The Economy by Decade: The 2010s

The 2010s were an unusual economic decade as there was a long recovery from the Great Recession without a major economic shock in the United States. We look at the trends that defined the era, including falling unemployment, the rise of smartphones, the growth of the gig economy, and the emergence of Bitcoin. Along the way, we debate whether Obamacare was the decade’s most important policy and whether low interest rates set the stage for some of today’s economic challenges. The result was a fascinating look at how many of today’s economic realities were built during the 2010s.

In this episode, we talk about:

* Why the 2010s may be remembered as the “recovery decade.”

* The economic impact of smartphones, apps, and Bitcoin.

* Which trends from the 2010s still shape the economy today.

* The rise of gig work and changing labor markets.

* Obamacare and the decade’s biggest policy battles.

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This Week’s Drinks 🍻

Jadrian is still working through a Sam Adams variety pack, with this week’s contribution being a Breakaway Blonde. Matt just got back from a cruise up to Halifax, and he’s cracking open a Tiny Angus from Breton Brewing Co. The beer itself wasn’t the entire story, though. The real adventure involved hauling a giant box of Canadian beer off the cruise ship after discovering that local liquor stores sold individual cans from regional breweries.

Name That Stat 📊

Our numbers this week ranged from timely to topical. Matt shared the annual compensation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, sparking a conversation about whether that figure is too high, too low, or about right compared to leaders of other major sports organizations.