What's THAT got to do with economics?
5Digest
The episode begins with introductions of the hosts, Elena Moore and Keith Romer, and a brief overview of the show's focus on connecting seemingly unrelated topics to the economy. Keith Romer challenges Sally Helm to find economic connections in obscure topics sent in by listeners. Sally Helm explores the economic implications of polyamorous relationships, highlighting the financial considerations and potential benefits of shared living arrangements and childcare. She discusses how polyamorous relationships can lead to economies of scale and shared resources, but also present challenges in terms of financial planning and legal complexities. Sally Helm then delves into the concept of dark matter in astrophysics and its connection to the economy. She discusses how economists use the term "dark matter" to represent unknown or unquantifiable forces in the economy, such as the impact of technology or consumer behavior. Finally, Sally Helm examines the symbolism in the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, specifically "The Garden of Earthly Delights," and its connection to the economy. She explores the historical context of patronage and the influence of Bosch's style on the art market, highlighting how his unique symbolism created a niche in the art market and inspired other artists.
Outlines
Introduction and Exploring Economic Connections
The episode begins with introductions of the hosts and a brief overview of the show's focus on connecting seemingly unrelated topics to the economy. Keith Romer challenges Sally Helm to find economic connections in obscure topics sent in by listeners.
Polyamory and the Economy
Sally Helm explores the economic implications of polyamorous relationships, highlighting the financial considerations and potential benefits of shared living arrangements and childcare.
Dark Matter and the Economy
Sally Helm delves into the concept of dark matter in astrophysics and its connection to the economy. She discusses how economists use the term "dark matter" to represent unknown or unquantifiable forces in the economy.
The Symbolism of Hieronymus Bosch and the Economy
Sally Helm examines the symbolism in the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, specifically "The Garden of Earthly Delights," and its connection to the economy. She explores the historical context of patronage and the influence of Bosch's style on the art market.
Keywords
Polyamory
A form of relationship where individuals have romantic relationships with more than one person at a time, often with the knowledge and consent of all involved.
Dark Matter
A hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes. It is thought to make up a significant portion of the universe's mass.
Economies of Scale
The cost advantages that arise from increasing production. As production increases, the cost per unit decreases, making it more efficient to produce goods or services in larger quantities.
Hieronymus Bosch
A Dutch painter known for his detailed and often surreal paintings, particularly "The Garden of Earthly Delights." His work is characterized by its religious symbolism and depictions of human vices and follies.
Patronage
A system in which artists are supported by wealthy individuals or institutions who commission their work. This was a common practice in the Renaissance and earlier periods.
Q&A
How does polyamory impact financial decisions and living arrangements?
Polyamorous relationships often involve shared living arrangements and financial entanglements, leading to complex financial decisions and potential benefits like economies of scale.
What is the economic significance of dark matter?
While dark matter is not directly observable, its gravitational influence is essential for the stability of galaxies. Economists use the term "dark matter" to represent unknown or unquantifiable forces in the economy.
How did the symbolism in Hieronymus Bosch's paintings influence the art market?
Bosch's unique style and symbolism created a niche in the art market, inspiring other artists to create similar works. This led to a demand for Bosch-inspired art, creating a market for artists who specialized in this style.
Show Notes
That is the bold promise in Planet Money's tagline. And we believe the show does live up to it. Over the last year, we've told stories about breakdancing, rum, pagers, buffets, colors, and heartbreak.
But then one host wondered: what if we really held ourselves to that promise? What if we challenged ourselves to find economic meaning in the most esoteric and far-flung topics imaginable?
That's when we turned to you, our listeners. And boy did you deliver. You sent in ideas so obscure, so banananas, so guaranteed to stump and bamboozle that our host maybe started to regret her life choices...but she was resolved to give it a try.
This episode was hosted by Sally Helm and Keith Romer. It was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Molly Messick and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Engineering by Kwesi Lee. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
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