The Indicator from Planet Money Folgen

School vouchers, or school choice as it's known among advocates, is public funding for children to attend private schools. It's a controversial policy — some say it undermines the public school system, others say it gives parents the ability to choose the best school for their children. And its popularity has been spiking recently. In 2021, 19 states introduced or expanded them. Partly it's been a reaction against public schools' covid control policies and teaching on sexuality, gender and race. But leaving aside the deeper political questions, what does the evidence say about the core thing school is supposed to be for: giving children a solid education?In this episode, we get into whether or not school vouchers improve student learning. The lesson: what may feel better may not have much of an effect.Related Episodes:The rise of the four-day school week (Apple Podcasts/Spotify)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping have not sat down for a face-to-face discussion in a year. In that time, Chinese-American relations have become even more tense with the spy balloon incident, the US cracking down on advanced computer chips and the continuing trade war. Today, we look at why the leaders of the world's two largest economies are meeting and what's at stake for their respective countries.Related Episodes:The mess at the heart of China's economy (Apple Podcasts/Spotify)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fish and chips have long been a staple cheap comfort food for millions of people in the U.K. However, economic headwinds are putting the squeeze on owners of fish and chip shops. Today, we explore how changes in economic conditions play a role in our dietary habits and how the U.K. is grappling with their affordable staple food turning into a luxury. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy