Latest from Jonathan Frewin

• Jun 22, 2021

  Cardboard makers see surge in demand, but …

  

  From the BBC World Service: You might be surprised to see their profits. Companies making packing materials for Amazon and other retailers have seen a sharp fall in orders from corporate clients, with more people working from home. Plus, India accuses Twitter of defying new social media content rules. And, the U.K. starts talks to join the CPTPP, a trading group of countries around the Pacific Ocean. The economic benefits could be limited.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 21, 2021

  Older Americans have the fastest-growing student debt

  

  Nearly 9 million Americans 50 and up still have student debt, either from loans they took out to pay for their own education or for their kids’ educations, according to the Department of Education. Plus, taking stock of how markets reacted to the Federal Reserve’s latest economic assessment last week. And, Chinese citizens are still processing the change in birth policy announced last month that will allow couples to have three children instead of the current maximum of two. A number of women have turned to humor in their reactions.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 21, 2021

  As summer travel heats up, American Airlines is cutting flights

  

  American Airlines, which is flying more than its competitors, is canceling hundreds of flights. One reason is a labor shortage. Plus, ditching your dining plans could cost you: Restaurants are cracking down on people who don’t show up for reservations. And, chronicling Amazon’s constant growth and the challenges it faces as Prime Day kicks off.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 21, 2021

  A rent control row has toppled Sweden’s government

  

  From the BBC World Service: Sweden’s minority government failed to get support to lift a rent cap on newly built apartments, and Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a confidence vote. It’s the first time a Swedish government leader has been ousted after such a motion. Plus, business investment across borders dropped 35% last year as COVID lockdowns stalled the global economy. And, why Japanese companies including Toyota and SoftBank are inoculating staff and their families at work ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 18, 2021

  Is your employer observing Juneteenth?

  

  Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery, is now a federal holiday. Many federal workers get the day off today, but what about private employers? Plus, the first test voyages for cruise ship operators hoping to set sail again. And, reporting from The New York Times sheds light on human resources dysfunction at Amazon, including a pattern of mistaken worker terminations during the pandemic.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 18, 2021

  All of the workers who leave Amazon

  

  According to reporting by The New York Times, attrition at Amazon warehouses is much higher than is typical in the warehousing and retail industry. Among the questions: Is all that leaving seen as a bug or a feature? We speak with the Times reporters who took a closer look at the Amazon customers don’t see. And, the Supreme Court yesterday ruled in favor of a Catholic foster care agency that says its religious views prevent it from working with same-sex couples. The high court ruled that city of Philadelphia violated the First Amendment rights of Catholic Social Services when it stopped working with the agency. How will this ruling affect other organizations?

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 18, 2021

  Doggy day care is booming as people return to offices

  

  From the BBC World Service: That’s because millions of people bought pets when COVID struck and many workers were instructed to work from home. But who will look after our furry friends now? Plus, commodity prices slide after a strong year as the U.S. and countries across Europe continue to lift COVID restrictions. And, promoters in England continue trials for how to run an outdoor music festival during a pandemic.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 17, 2021

  When prison records stand in the way of getting work

  

  Despite work experience and training for people who are incarcerated, many worry about finding employment once they get out. What, then, does rehabilitation mean? Plus, in a trend reversal, more people, not fewer, signed up for unemployment benefits last week. Also, support in the Senate continues to build for a bipartisan plan to fix infrastructure. And, why we’ve seen so many IPOs so far this year.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 17, 2021

  The central role of prisons in the U.S. economy

  

  In June, our documentary film selection for the “Econ Extra Credit” series is “The Prison in Twelve Landscapes.” It takes the approach of “visual poetry” to look at the culture of incarceration in the U.S. from many angles — all of them personal, many of them economic. Also, the news out of the Federal Reserve yesterday is that interest rates, steady for now, will likely start rising sooner than policymakers thought.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload
• Jun 17, 2021

  U.K. scouts can now earn a badge for money skills

  

  From the BBC World Service: Scouts in the U.K. introduce the organization’s first financial literacy skills badge. Plus, 500 police officers raided the offices of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper alleging its reporting breaches a national security law. The paper’s editor-in-chief and other senior bosses were arrested at their homes. And, the World Bank says it won’t help El Salvador implement Bitcoin as a form of legal tender.

  Read MoreSaveShareDownload