About this episode

The episode discusses the economic changes and challenges of the 2020s, focusing on the impacts of the pandemic and AI.

The 2020s have already delivered one of the strangest economic decades in modern history. We unpack how the pandemic reshaped work, inflation, housing, consumer behavior, and even the way economists think about recessions. We debate whether the pandemic or AI will ultimately define the decade, revisit the policy decisions that still shape the economy today, and talk through why everything from used cars to mortgage rates suddenly felt upside down. Along the way, we explore why the economy has seemed surprisingly resilient despite nonstop shocks, disruptions, and uncertainty. In this episode, we talk about: * Whether the pandemic or AI will be remembered as the defining economic event of the 2020s * Inflation, stimulus policies, tariffs, and the strange post-pandemic economy * How housing, work-from-home, and consumer habits permanently changed * Why the 2020s economy has felt unusually weird and unpredictable If you liked this conversation, you might also enjoy This Week’s Drinks 🍻 Jadrian cracked open a Hardywood Pils , leftover from an end-of-semester cookout with his TAs. He almost grabbed the PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer, but decided to save that adventure for a future…

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Economics Happy Hour Podcast podcast page.