After Affirmative Action, Why America Pays Too Much for Subways : Planet Money : NPR

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Two stories today.

First, as we begin to understand post-affirmative action America, we look back at a natural experiment 25 years ago when California ended affirmative action in its public universities. It almost immediately changed the composition of universities. We learn about what happened in the decades that followed.

Then we ask why the US spends so much money on building mega-facilities like subways. Compared to other wealthy countries, infrastructure projects in the US are incredibly expensive. We go to one of the most expensive subway stations in the world to find out why US transit costs are so high.

This show is hosted by Adrian Ma and Darian Woods. It is produced by Corey Bridges and curated by Robert Rodriguez and Katherine Silva. Sierra Juarez is responsible for fact checking. Viet Le is the senior producer of Indicator. Kate Concannon is the editor of the show. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

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