More Money Less Problems

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shelter-in-place order in March 2020, which caused the economy to come to a halt. In response, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib proposed a relief bill that included recurring payments to individuals to help them stay afloat during the crisis. The proposed bill suggested that Congress pay for these payments by minting two platinum $1 trillion coins. This idea may seem unusual, but it sparked a discussion about the evolution of currency and the possibility of printing more money. The concept of printing more money challenges a fundamental law of economics, and it is explored in this episode. The episode delves into the history of currency, from gold-backed bills to the Federal Reserve's computer system. It also examines the idea that the government can simply print more money to solve economic problems. The episode was reported and produced by Becca Bressler and Simon Adler, with contributions from several experts. For those interested in learning more, there are several resources available, including books by Stephanie Kelton and Jacob Goldstein, as well as podcasts like Planet Money and Think Like an Economist. The idea of minting a trillion-dollar coin may seem far-fetched, but it has sparked an important conversation about the nature of money and the economy.