A group of women in northern Mexico saw opportunity in piles of electronic waste sitting just across the border. They plugged in their energy and made a successful business, despite the powers that be. Ingrid Lobet reports.
People will try just about anything to save a buck. But sometimes the best way to save money — and avert disaster — is to call the professionals to begin with. Sally Herships reports.
Many people living in comfortable surroundings are now embracing a frugal-chic attitude. Maine-based author W. Hodding Carter and his family are experimenting in being ultra-frugal for an entire year.
Paul Kedrosky, senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation, argues that entrepreneurship is the key to getting us out of this economic mess. He talks with Tess Vigeland about the biggest obstacles facing new businesses.
As the coup in Honduras continues, few are seeing scenes from the turmoil due to heavy media censorship. Venezuelan news outlet Telesur is breaking through, but the coverage comes at a personal cost. Dan Grech explains.
The flow of initial public offerings slowed to a crawl during the first half 2009, but the number of IPOs has taken off recently. Could this spell success for start-ups in the months ahead? Mitchell Hartman reports.
Long-time cycling commentator Phil Liggett talks with Renita Jablonski about what to expect from the upcoming Tour de France, and how an increased interest in cycling might be affecting the sport's marketing.
USC Gould School of Law Dean Robert Rasmussen talks with Renita Jablonski about whether Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch can be turned into a tourist attraction, and the challenges facing the handlers of his estate.
It's been one month since Microsoft launched its latest search engine, Bing. Renita Jablonski checks in with tech analyst Rob Enderle to see how Bing's doing against Google.
The Fourth of July is all about getting into the patriotic spirit. For some, that can include how you spend your money. Here are some thoughts on spending to serve your country.
More than 32,000 advertising jobs have been wiped out from targeted Internet ads and the recession. To get back into the job market, some are taking unconventional approaches. Steve Henn talked to one copywriter who exposed himself for shock value.
How much money people get in their unemployment checks — and even whether they're eligible for jobless benefits — depends a lot on where they live. Mitchell Hartman reports.
The financial crisis is making it harder for students and recent grads to get internships they need to build their resumes. So, many young Americans are looking overseas for opportunity. Gretchen Wilson reports from South Africa.
Travel-book publisher Pauline Frommer talks with host Stacey Vanek-Smith about where good vacation deals can be found this summer. And Stacey looks into what it costs to camp.
Host Stacey Vanek-Smith and Economics Editor Chris Farrell answer listeners' questions about annuities, affording a seaside condo, timeshare properties, and secured credit cards.
Marketplace's Brendan Newnam and Rico Gagliano talk with fellow staffers George Judson, Rod Abid and Stacey Vanek-Smith about under-the-radar business stories: A medical-themed restaurant, China's porn-blocking glitch, and corporate-sponsored college classes.
Oil companies are cautiously gearing up to tap Kurdistan's massive oil fields. But they could hit some roadblocks from the country's high-level corruption, which is commonplace. Reese Erlich reports
Airplane designers are finding ways to squeeze in as many seats as possible to sell more tickets. Kai Ryssdal talks to Paul Wylde about the science, and economics, behind airplane design
Reuters blogger Felix Salmon and freelance business writer Heidi Moore talk with Kai Ryssdal about the poor job numbers, banks' toxic assets and the state of the economy halfway through 2009.
Back in 1776, the fight against taxation without representation led to the Revolutionary War and eventually America's independence from Britain. Economist Kevin Hassett wonders if it was worth it in the long run.
The bankrupt carmaker is cleaning out its garage in an effort to form a new, pared-down company. But bondholders are fighting over which assets will stay and which will get offered to outside buyers. Jeremy Hobson reports
As California begins issuing IOUs, banks are worried that counterfeit notes may become a big problem. But the state insists fraud protection efforts are in place. Sarah Gardner reports.
The U.S. isn't the only country reeling from grim unemployment numbers. Workers in the 16 countries that use the euro are also feeling the effects of the global recession. Stephen Beard reports.
Bill Stone, chief investment strategist at PNC Wealth Management, talks with Steve Chiotakis about whether there is any silver lining in the latest unemployment numbers, and when results from the stimulus package might kick in to help.
Hugh Johnson, chief economist at Johnson Illington Advisors, talks with Bob Moon about whether the unemployment numbers are less worse than they have been in the past, and if they're surprising.
The Obama administration has tried a number of programs to slow the rate of foreclosure, but the housing market is still unstable. Commentators Robert Reich and Mark Zandi discuss other actions the government could take.
Several countries neighboring Honduras have suspended trade, and the World Bank has postponed millions in loans. But the U.S. has held off on sanctions for now. Dan Grech reports.
Last winter's $700 billion stimulus package was supposed to help generate jobs, but so far it's done a lackluster job. John Dimsdale reports on what happened.
Some cities are suing online travel companies, claiming web-based firms are shortchanging them out of millions in hotel taxes. Danielle Karson reports.
Calling your bank for loan advice can be a frustrating maze of automated messages and people without answers. But what's it like on the other side of the line at the nation's largest loan servicer, Bank of America? Tamara Keith reports.
