Scott’s Tots and the Broken Promise Economy

Ever feel like you've been lied to? In Scott’s Tots, Michael Scott promises a class of third graders he’ll pay their college tuition if they finish high school. Ten years later they’ve held up their end, and he shows up to tell them he's broke. A lot of people feel like those kids right now. They got the degree, learned to code, and followed the career plan they were handed, only to find a job market that feels empty and hollowed-out. In this episode I use Scott’s Tots to look at who made these promises, why most of them were sincere but wrong, and what the consolation prizes look like today. Guest policy: The Joe Reis Show is strictly invite-only. Unsolicited guest pitches, PR agency solicitations, and booking requests are not accepted or reviewed.