Americans spend over half their leisure time watching TV — and only about 30 minutes a day socializing, according to the American time use survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s tempting to blame social media or phones for the lack of in-person fun — but another reason might have to do with finances. The U.S. has lost thousands of nightclubs, golf courses, and other venues — even as its population grows. And not only that, but the price of fun has risen steadily, leaving many Americans without the budget for it. Ben Steverman, a reporter at Bloomberg, is calling it a “fun shortage” — and in the case of Americans, demand is far outrunning supply.“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Steverman about his reporting.Click the audio player above to hear their conversation.
The economics behind America’s fun shortage
Ben Steverman, a reporter at Bloomberg, discusses the fun shortage, and why it’s gotten harder — and more expensive — for Americans to get out of the house.









