The Invisible Economic Forces Shaping Your Life w/ Planet Money's Alex Mayyasi #1151

Try to explain consciousness. Go ahead… we’ll wait. It’s almost impossible, but that doesn’t make it any less real! Same with gravity. You can’t see it, but it shapes every movement you make, and it did long before anyone could fully explain it, even after Isaac Newton put words and math to it. Economic forces work similarly to gravity. You don’t always see them, you might not fully grasp them, but they quietly influence every financial decision you make, from the biggest to the smallest. That’s what today’s show is all about. Alex Mayyasi is a journalist, podcaster, and author of the new book, Planet Money, where he explores the hidden economic forces shaping everyday life. Today we discuss: Pricing is more than just a number Tariffs as taxes and their impact on quality of goods Our personal choices in an uncertain world Absolute wealth vs relative wealth Expectations for continued economic growth Housing supply and demand as a game of musical chairs Alex’s new podcast about the business of food, Gastronomics And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.