According to Hochstein, bitcoin has made its name as a digital currency, but the truly revolutionary aspect of the technology is its dual function as a payment system competing against companies like PayPal and Western Union. While bitcoin has been in the news for its soaring exchange rate lately, Hochstein says the actual price of bitcoin is really only relevant for speculators in the short-term; in the long-term, however, the anonymous, decentralized nature of bitcoin has far-reaching implications.

It is commonly understood that the Federal Reserve determines monetary policy, but less well known is its role as a broad-based federal regulator of financial holding companies, select state banks, international bank operations, designated systemically important non-bank financial companies, and systemically important financial market utilities. Lawrence H. White examined how the Fed regulates and affects monetary policy.

Keith Hall discusses unemployment, or what he refers to as joblessness.

Cathy O'Neil, data scientist and blogger at mathbabe.org, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her journey from Wall Street to Occupy Wall Street. She talks about her experiences on Wall Street that ultimately led her to join the Occupy Wall Street movement. Along the way, the conversation includes a look at the reliability of financial modeling, the role financial models played in the crisis, and the potential for shame to limit dishonest behavior in the financial sector and elsewhere.