It's time once again for economics editor Chris Farrell to help you sort out what's smart, what's stupid and what's the Straight Story. This week, Chris makes a very public argument about the loss of privacy.
Life is hard enough without having to decipher everything. Each week, Marketplace Money brings you a word or a phrase that has bubbled to the top of the news. For instance, transfer pricing. You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
Moving up the property ladder is a homeowner's dream. But what about trading up in the virtual world? Julian Dibbell's new book goes inside the world of virtual commerce. He talks with Kai.
A college degree can open a lot doors, but keeping them open is another story. All across the country, recent college graduates face the grueling search for work. Youth Radio's Latifah Muhammad shares her story.
In more than eight states, bagged spinach is being blamed for a rash of E. coli outbreaks. Federal health officials are warning not to eat any bagged spinach of any brand. Lisa Napoli reports.
More men are staying single longer and their spending habits are changing. So, marketers got together in New York to look at what appeals to this changing customer base. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The U.S., Canada and European Union today complained to the World Trade Organization that China should lower trade barriers that they say are unfair for foreign automakers. Scott Tong reports.
Most workers have to account for their time at work, whether by punching the timeclock or reporting their hours. Commentator Ellen Miller thinks politicians should be required to do the same.
The sky isn't falling, but certain segments of the economy might make Chicken Little head for cover. How can you protect your portfolio from a softening housing market and fluctuating oil prices? Kai talks with Jane Kim of the Wall Street Journal.
Miami's hot condo market isn't so hot anymore. In fact, it is downright chilly — and that cold front is moving across the country. What's an owner to do? Dan Grech reports.
Microsoft's long-awaited competitor to Apple's iPod is expected on store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season. Janet Babin looks at whether it has a fighting chance.
India's government has proposed to give $1,100 to people who marry members of lower castes. The plan aims to weaken the country's caste system, but critics say the payouts won't work. Miranda Kennedy reports.
The World Health Organization today is expected to tap banned pesticide DDT as an important tool in the fight against malaria. But as Nancy Marshall Genzer reports, some African farmers are worried.
Most people think a college education is the ticket for a good, well-paying job. But college grads in Egypt are finding that's not always true. Nancy Farghalli reports.
You might think having a Frank Lloyd Wright in your neighborhood would be a good thing. But one Los Angeles community is finding there's a downside to historic architecture. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Ford Motor Company's Way Forward restructuring plan is hitting the gas pedal with jobs cuts, buyouts and plant closures that will happen faster and slice deeper than anticipated. Janet Babin reports.
The second-in-command at Russia's central bank was shot dead last night in Moscow. Andrei Kozlov had been cracking down on money laundering. Stephen Beard reports.
Xcel Energy plans to build a clean-coal power plant to capture its CO2 emissions. It's hailed as a breakthrough in addressing global warming — but Colorado ratepayers may be stuck with a billion dollar bill. Sam Eaton looks at clean energy's next big hurdle: the tab.
A new breed of economist is studying brain scans to figure that out. Think of it as an academic mashup between neuroscience and economics. Host Bob Moon talks to The New Yorker's John Cassidy who's been looking into the trend of Neuroeconomics.
After a slump in the Mexican manufacturing industry a few years ago, many American corporations turned to labor in India and China. But thanks to some high tech changes, the maquilas may be back. Laura Belous reports.
What happened to all the tough reform talk prompted by those ethics scandals at the beginning of the year? An earmark reform bill is making its through Congress today. Hillary Wicai looks at whether it has any teeth.
Americans whose employers don't provide health insurance don't have a very good chance of finding it on their own. 9-in-10 who try are turned down or give up because it's too expensive, says a study out today. Helen Palmer reports.
A new study shows that workers who are open to staying after work for a drink with colleagues make more money — a lot more. Reason Magazine editor-in-chief Nick Gillespie tells us about the findings.
New findings from Senate investigators conclude that many not-for-profit hospitals are not fulfilling their charge of caring for the poor and uninsured. Helen Palmer reports.
The second in command at Russia's central bank was shot dead last night in Moscow. Andrei Kozlov had been cracking down on money laundering. Stephen Beard reports.
The International Monetary Fund says the world is headed toward the strongest four-year expansion since the early '70s thanks to a strong showing by China and India. Jocelyn Ford reports.
German engineering is considered among the best in the world. But as Kyle James reports, engineering's appeal as a career is dropping among German students.
Discount retailer Target has ventured into the world of high fashion with the Tar-zhay Couture label. Will it impact the company's value brand? Sarah Lemancyzk reports.
The doctor's lobby jumps into election-year politicking this week with a campaign to get Congress to roll back cuts on Medicare payments. Nancy Marshal Genzer reports.
Oil is just above $64 dollars a barrel today, almost $15 below prices a month ago. That's helping people save money at the pump — Steve Tripoli looks at whether it will activate consumer spending.
