What if everybody in the world consumed like the "average" American family? Sean Cole went in search of that family to find out how much they consume in a given week or month. He didn't have to look too far.
Globalization's delivery of goods to consumers depends on intricate choreography of container ships, trucks, trains and other heavy equipment. The scale is breathtaking. But so are the side effects. Sarah Gardner reports,
If a port is the mouth of America's consumer economy, the landfill is the other end. Tess Vigeland reports on the people and places wrestling with the question of what to do with all the waste.
Kai Ryssdal begins our series with a visit to the Port of Long Beach. You could say it's the mouth of a consumer economy that's getting hungrier and hungrier. He talks with the port's Art Wong about its continuing growth.
After countless claims that it would not settle, Merck has decided to pay almost $5 billion to end Vioxx-related lawsuits. Doug Krizner talks to Marketplace's Alisa Roth in New York about the settlements.
Airbus and Boeing are both attending one of the world's biggest air shows in Dubai, where Emirates will pick a winner for a 100-plane deal worth $20 billion. Stephen Beard reports who might take the lead.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether Fannie Mae bought mortgages based on overblown appraisals. Steve Tripoli reports investors will be asking questions over a conference call.
To get around the Writers Guild strike, some U.S. TV and film producers have been scouting writers in the U.K. Scott Jagow talks to Adam Dawtrey of Variety in London about U.K. writers standing with the WGA.
With millions of Poles traveling to England for work, labor becomes short in their home country. So Poland is filling the gap with affordable labor from eastern Germany. Brett Neely has more.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist visited Brazil with several U.S. businessmen to encourage the strong ties between the two trading partners. Dan Grech explores exactly what the two powers are trading.
Major League Baseball's revenue has been growing steadily over the last few years, and this season it grossed a tie with football. Scott Jagow talks to business of sports commentator Diana Nyad about the MLB's gain.
The free-trade agreement with Peru passed in the House comes with staunch opposition from the Democrats. Dan Grech reports the issue comes from the fact that the agreement is about more than just trade.
It might be bad for foreign travel, but a weakening U.S. dollar is actually good news for trade. Paul Brandus reports the extra competitive edge from a cheaper buck can help generate an extra $100 billion in exports.
Meet the Mullens, a family of four who've sworn off buying new consumer goods for a year. Tess follows the family through their experiment in scrounging.
In September, Tess carried all the trash she generated around for two weeks and challenged you to do the same. We bring you the stories of three listeners who heard the call.
One country's garbage is another country's gold. Scott Tong takes us across the Pacific to see how America's trash has spawned a whole industry in China.
More than 10 percent of trash is food, but would you be willing to take a bite? Tess Vigeland trolls for the edible gems in the garbage of Manhattan with the freegans.
How did everything suddenly switch from repairable to disposable and what does that mean for your local handyman? Sean Cole visits fix-it shops to get some answers.
Landfills may be eyesores for residents, but they have money and jobs to offer communities. Amy Scott visits a Pennsylvania town stuck in the middle of the trash trade.
Our population is consuming about 30% more trees, fish and fossil fuels than the planet can regenerate. How big a hole can we dig before we can't get out of it? Kai Ryssdal talks with Jared Diamond, a geography professor at UCLA.
The NBA is pulling in more players from around the world. Meet one of the globetrotting scouts who seeks them out, in the latest installment of our series on jobs in the global economy. Jon Miller reports.
The Alternative Minimum Tax was once meant to make sure millionaires couldn't skip through loopholes. But now it's hitting the middle class, mostly in Democratic-leaning states. And commentator Jeff Birnbaum says the politics of fixing it speaks volumes.
The iPhone goes on sale Friday in Germany and the U.K. So Kai Ryssdal thought it might be a good time to do a little smartphone tutorial for those in the market. He brought in Kevin Pereira from G4 television.
The House of Representatives is close to approving legislation to encourage an alternative to private property insurance in states prone to catastrophic, natural disasters. John Dimsdale reports.
Crude is not the only oil near record highs. Palm oil is trading near $900 a ton in Malaysia. Prices for other vegetable oils are sizzling, too. Jeff Tyler reports these hot commodities are cooking up some controversy.
Who says things are tough all over? Wealthy individuals and big institutions with money in hedge funds are enjoying their best returns in almost two years. Gains last month averaged from 3.5% to 10%. Bob Moon reports.
The Federal Reserve chairman gave his report on the economy to a congressional committee today. What did he say that we could understand? Kai Ryssdal plays translator.
