Basically it refers to the recent surge in prices for almost anything to do with entertainment and fun.

As well as the soaring cost of eating and drinking out, US commentators have noted that even the costs of staying home are starting to rise sharply as TV streamers and video games companies lift their prices.

There’s also no shortage of concern about the cost of movie tickets and live concert tickets.

This week on The Economy of Everything podcast Tamsyn Parker and Liam Dann look at the issue and whether it’s happening here.

“We’ve all become addicted to our streaming TV and then of course once you’re hooked, they can start putting the prices up,” Dann says.

Parker notes the cost of a monthly Netflix subscription has risen from $9.99 a month in 2015 to $17.99 a month.

“So, that’s quite a big jump and pretty much all the streaming services have hiked their prices in the last year or so.”

Politically and socially, the trend could be problematic for governments all over the world, Dann said.

Broadly, over the past 30 or 40 years the cost of entertainment had fallen compared to previous eras.

With all the conflict and division in modern society, keeping the public entertained was now doing a lot of work to maintain social stability, he said.

“It’s almost the Roman thing of bread and circuses. You have to keep your people entertained and life fun and engaging, or they start to get more critical and more political.

“And that’s when we start to see political rebellion and all that sort of stuff.”

Heading into an election, if people are feeling disgruntled rather than upbeat about the economy, not very happy about like the day-to-day grind, are they open to change? Parker pondered.

“I guess some of the polls are showing that the percentage of people looking to vote for either National or Labour is at quite low levels.”

This week Parker and Dann also take a look at the broader inflation issue plaguing the economy, with the Consumers Price Index at 4.1% in the year to June 30 – the largest increase in more than two years.

How much can we pin on global oil prices and how much blame does the Government have to take?

Continuing on the cost of living theme, they also look at the risk of H5N1 bird flu to our poultry industry – and the possibility it could spike the price of one of the cheapest protein sources available at grocery stores.

Listen to the full episode for the full conversation.

The Economy of Everything is available on the iHeart app or wherever you get your podcasts.

The series is hosted by Liam Dann, business editor-at-large and Tamsyn Parker, business editor for the NZ Herald. Thanks to CMC Markets.