The hot debate among macro-economists and market watchers is whether the economy's recovery will be V-shaped or U-shaped. Commentator Robert Reich says it's too early to see the shape of things to come.
The Census Bureau is reporting an exodus from suburbs, but the numbers are just estimates. A non-profit called Social Compact is finding a lot of uncounted people and it's redefining how inner-city populations are tallied. Jeff Tyler reports.
Going to a restaurant in France just got cheaper. The value-added tax on meals has been reduced to 5.5% from 19.6%. Tess Vigeland talks with Mark Williamson, chef and owner of two dining establishments in Paris.
With California's $24 billion budget gap still unresolved, the state will start paying its bills with IOUs. Sarah Gardner reports on how this may affect state vendors.
The financial industry says it will attempt to block the Obama administration's proposal for a consumer protection agency. But its lobbyists may have a difficult battle ahead. Steve Henn reports.
The U.S. Treasury's plan to get private investors to buy mortgage-backed securities is expected any day now. But it turns out some banks have been quietly loading up on these bonds for months now. Amy Scott reports.
National Census data shows that the trend of cities losing residents to outlying suburbs is reversing, and it may be due in part to the economy. Sam Eaton reports.
UCLA economics professor Edward Leamer talks with Bob Moon about whether we should view the latest housing numbers as the glass being half empty or half full.
Doug Foreman, director of equities at Highmark Capital, talks with Steve Chiotakis about how important the latest ADP employer services numbers are, and whether we should take comfort in the European manufacturing numbers.
Sweden wants big greenhouse gas polluters to cut their emissions as it takes over the rotating European Union presidency. But will a new climate deal be a tough sell? Stephen Beard reports.
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus talks with Bob Moon about a fee most telecommunications companies charge consumers to have an unlisted number.
The Treasury Department may finally roll out the Public-Private Partnership program, where the government encourages private investors to buy troubled assets. But it may be less ambitious than originally planned. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Nearly all states have had to make program cuts to deal with big budget shortfalls. Mitchell Hartman reports that despite all the budget cuts, the pain is not nearly over.
These days, credit card companies are taking plastic away from a lot of consumers. To figure out whose credit to cut, companies look at where you live, where you shop, and what you buy. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports on data profiling.
Despite working into the night, California lawmakers failed to balance the state budget, which means IOU's may be issued in lieu of payments for the first time in nearly two decades. Sam Eaton reports.
The Supreme Court issued formal opinions for all but one case this term. The decision on that case could have big implications for how election campaigns are financed. Corbb O'Connor reports.
The Web site "Mechanical Turk" is billed as a marketplace where employers and workers can find each other. It's a good deal for employers, but is it a decent way to make a living? Joel Rose reports.
Many British lawmakers hold down one, two or even three jobs alongside their full-time gigs as MPs. But now they will have to disclose how much time they spend and how much money they make at their other jobs. Stephen Beard reports.
You might think Baby Boomers and people in Generation Y don't have much in common. But economist Sylvia Hewlett says they have similar goals, working styles, likes and dislikes. She talks with host Tess Vigeland.
The new Consumer Financial Protection Agency proposed by the Obama administration would have powerful tools to discipline banks and other lenders. John Dimsdale reports.
As a new fiscal year approaches, Arizona, Mississippi and Indiana are among a handful of states whose legislatures could shut down if they fail to balance their budgets by July 1. Jeff Tyler reports.
Lawmakers in the state have until today to close the $24 billion budget deficit. Tess Vigeland speaks with Evan Halper, Sacramento bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, about the state's fiscal problems.
Smith, Moore and Company analyst Juli Niemann talks with Steve Chiotakis about whether a moderate decline in home prices is a nice way of saying the panic is gone, and whether the consumer confidence report is more happy talk or happy news.
Reporter Brett Neely talks with Steve Chiotakis about why the German Federal Constitutional Court delayed ratification of a treaty that is meant to strengthen European Union leadership.
GM's plan to sell off a major stake in its European division to auto-parts maker Magna have stalled. The automaker is now reportedly talking to other suitors. Stephen Beard reports.
TheWrap.com's news editor Michael Speier talks with Steve Chiotakis about why Paramount is having problems despite two huge blockbusters, and what's in the pipeline for the studio the rest of the year.
General Motors is heading to bankruptcy court, and the automaker is hoping for a quick approval. Sam Eaton reports why it is unlikely the proceedings will be slowed down.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was supposed to have taken off by now, but will remain grounded due to a problem predicting how the lightweight plane will respond to flight stress. Steve Henn reports.
Michael Jackson's sudden death was untimely for celebrity magazines, since many had already gone to press. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports why news-oriented magazines like Newsweek have more of an edge this time.
Ethnic and sectarian divisions are complicating matters as international companies bid on Iraqi oil contracts. Reese Erlich reports the autonomous region of Kurdistan has already made its own deals with foreign oil companies.
Michael Lewis, author of "Liar's Poker," talks with Kai Ryssdal about the end of Wall Street's golden years and who and what he thinks are to blame for today's fiscal calamity.
