How to transform a war economy for peacetime

01/31/24 • 8 min

4 Listeners

In the 1980s, California was the heart of the aerospace industry. But when the Cold War ended, military spending cuts put those defense jobs in jeopardy.
This week, we're bringing you a three-part series on the defense industry. In this episode: how the state redirected some of those defense dollars to another economic opportunity provides an example of how the "peace dividend" can be used effectively.
Related episodes:
Are we overpaying for military equipment? (Apple / Spotify)
Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war? (Apple / Spotify)Industrial policy, the debate! (Apple / Spotify)
Giant vacuums and other government climate bets (Apple / Spotify)
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Previous Episode

Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war?

1 Recommendations

Just-in-time manufacturing began as a way to save space, remove costs and improve efficiency ... for Toyota. The U.S. defense industry has since incorporated this approach. Now, leaders in the defense industry question whether it's to blame for weapons and ammunition shortages.
This week, we're bringing you a three-part series on the defense industry. Today on the show, we look at how a just-in-time mindset filtered through the military contracting system, and we ask whether bare-bones manufacturing styles are leaving the U.S. in a bind.
Related Episodes
Are we overpaying for military equipment? (Apple / Spotify)How to transform a war economy from peacetime (Apple / Spotify)
Toyota Camry, supply-chain hero
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
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Next Episode

Why the FTC is cracking down on location data brokers

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It's no secret — your phone knows where you are, and if that data exists, someone else might have it. Back in 2022, we covered the murky market for smartphone location data. Now, the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on this multi-billion dollar industry. In today's episode, we explain why the agency is trying to ban a data broker from selling information tied to sensitive places like medical facilities.
Related episodes:
Ad targeting gets into your medical file (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
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Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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