The Indicator from Planet Money - Why this former banking regulator is writing kids books

In a first-best world, we'd all save enough money and there'd be no scammers. In a second-best world, we'd all know how to protect ourselves.

That's what Sheila Bair thought, too. As former chair of the FDIC, she noticed many kids and adults weren't quite getting the education they needed. So, she decided to do something about it.

Today on the show: What Sheila Bair has learned about American capitalism as one of its top regulators and how she's trying — one book at a time — to help new generations from falling into its traps.

We learned about Sheila Bair's kids books from listener Erin Vetter. If you've come across anything that makes finance fun, email us! We're at indicator@npr.org.

Related Episodes:
Mailbag: Children Edition
Beach reads with a side of economics

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The Indicator from Planet Money - What’s a weather forecast worth?

The federal government has been tracking the weather for more than 150 years. Yet over the last few decades, the rise of the Internet and big tech have made weather forecasting a more crowded space. Today on the show: the value of an accurate forecast and the debate over who should control the data.

Related stories:
Hazard maps: The curse of knowledge (Apple / Spotify)
Should we invest more in weather forecasting?
After a year of deadly weather, cities look to private forecasters to save lives

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More or Less: Behind the Stats - Do we have enough clothes for the next six generations?

A huge quantity of clothing is produced every year around the world. But is so much made that there are already enough tops, trousers, skirts and all the rest to clothe humanity for decades into the future?

That?s a claim that has been percolating around the internet recently, that there are already enough clothes for the next six generations.

Tim Harford and Beth Ashmead Latham explore the source of this claim and, with help from Sabina Lawreniuk from Nottingham University, find that the evidence behind it is far from persuasive.

Presenter: Tim Harford and Bethan Ashmead Latham Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Annie Gardiner Editor: Richard Vadon

The Indicator from Planet Money - Stocks jump, the temperamental peso, and other election aftermath indicators

It's ... Indicators of the Week! It's that time of week when we look at the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today's episode: Election aftermath. Stocks jump, the temperamental Mexican peso, and which states are raising minimum wage.

Related Episodes:
Should We Raise The Minimum Wage?
America's economy is the envy of the world. Will it stay that way?

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