTSD from his time serving in Iraq. Alone and in pain, Carlson reverts back to a combat mindset and finds himself in a dark place. From here, Carlson sets out on a mission to turn his life around. What can we learn from one veteran’s journey to recovery?
If you haven’t heard Part 1, listen here.
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If you haven’t heard Part 1, listen here.
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Up First from NPR - Who’s Been Paying Tariffs, DHS Surveillance Tools, Israel Holds Florida Teen
U.S. consumers have not borne the full brunt of President Trump's tariffs but that may change if they are held up, all or in part, by the Supreme Court. The Department of Homeland Security is employing powerful new tools to surveil foreigners. A Floridian, arrested by Israel earlier this year at age 15 in a rock-throwing incident, faces 20 years in prison.
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NPR's Book of the Day - Revisiting ‘The Joy Luck Club’
The stories of mothers and daughters trying to connect with each other, across time, space and generations – this is the centerpiece of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. This week, Andrew Limboong and B. A. Parker are joined by NPR’s The Indicator’s Wailin Wong to discuss how the desperation to bridge the divide between parent and child continues to be present in stories of immigrant families today. We are also joined by Jessamine Chan to discuss parenting in this present moment.
Wailin’s Recommendation: ‘The Fox Wife’ by Yangsze Choo
Parker’s Recommendation: ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison
Andrew’s Recommendation: ‘Afterparties: Stories’ by Anthony Veasna So
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Wailin’s Recommendation: ‘The Fox Wife’ by Yangsze Choo
Parker’s Recommendation: ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison
Andrew’s Recommendation: ‘Afterparties: Stories’ by Anthony Veasna So
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1A - The News Roundup For October 7, 2025
Democrats swept on election night this week, winning several key gubernatorial races, state legislature positions, and the New York City mayoral election.
As the government shutdown continues, airports are struggling to run at maximum capacity. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking to cut 10 percent of flights at high traffic airports as they struggle with delays and staffing shortages.
The Supreme Court began hearing arguments over whether or not Donald Trump’s tariffs on America’s trading partners are legal.
Meanwhile, a top Israeli military lawyer was incarcerated this week after she leaked footage of Israeli soldiers allegedly sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner. Now, Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are working to combat what he calls the “most severe public relations attack that the state of Israel has experienced.”
U.S. officials are mulling possible regime change in Venezuela. The federal government’s operations in and around Caribbean and South American waters have intensified in recent weeks.
Donald Trump is also threatening to take action in Nigeria if the country’s government doesn’t take action to protect Christians within its borders.
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As the government shutdown continues, airports are struggling to run at maximum capacity. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking to cut 10 percent of flights at high traffic airports as they struggle with delays and staffing shortages.
The Supreme Court began hearing arguments over whether or not Donald Trump’s tariffs on America’s trading partners are legal.
Meanwhile, a top Israeli military lawyer was incarcerated this week after she leaked footage of Israeli soldiers allegedly sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner. Now, Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are working to combat what he calls the “most severe public relations attack that the state of Israel has experienced.”
U.S. officials are mulling possible regime change in Venezuela. The federal government’s operations in and around Caribbean and South American waters have intensified in recent weeks.
Donald Trump is also threatening to take action in Nigeria if the country’s government doesn’t take action to protect Christians within its borders.
Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
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Consider This from NPR - What this week’s elections could mean for the midterms
Tuesday’s election was the first time voters registered how they’re feeling since President Trump entered the White House.
And after Democratic candidates won marquee races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, the answer was clear: they are not happy with the party in power.
So what are the two major political parties taking away from this week?
NPR correspondents Domenico Montanaro and Tamara Keith break it down.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, Casey Morell, Connor Donevan and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Peter Ellena. It was edited by Kelsey Snell and Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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