Latest from Olie D'Albertanson

• Jun 2, 2023

  Job openings rose a lot…but so did unemployment

  

  Today’s jobs report is in the books, and it showed something that economists didn’t expect: a rise in unemployment combined with a huge boost in the number of jobs added. FHN Financial Chief Economist Christopher Low explains what the data could mean, including that the quality of job openings could be falling. Plus, what’s inside the debt deal that passed the Senate last night? And finally, economist Monica de Bolle helps break down what’s gone so wrong in Argentina’s economy. 

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• Jun 2, 2023

  Debt ceiling drama — done

  

  President Biden overcame the final legislative hurdle to raising the nation’s debt ceiling last night as the Senate voted 63-36 in favor of the compromise agreement struck with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last weekend. We look at what’s in the final agreement as it goes to the White House for the final sign-off. And finally, Argentina’s economy is in tatters as people deal with inflation over 100% — the BBC’s Leanna Byrne explains how that’s been affecting people on the ground. 

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• Jun 2, 2023

  Fresh U.S. sanctions on Sudan as fighting rages

  

  From the BBC World Service: Sudanese companies and individuals have been hit with new economic restrictions as an intense power struggle continues to cause devastation in the country. Dr. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a U.S.-based policy analyst, believes it will take more than just sanctions to end the conflict. iPhone maker Foxconn has followed through on a plan to expand production into India by the end of the year. And find out why the pandemic has changed how we eat lunch at work.

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• Jun 2, 2023

  Finding Your Place: a special report on the economics of homelessness

  

  How did homelessness become such a defining and intractable economic issue in America? What are the root causes of the recent rise in homelessness, and more importantly, how do we fix it? In this special report, we delve into six different facets of the fight against homelessness to get a better sense of what people have been going through — and what that can tell us about how to tackle the issue that’s been vexing mayors and legislators across the nation for decades. 

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• Jun 1, 2023

  Caught between a job and homelessness

  

  Part of the advice prescribed as a “cure” to homelessness is getting a job. But what happens when the work people do still isn’t enough to afford a place to live? A new study from the Economic Roundtable nonprofit delves into the surprisingly-high rate of homelessness amongst California fast food workers. Plus, businesses in some resort towns are offering subsidies for landlords to rent to local workers. 

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• Jun 1, 2023

  A bipartisan vote sends the debt deal to the Senate

  

  After a bipartisan vote on the debt deal in the House of Representatives last night, the compromise legislation looks to be on its way to becoming law. We look at what the spending cuts in the bill, totaling about $1.5 trillion, could mean for the economy. Plus, organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness are finding it hard to staff enough workers. And finally, Amazon has agreed to pay $31 million to settle allegations that it improperly handled the data of children collected by its Alexa voice assistant. 

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• Jun 1, 2023

  Dubai, Abu Dhabi broaden incomes with tax hike

  

  From the BBC World Service: The United Arab Emirates, for many years a zero-tax economy, has introduced new corporate tax rates for businesses. That comes as the country’s government seeks to move away from reliance on oil revenues. Plus, the BBC’s Nkechi Ogbonna reports from Nigeria, where a planned end to oil subsidies has led to a rush in people stocking up at fuel depots.

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• May 31, 2023

  Hollywood choreographers are looking to unionize, too

  

  It’s not just Hollywood writers who have been lobbying for better working conditions — TV and film choreographers are also working toward establishing a fully-fledged union. We look at what workers want and what that could mean for the entertainment industry. Plus, we delve into the deep connection between two chronic and often-intertwined problems in America: mental health and homelessness.

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• May 31, 2023

  In some places, living unsheltered could become a crime

  

  There are moves afoot in numerous states and cities to criminalize elements of homelessness, including living in encampments. As part of our ongoing “Finding Your Place” series exploring the issue, we talk to Ann Oliva, CEO of the nonpartisan National Alliance to End Homelessness, about these moves and what they say about the debate over how to handle the unhoused crisis. Plus, a group of players in the AI space has issued a stark warning that calls for greater regulation of the technology. And finally, the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, has reached a $6 billion opioid settlement that also shields those individuals from civil liability. 

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• May 31, 2023

  Is AI really a risk to humanity? Some CEOs say the opposite

  

  From the BBC World Service: Tech industry leaders have repeated calls for controls on artificial intelligence, but Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy in the UK, says it’s transforming work for the better. And in Ukraine, the BBC’s Joe Tidy reports how demand for drones is skyrocketing as a new front emerges in its conflict with Russia.

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