Are small town colleges going extinct?
Summary
Hosts Robert Smith and Wayan Wong present the "Beiji Awards," celebrating the best anecdotes from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book. The episode highlights economic stories from the Dallas and New York Feds before awarding top honors to the Boston Fed for its report on the higher education crisis. The hosts interview Riley Sullivan of the Boston Fed and Travis Marusco, a former professor at the recently closed Anna Maria College, to discuss how demographic shifts, rising tuition costs, and a preference for trade schools are causing small colleges to shut down.
Topics discussed
Intro: The Beige Book Awards concept
Sponsor: Charles Schwab
Sponsor: Superhuman
3rd Place: Dallas Fed on wage demands
2nd Place: New York Fed on luxury housing tax
1st Place: Boston Fed on higher education slowdown
Analysis: Demographics and alternative career paths
Interview: Anna Maria College closure context
Interview: Causes of college financial crisis
Interview: Impact on staff and other closures
Credits and Sponsor: Capella University
Sponsor: Boll and Branch
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