Ford's third-quarter numbers reflected a loss not as big as Wall Street analysts originally thought. Alisa Roth reports on how the company has managed to cut its losses, despite wan sales.
Gold is close to being at an all-time — which is good news for South Africa, the world's leading gold producer. Gretchen Wilson looks into what's making gold a popular investment right now.
The Environmental Protection Agency head is under fire for a new coal-fired power plant, after a Supreme Court decision on the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Sarah Gardner reports.
The European Central Bank must decide whether to raise or lower euro interest rates. Stephen Beard reports on the many factors at work, including the price of oil and the euro's fast rise against the U.S. dollar.
It rains a lot in Kerala. But that's good for tourism, thanks to the way the Indian state is marketing its monsoons. Mary-Rose Abraham explores the therapeutic power of a downpour.
Brass Magazine CEO Bryan Sims, recently on Business Week's list of entrepreneurs 25 and under, started his money magazine while in college. Scott Jagow talks to him about his road to success.
Best Buy is attempting to get an edge on holiday shopping by inviting its top customers to an exclusive sale this Sunday. Lisa Napoli tells us why this might help the retailer in an ultra-competitive season.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has a two-fold problem when addressing the economy — we can either have inflation or a downturn. Paul Brandus explains he may want to retain balance by maintaining a stable policy.
As the war in Iraq continues, military reservists are being deployed multiple times. The extended periods spent away from home leave many of them struggling to find work in the civilian sector. Danielle Karson reports.
Recent reports have called attention to Americans' serious problems with obesity — from kids to the elderly. Commentator David Frum says that for the sake of our health-care system, it's time for us to get on the treadmill.
Mexicans living abroad are expected to send home more than $25 billion this year. Most of that will go to their families. But communities benefit, too, thanks to a matching program with a twist. Joy Diaz reports.
During the 2000 campaign George Bush promised to make Latin America a fundamental commitment of his presidency. In his new book, Andres Oppenheimer of The Miami Herald says that commitment's been honored mostly in the breach. He talked with Kai Ryssdal.
Congress is poised for its first override of a President Bush veto. It concerns a $23 billion bill for flood control and environmental restoration projects around the country. John Dimsdale reports the stage is now set for a political fight over fiscal responsibility.
It's generally accepted that oil prices are going to reach $100 a barrel one of these days. Jeff Tyler reports on just how painful that might be, both here and abroad.
Recent market euphoria gave way today to worries over the ever-deepening subprime credit crisis, the weakening dollar and record oil prices. Bob Moon looks into what happens if investors overdose on the negatives.
Steve Henn figures his typical family breakfast journeyed 6,000 miles to his kitchen table. It's a symptom of the ever-growing global food trade, and the fossil fuel cost required to move commodities across the planet is growing with it.
General Motors looked like it was on the upswing until this morning, when reports showed the company lost a record $39 billion in the last three months. Amy Scott reports the trouble came from accounting . . . and subprime.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development says chronic homelessness is coming down. But Amy Scott reports this portion includes mostly single adults, and doesn't reflect homeless families.
A report out today from the Federal Reserve reviews the health of the American consumer. Paul Brandus reports that with the current economy, U.S. consumer health will likely deteriorate rapidly as the holidays approach.
Ford and the UAW are in the final stages of an agreement, with workers' approval of the deal the last thing pending. Alisa Roth reports the new contracts draw similarities to those struck with GM and Chrysler.
Performance artist Sara Juli wanted to confront and let go of her fears about money. So she took the idea literally and let go of $5,000 — her entire life savings. Nick van der Kolk has more on her money-obsessed show.
As problems continue to develop in the credit market, the latest casualty could be monolines. Scott Jagow talks to Stephen Beard about what exactly a monoline is and how it will be affected.
Bottled water has been getting a bad rep for its negative impact on the environment. But today, Fiji Water will unveil a new eco-friendly business plan that will actually help the environment. Jeff Tyler reports.
The writers' union strike started this week and the television reruns have already begun. But this strike's not about labor. Commentator Robert Reich explains why entertainment is dealing with a more creative issue.
The Pentagon has awarded $20 billion-worth of construction contracts to fix on-base housing for soldiers. And business is booming. Dave Dewitt reports.
While protests against Pakistan's state of emergency continue, the country's army remains in firm control of businesses worth an estimated $40 billion — about 10% of the economy. The Rand Corporation's Seth Jones spoke with Kai Ryssdal about the army's unique spot in Pakistan's society.
University of Iowa associate professor Katherine Porter has found that many homeowners in foreclosure who file for bankruptcy protection still face fees from mortgage companies that often have no documented merit. She spoke with Kai Ryssdal.
