Economy 4.0

A New Look at Poverty and Debt

Stan Alcorn Oct 31, 2011

“Poverty.” “Debt.” We think we know what these words mean. But this week, with David Brancaccio filling in for Tess Vigeland, Marketplace Money took a second look, and found stories you wouldn’t expect.

The Census is releasing new numbers that give a more nuanced measurement of poverty; But what does this mean for Denise Chapman in Trenton, New Jersey?

Debts are things you have to pay, right? Not according to David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years.

Speaking of debt, a debt-fueled bubble got us into this recession, so perhaps we could rely on debt to get us out. It’s tempting, but a mistake, according to Austan Goolsbee, former chair of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers.

Also in the show:

You can listen to the whole show here.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.