Economist Brent Neiman recently returned to UChicago from his position as Deputy Undersecretary for International Finance at The US Treasury, only to find his research being used (and misused) in the Trump administration’s sweeping new tariff policy. In this episode, Neiman walks us through what the original study actually showed, how it got misinterpreted, and why today’s tariff regime marks one of the most consequential trade shifts in decades.

On April 4, President Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” in the White House Rose Garden. On BBC World Newsday, we discuss the logic and calculations behind this trade policy.

Many workers are able to continue working without leaving home and risking exposure. Looking at which workers have this option reveals other insights. In this episode, Brent Neiman and Simon Mongey discuss their research quantifying who can work from home and who bears the costs of social distancing policies.

Consumers have always wanted more choices and new products, but until recently, companies couldn’t produce them in a cost-effective way. How have innovations in technology and manufacturing allowed the proliferation of niche products in our shopping carts?