It’s presented as the be-all end- all metric by economists, politicians, and newscasters, but what exactly is GDP?
On today’s show, the surprisingly fascinating process of measuring gross domestic product, and what this all important economic indicator overlooks.
Plus, the non-profit “Mars One” received over 200,000 applicants for its one way mission to Mars. A new short documentary follows three of the candidates as they vie for a trip they’ll never return from and a place in the history books.
Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.
A Brief History of the GDP
- Diane Coyle is the author of “GDP: A Brief But Affectionate History” which is now out in paperback.
When You 'Ship', I 'Ship', We 'Ship'
Jenna Wortham is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine, and wrote an article about ‘shipping’—slang for fictional relationships imagined by fans--called “My Dear, Dear, Dear Watson.”
The Trouble With Profiling
- Is ‘looking Mexican’ a legal reason for the Border Patrol to stop a car? Federal law says agents have to have ‘reasonable suspicion’ that something illegal is happening. But what that means depends where you are, and whom you ask. Producer Jude Joffe-Block brings us the story.
- You can listen to this segment again at PRX.org.
The Not So Great White Savior Films
- Shea Serrano is a staff writer for Grantland and the author of The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, And Deconstructed in bookstores this fall. He and Steven Hyden wrote “A Conversation about Great White Saviors in Movies.”
Mars One Documentary: If I Die on Mars
- Peter Savodnik is the founder of Stateless Media, a short-form documentary filmmaking company and the producer of If I Die On A Mars, a ten-minute documentary that introduces three Mars One candidates vying to live on Mars, or die trying.
