We try to fix election polling (update)
We try to fix election polling (update)
1 hour ago•Planet Money•NPR
Podcast29 min 59 sec
Listen to Episode
Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

The discussion offers no actionable investment opportunities: it names no stocks, tickers, or cryptocurrencies and provides no price targets or timeframes.

Detailed Analysis

Polling and Survey Research (Industry Theme)

  • The episode describes mounting challenges for pollsters: phone survey response rates have fallen below one in 20, reaching some groups is harder, and hand-dialing cell phones has increased costs.
  • Pollsters are adapting through text surveys, statistical weighting, and “wisdom of crowds” questions. The transcript does not identify any publicly traded polling companies or discuss their financial prospects.

Takeaways

  • The discussion highlights operational challenges and evolving methods in survey research, but it does not provide a specific investment opportunity, company recommendation, valuation, or price target.
  • Polling results are presented as information that can inform public understanding and policy—not as a standalone investment signal.

AI and the Job Market (Topic Mentioned)

  • AI’s potential effect on white-collar jobs is briefly raised as the subject of a separate NPR event. The transcript offers no analysis of AI companies, related securities, or investment prospects.

Takeaways

  • No actionable investment insight about AI or the job market is provided in this episode.

Stocks and Cryptocurrencies

  • No specific stocks, company tickers, or cryptocurrencies are mentioned.
Ask about this postAnswers are grounded in this post's content.
Episode Description
Polling is facing an existential crisis. People aren't picking up the phone. Nobody wants to talk to pollsters. Trust is on the line. We pluck a solution from the economics canon and convince a polling firm to let us test it.  Today on the show, we head to Marist College — home of the Marist Poll — to learn how to be pollsters ourselves. We learn the great moments in polling history, the latest science of polling, and find out all the tricks that pollsters use to get people to finish their surveys. Then we get on the phone and give it a try ourselves. And offer some of our own solutions.  This episode was originally published before the 2022 midterm elections.  We have an update on our idea to save polling, which Marist is still testing, and we find out what it might be able to tell us about the 2026 midterms.  Music: "Partyline, "The Danzig Connection, and "Saku" Read:  Our book: Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life  Our weekly longform Planet Money newsletter Our weekly Indicator round-up newsletter Follow:  Instagram TikTok YouTube Facebook This update was produced by Emma Peaslee with help from Sam Yellowhorse Kesler. It was mastered by Gilly Moon with help from Cena Loffredo. The original episode was edited by Jess Jiang. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money’s executive producer. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. 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
About Planet Money
Planet Money

Planet Money

By NPR

Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At <em>Planet Money</em>, we explore the forces that shape our lives and bring you along for the ride. Don't just understand the economy – understand the world.<br><br><em>Wanna go deeper? <em>Subscribe to </em><em>Planet Money+ and get sponsor-free episodes of Planet Money, The Indicator, and Planet Money Summer School. Plus access to bonus content. It's a new way to support the show you love. Learn more at plus.npr.org/planetmoney</em><br></em>