Currency Chaos in Argentina (Summer School) | Planet Money

Just about everyone in Argentina is an expert in inflation and whether they like it or not, economic flexibility. Can we learn from them?

Over the years, we at Planet Money have checked in on Argentina as it tried to recover from economic collapse in 2001 and 2002, and as inflation shot up and the country defaulted on its debts. This week on our Summer School World Tour, we fly to Buenos Aires, mapping the moves of their economy through the eyes of people who live there – from tango classes and shoe shopping to a Coldplay concert that sparked a special exchange rate.

We’ll consider the different attempts from the government to staunch inflation and why they’ve led to so many unintended consequences. But the heart of this week’s trip is the resilience of everyday economic actors, regular people. When the value of your currency is so in flux, average people become monetary contortionists just to navigate work, shopping, saving and to keep small businesses afloat. This adaptability becomes a special kind of skill and wisdom. So, we’re harvesting that everyday economic insight for tips on how we can all face uncertainty a little better. And, to appreciate the high costs of volatility.

Featured Episodes:

• Messi economics (2022) ()

• A black market, a currency crisis and a tango competition in Argentina (2023) ()

• The high cost of a strong dollar (2022) ()

Featured Terms:

• Volatility

• Inflation expectations

• Capital controls

• AusteritySupport:

• NPR+ (sponsorfree listening & bonus episodes)  ()

• And please click “follow” in your podcast app so you don’t miss an episode.

Read:

• Our bookPlanet MoneyA Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life () (Audiobook here () )

• Our weekly longform Planet Money newsletter ()

• Our weekly Indicator link roundup newsletter ()

Follow:

• Instagram ()

• TikTok ()

• YouTube ()

• Facebook ()

This episode of Planet Money Summer School is hosted by Robert Smith. It was produced by Sophia Paliza-Carre and Schuyler Swenson and edited by Planet Money Executive Producer Alex Goldmark. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and engineered by Jimmy Keeley.

See pcm.adswizz.com () for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy ()