Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Jarrett Dieterle, Neetu Arnold, and Rafael Mangual discuss surprising parallels between the soaring costs of higher education and the price of food delivery. What’s driving these increases—and who’s really paying for them? They examine how government regulations, subsidies, and market dynamics shape affordability in both sectors. Their conversation challenges conventional thinking about cost, value, and opportunity in today’s economy.
Read Neetu's City Journal essay, "Stop Pushing College for All": city-journal.org/article/higher-education-college-cost-students
Read Jarrett's City Journal essay, "New York's Progressive War on Cheap Eats": city-journal.org/article/zohran-mamdani-new-york-food-prices
Get the best of City Journal, delivered weekly:
city-journal.org/email-alerts
Follow City Journal on X: https://x.com/CityJournal
Neetu Arnold: https://x.com/neetu_arnold
Rafael Mangual: https://x.com/Rafa_Mangual
00:00 Introduction to Affordability Issues
01:28 The Burden of Student Loan Debt
04:00 Food Delivery Costs and Young Consumers
05:28 The Impact of Regulation on Delivery Services
10:25 The Economics of College Tuition
15:45 The Value of College Degrees in Today's Economy
20:58 The Credentialing Crisis and Job Market Dynamics
21:44 The Rise of Gig Work and Flexibility
24:11 Real-Life Impacts of Gig Work
25:43 Cost Implications of Regulations
29:05 The Economics of Food Delivery
30:10 Student Loans and Higher Education Costs
33:11 Guardrails for Student Loans
36:36 Flexible Paths to Success
39:34 Policy Solutions for a Modern Economy
Jarrett Dieterle, Neetu Arnold, and Rafael Mangual discuss surprising parallels between the soaring costs of higher education and the price of food delivery. What’s driving these increases—and who’s really paying for them? They examine how government regulations, subsidies, and market dynamics shape affordability in both sectors. Their conversation challenges conventional thinking about cost, value, and opportunity in today’s economy.
Read Neetu's City Journal essay, "Stop Pushing College for All": city-journal.org/article/higher-education-college-cost-students
Read Jarrett's City Journal essay, "New York's Progressive War on Cheap Eats": city-journal.org/article/zohran-mamdani-new-york-food-prices
Get the best of City Journal, delivered weekly:
city-journal.org/email-alerts
Follow City Journal on X: https://x.com/CityJournal
Neetu Arnold: https://x.com/neetu_arnold
Rafael Mangual: https://x.com/Rafa_Mangual
00:00 Introduction to Affordability Issues
01:28 The Burden of Student Loan Debt
04:00 Food Delivery Costs and Young Consumers
05:28 The Impact of Regulation on Delivery Services
10:25 The Economics of College Tuition
15:45 The Value of College Degrees in Today's Economy
20:58 The Credentialing Crisis and Job Market Dynamics
21:44 The Rise of Gig Work and Flexibility
24:11 Real-Life Impacts of Gig Work
25:43 Cost Implications of Regulations
29:05 The Economics of Food Delivery
30:10 Student Loans and Higher Education Costs
33:11 Guardrails for Student Loans
36:36 Flexible Paths to Success
39:34 Policy Solutions for a Modern Economy
