Search

Home > The Indicator from Planet Money > Can a good story change economic reality?
Podcast: The Indicator from Planet Money
Episode:

Can a good story change economic reality?

Category: Business
Duration: 00:08:33
Publish Date: 2026-01-14 08:00:00
Description:

Economic decisions aren’t only driven by hard data. A compelling story can change economic behavior and outcomes. In today’s episode, we explore real-world examples of “narrative economics” like how the Suez Canal ended up getting built. And we ask: why do narratives sometimes matter more than truth or data? 

Related episodes: 
This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble 
Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape Ratio. Pick The Indicator of The Year! 
The Beigie Awards: Manufacturing takes center stage 

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.  


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Total Play: 0

Users also like

800+ Episodes
Ask a Cyclin .. 70+     10+
100+ Episodes
Rough Transl .. 100+     20+

Some more Podcasts by NPR

1K+ Episodes
Planet Money 1K+     100+
900+ Episodes
TED Radio Ho .. 3K+     300+
2K+ Episodes
Pop Culture .. 300+     30+
300+ Episodes
Wait Wait... .. 2     200+
2K+ Episodes
NPR Politics .. 1K+     200+
2K+ Episodes
Up First 2K+     100+
1K+ Episodes
It's Been a .. 40+     7
1K+ Episodes
All Songs Co .. 70+     20+