American workers are becoming less productive, which means we're producing fewer widgets per hour worked. The data shows there's been drops in productivity for two back-to-back quarters. But the recent slowdown isn't anything new. While productivity did spike momentarily last year, it's actually been slowing for more than a decade.
On the show today, we get smart about the productivity slowdown, how the "quiet quitting" phenomenon factors into this trend and what it all means for our economy.
Later, the Federal Reserve is manifesting lower inflation, and the markets are finally getting with the program. A birth control pill for men is in the works, plus could our electric car future mean range anxiety for gas car drivers? And, an answer to the Make Me Smart question that got us all a bit misty-eyed.
Here's everything we talked about today:
- "Why Isn’t New Technology Making Us More Productive?" from The New York Times
- "U.S. Productivity Falls for Second Straight Quarter" from The Wall Street Journal
- "Watch Fed's Kashkari: ‘Happy’ to See How Powell's Speech Was Received" from Bloomberg
- "Male Contraception Pills Show Promise – And They Have No Major Side Effects" from SciTech Daily
- "The Latest on Male Birth Control Options" from Men's Health
What is something you thought you knew, but later found out you were wrong about? We’re looking for your answers to the Make Me Smart question. Submit yours at makemesmart@marketplace.org, or leave a voice message at 508-U-B- SMART.