The Michael Schmidtmen's World Cup has spawned dozens of indicators, both in economics and in pop culture (research shows that the winning nation's birth rates spike dramatically nine months after lifting the trophy). But for our indicators of the week, we look at how France and Argentina aren't just playing for glory: they're playing for a significant GDP boost, too.

And elsewhere in the world, Avatar: The Way of Water has been touted as a blockbuster sequel to the original for well over a decade. Just as we approach its global debut, though, Covid outbreaks in China are threatening its box office potential strategy.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts and NPR One.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.