If the U.S. economy were to go into a recession, it would be bad news for just about everyone from business owners to mortgage holders. But commentator Moira Manion says people like her who don't have much don't have much to lose.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is expected to announce on Wednesday a climate initiative intended to make the city a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Only problem is, Chicago's got a lot of competition. Sam Eaton reports.
It's not hard to find signs that the U.S. economy is headed for a recession. In fact, some leading financial gurus are starting to voice their worries publicly. Bob Moon reports.
After indications last week that it was against further regulation, the Bush Administration unveiled today a plan to more closely monitor imported food and other products. Jill Barshay reports.
It's been a week since the Boston Red Sox defeated the Colorado Rockies in the World Series, and fans in Denver are paying up friendly wages in the form of fine food. Curt Nickisch reports.
The Bush Administration is unveiling a plan to tackle the safety of imports by beefing up the agencies that police them, including giving them the power to impose penalities and order mandatory recalls. Amy Scott reports.
Voter numbers are scant in Miami Beach. So to get the election spirit going, the city government is motivating its citizens through an incentive program — using discounts at select businesses. Dan Grech has more.
The limited number of H-1B visas available to skilled foreign workers in the U.S. is a problem for smaller high-tech firms, who get beaten out by big fish like Microsoft. Rachel Dornhelm reports on improvements to the U.S. work visa system.
Two Yahoo execs will testify in Congress to their role in the arrest of a Chinese journalist. Paul Brandus reports why this case speaks to gauging the level in which U.S. businesses bow to the Chinese government.
The process by which the diamond industry reviews gems for involvement in conflict is under review today. But Stephen Beard reports why some campaigners feel the Kimberley process still needs work.
From Hollywood to high school, steroids are more popular outside of the realm of sports than you'd think. Scott Jagow talks to Shaun Assael, author of the book "Steroid Nation."
Alibaba.com, the world's most popular business-to-business company, went public today in Hong Kong. Scott Tong explains the IPO's strong points and tells us where the risks are.
MySpace is adopting a program to target ads more closely to its users, and Facebook is expected to announce a plan to go a similar route. Janet Babin reports why some people might find this obtrusive.
Investors looking to make money in commodities can buy futures contracts on all kinds of things, such as gold, currencies, wheat. One futures contract investors can't buy is diamonds. But as Alisa Roth reports, some people would like to change that.
Grocery giant Tesco is trying to succeed in the U.S., where many of its fellow British companies have failed. It opens five stores across Southern California this week. Stephen Beard reports on whether the company can break Britain's retail losing streak.
Google announced today it is developing a free cell-phone software package so it can more
easily put ads and services before the eyeballs of people who aren't in front of a PC. The Wall Street Journal's Kevin Delaney talked about it with Kai Ryssdal.
Helium is the second-most abundant element in the universe. But here on Planet Earth the gas is getting harder to come by. A worldwide helium shortage is affecting everything from the party industry to medicine. Amy Scott reports.
PetroChina's IPO turned into a gusher today, making it the first company in the history of the world worth more than $1 trillion. But some analysts say the oil giant's market valuation is artifically high. Bob Moon reports.
Citigroup says it could face as much as $11 billion more in losses — after it took almost $6 billion in write-offs last month. Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin has been elevated to chairman to fix things. But what will happen to its retail banking business? Jill Barshay reports.
Profits in municipal bonds are on their way to surpassing last year's record. Amy Scott tells us why it's a good time for local governments to borrow — and why the deals will likely keep coming.
Chicago is set to announce a plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 40 years. Sarah Gardner reports on the city law's bend towards a greener mentality.
The Writers Guild of America kicked off its first strike today in 20 years. Dan Grech reports the first casualty will be talk shows — and with it, a shrinking audience and loss of advertising.
Authentic Persian rugs imported to the U.S. can run up to $100,000, retail. But Americans don't really get the real deal anymore, and Iran does much better business in Asia and Europe. Lisa Chow has more.
Charles Prince's departure from Citigroup was expected, but what investors weren't anticipating were the bank's latest subprime losses. Stephen Beard explores what this could mean for the European market.
The Supreme Court hears a case today that will decide whether it's legal for states to exempt in-state bond interest from income tax while taxing out-of-state bonds. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Charles Schulz's humble "Peanuts" strip grew into a $1.2 billion empire by the 1990's. Lisa Napoli talks to David Michaelis, author of a new Schulz biography, on the cartoonist's trailblazing efforts in merchandising.
