Congress has approved a $768 billion defense budget for 2022. If the Pentagon were a private company, would it be bigger than Amazon? Walmart?
Also, can $859 billion buy you love? Or at least domestic goodwill? That's the amount of money Americans will spend on themselves and their loved ones ahead of the Christmas holiday.

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The Pentagon vs. Walmart

Foreign Policy economics columnist Adam Tooze, a history professor and a popular author, is encyclopedic about basically everything: from the COVID shutdown, to climate change, to pasta sauce. On our new podcast, Tooze and FP deputy editor Cameron Abadi will look at two data points each week that explain the world: one drawn from the week’s headlines and the other from just about anywhere else Tooze takes us. Check out Adam Tooze’s column at https://foreignpolicy.com/author/adam-tooze/.

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As the Israel-Hamas war drags on, about half of the Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of famine, and the other half are experiencing acute food insecurity. Adam and Cameron discuss how humanitarian aid works in a crisis zone and what it would take to rebuild Gaza.

Famine in Gaza

It will cost up to $3 billion to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, which collapsed last month after it was struck by a container ship. Adam and Cameron discuss the implications for the city of Baltimore, the insurance industry, and global shipping.
Also on the show: The economics of Tajikistan.

The Economics of a Bridge Disaster

To mark the Easter holiday, Adam and Cameron discuss the economic thinking of Pope Francis and how it strays from the traditional approach of the Catholic Church.

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The Economic Thinking of Pope Francis

This is the fourth installment of a mini series on the long shadow of COVID-19, marking four years since the start of the coronavirus. In this final segment, Adam and Cameron discuss whether the world is now better equipped to respond to similar crises.
Also on the show: The economics of resort hotels.

COVID-19’s Long Shadow, Part 4

To mark four years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adam and Cameron are talking about the long shadow of the coronavirus. In Part 3, they look at how the pandemic affected the global economy.
Also on the show: China's economy is facing a major rebalancing. Can it keep rising?

The Pentagon vs. Walmart

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