What Happened To GE?

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The Indicator from Planet Money What Happened To GE? What Happened To GE? Listen · 10:00 10:00

For almost a century, General Electric was a powerhouse of the American economy, a byword for progress, innovation, and excellence.

GE did everything, from light bulbs to jet engines to medical devices to banking. And it was that last little venture that turned out to be a bridge too far. GE got into the business just ahead of the financial crisis, and once the dust from that debacle had settled, GE found itself more than a little dinged up. A decade later, the company still hasn't recovered. Today on The Indicator, we find out what brought GE to its knees.

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Note: the audio has been updated with a correction after saying GE created the jet engine.