Ford's Board of Directors is meeting today and tomorrow, and they could be discussing cutting white collar jobs and benefits by as much as 30 percent. Sarah Gardner reports.
As healthcare costs continue to soar, some people are flying to hospitals in countries like India that often employ American-trained doctors who can operate at a fraction of the cost. And that's just part of the package, Miranda Kennedy reports.
American businesses are looking into the potentially cost-saving trend of medical tourism, but some skeptics are putting their collective foot down. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
As debate rages over whether wages are really shrinking and average Americans are getting squeezed, commentator Steve Moore claims the middle class is doing very well, thank you.
Meteorites are some of the rarest rocks on earth. Gram for gram they'll cost you more than gold or diamonds-most are more than a billion years old. Want one? Your best bet is eBay. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Turns out operators of the major oil field recently discovered in the Gulf don't have to pay royalties for their find. Host Kai Ryssdal speaks to Marketplace's Scott Tong, who's been following the story.
Time Inc. plans to sell 18 of its smaller, but still profitable magazine titles in an effort to refocus its publishing strategy. Rachel Dornhelm looks at what's behind the sale.
Congressional leaders are considering new rules to govern the use of earmarks in the appropriations process. But commentator Robert Reich argues they don't go far enough.
California's Attorney General says insiders at Hewlett Packard could face criminal charges stemming from the company's probe into information leaked to the media. Bob Moon reports.
Hewlett-Packard director George Keyworth resigned. Chairwoman Patricia Dunn will step down in January but stays on the board. CEO Mark Hurd takes her place. What does it all mean for HP? Amy Scott reports.
Bristol-Myers Squibb CEO Peter Dolan stepped down today effective immediately. The maker of Excedrin and Plavix was feeling some pressure from the Justice Department, Bob Moon reports.
Friday in Los Angeles there's an art event billed as a "vandalized warehouse spectacular." We can't tell you where 'cause that's a secret, but it's business as usual for self-proclaimed art terrorist Banksy. Rico Gagliano has the story.
The cell phone industry is hosting one of the splashiest conferences in Los Angeles this week, and the thing on everyone's mind? Making cash with content. Lisa Napoli reports.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been accused by critics of hurting the competitiveness of U.S. markets. And they've formed a coalition for change. Host Kai Ryssdal talks with law professor Jim Cox about the reform efforts.
New Amtrak CEO Alexander Kummant moves into his office today. Host Kai Ryssdal asks "End of the Line" author Joseph Vranich, given the history of the company, why would anyone want the job?
The price for Hewlett Packard stock has rebounded amid an on-going scandal involving the company's chairwoman. Investors see it as inconsequential to the company's financial outlook, Rachel Dornhelm reports.
New government figures out today are expected to show a growing U.S. trade deficit. Amy Scott reports the numbers are likely to fuel renewed calls for China to relax its currency controls.
The cost of higher education keeps getting, well, higher. And commentator Kim Clark says that colleges are putting a lot of resources into keeping it that way.
Hong Kong Disneyland celebrated its first year today, but the party got rained on — literally and figuratively. The $3.5 billion park has fallen short of its goal to attract 5.6 million visitors. Jocelyn Ford reports.
U.S. business leaders are expected today to announce a new coalition that'll push for changes to Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The IRS announced today that it has settled a major tax dispute with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. Glaxo will pay the government $3.4 billion. Helen Palmer reports.
Commentator Ian Ayres proposes a solution to the problem of pretexting: Forget adding more laws to criminalize the act, just make companies notify customers when anyone requests information about them.
A bill to increase protection of government whistleblowers goes into conference today. And not everyone's behind the measure, Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Some CIA officers have a private but government-sponsored insurance plan that pays legal expenses if they're accused of abusing or torturing prisoners. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Washington Post reporter R. Jeffrey Smith about the story.
President says "The war's not over" in national TV address. Earler, satellite network Al-Jazeera released a new Al Qaeda video in which the terrorist organization threatened more attacks and "economic disaster."
The government of China announced yesterday that foreign news services will have to seek approval from the state news agency before reaching Chinese media outlets. Bob Moon reports.
After the 9/11 attacks, Congress set up a Victim Compensation Fund that paid out close to $7 billion to survivors and victims' families. Two of those families told us how that money has changed their lives.
China has issued rules that ban foreign news agencies like the Associated Press from going directly to customers in China. They'll have to sell their news, photos and financial information via the state-owned news agency, Xinhua. Jocelyn Ford reports.
Hewlett Packard's board will consider today whether the company's chairwoman should lose her job over the recent pretexting scandal. Ashley Milne-Tyte has the story.
The price of a barrel of oil continues to fall as members of the oil producing group OPEC meet in Vienna today. But they're not expected to try to push up prices — at least not yet. Stephen Beard reports.
A 9-11 widow recounts the difficulty of having to calculate a monetary value for the loss of her husband to receive payment from the Victims Compensation Fund.
