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Mitchell Hartman

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Mitchell’s most important job at Marketplace is to explain the economy in ways that non-expert, non-business people can understand. Michell thinks of his audience as anyone who works, whether for money or not, and lives in the economy . . . which is most people.

Mitchell wants to understand, and help people understand, how the economy works, who it helps, who it hurts and why. Mitchell gets to cover what he thinks are some of the most interesting aspects of the economy: wages and inflation, consumer psychology, wealth inequality, economic theory and how it measures up to economic reality.

Mitchell was a high school newspaper nerd and a college newspaper editor. He has worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, WXPN-FM, WBAI-FM, KPFK-FM, Pacifica Radio, the CBC, the BBC, Monitor Radio, Cairo Today Magazine, The Jordan Times, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, Oregon Business Magazine, the Reed College Alumni Magazine, and Marketplace (twice — 1994-2001 & 2008-present).

Mitchell has gone on strike (Newspaper Guild vs. Knight Ridder, Philadelphia, 1985) and helped organize a union (with SAG-AFTRA at Marketplace, 2021-23). Mitchell once interviewed Marcel Marceau and got him to talk.

Latest Stories (2,002)

Growing up is hard if you can’t find a job

Feb 9, 2012
In this economy, young people postpone careers, marriage, kids and even leaving home.

States could get billions from 'Robosigning' banks

Feb 6, 2012
Monday is the deadline for states to sign onto a settlement with the nation's largest banks over abusive foreclosure practices. The deal would reportedly force banks to pay billions of dollars to people who lost their homes.

Jobs report brings rare good economic news

There was some good news from Washington for a change. For the second month in row, U.S. job creation rose, leading some to believe the economy might finally be showing signs of a sustained recovery. But there were some skeptics.

The downside of low interest rates

Jan 26, 2012
Retirees see less return on savings; some businesses invest in tech, not workers.

How Romney made money after retirement

Jan 26, 2012
Bain Capital may sell companies years after buying them, then partners get their share of profits.

Did the Arab Spring spark the 'Occupy' movement?

Jan 24, 2012
Middle East movement inspired Occupiers, but so did home-grown protests in Wisconsin.

'London Rams' may entice NFL fans in Europe

Jan 20, 2012
The St. Louis Rams will play one "home" game in London the next 3 seasons. The NFL would like to put a team there permanently.

Unemployment rate higher in minority communities

Jan 16, 2012
Dig deeper into the unemployment numbers and you'll find some groups are not seeing improvement in their work lives.

Attitudes changing on divide between rich and poor

Jan 11, 2012
A Pew survey says Americans now think the conflict between rich and poor is more important than between whites and blacks or immigrants and the native-born.