Apr 2, 2020

Unemployment sign-ups skyrocket

Over the week that ended on Saturday, March 28, 6.6 million people signed up for state unemployment benefits. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

First-time unemployment claims doubled week-over-week, to 6.6 million. There are 100,00 crew members stuck on ships at sea during this pandemic. Some economists push for longer grace periods on debt repayment.

Segments From this episode

EEC: Econ 101

Stiglitz: How the U.S. economy recovers from COVID-19 hinges on Americans' debt

by David Brancaccio and Daniel Shin

Apr 2, 2020

"For those businesses that are getting so much help from the government, part of that should be used to help the debtors," said Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.

"What we need right now is a stay to make sure that people can pay by postponing it until the economy is running again," economist Joseph Stiglitz says of credit card debt.

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Music from the episode

Where's The Bathroom (feat. Tovah Feldshuh) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Cast, Tovah Feldshuh

The team

David Brancaccio Host

Victoria Craig Host, BBC

Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Jay Siebold Technical Director

Brian Allison Engineer

Meredith Garretson Senior Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Alex Schroeder Producer

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