Eli Finkel of Northwestern University recently did a study showing that when it comes to financial styles, opposites attract. Tess talks to him about why spenders are drawn to savers and vice versa. We also hear from people on the street about the fiscal dynamic with their partners.
Host Tess Vigeland and Marketplace Economics Editor Chris Farrell tackle listeners' questions about term vs. whole-life insurance policies, tuition reimbursement, and a correction about the term "joint-will".
Helping friends or family members financially can be embarrassing for those on the receiving end. But a new Web site called "Giving Anonymously," is helping people give to those in need without the awkward face-to-face exchange. Lisa Napoli reports.
The microfinance site Kiva.org has been lending to businesses in developing countries for years. But now it's expanding its reach to those within the U.S. Kiva President Premal Shah about the company's decision to start lending stateside.
Aggressive debt collection tactics and false promises to fix foreclosure problems are just a couple things listed on a new survey of consumer complaints. Tess lists a few more.
You may think you know the price of your house, but by the time you sign your closing papers the amount may be much different. Tess Vigeland talks with Elizabeth Razzi, author of "The Fearless Homebuyer" about new regulations that will slow everything down and make the mortgages process easier.
Food stamps help thousands of families in need. But to get the most of out of them you need some smart shopping strategies. Reporter Jeff Tyler follows one woman who's become very savvy at navigating the food benefit system.
Markets are unpredictable, so why should anyone trust investing advice? Tess Vigeland talks with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Opdyke about why anyone should still read investment tips, and what they can expect to get out of the market these days.
Economics Editor Chris Farrell traces the rise and fall of the money market account, and explains why he's putting his extra cash into a good, old savings account.
"Cadillac" or "gold-plated" insurance programs have come under fire in the Capitol Hill debate about health care. But just what do the plans cover and how do they work? Joel Rose reports.
So many people turned in their old gas guzzlers in Cash for Clunkers, it ran out of money in just a week. Tess Vigeland talks with Phil Reed of Edmunds.com about the good, the bad, and the ugly in the Cash for Clunkers program.
Marketplace's Rico Gagliano talks with fellow staffers George Judson, Nancy Farghalli, and Stacey Vanek-Smith about under-the-radar business stories: high-alcohol-content beer, the Fed's popularity, and snuggies for pets.
There are 8 million homes sitting empty due to foreclosure. But if you think now is the time to buy — you're not alone. Prepare for a bidding war. Rob Schmitz reports.
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin talks with Kai Ryssdal about why his state has an unexpected $65 million surplus, and why he wants to use some of that money to give state employees a one-time salary enhancement.
Freelance business writer Heidi Moore and Reuters finance blogger Felix Salmon talk with Kai Ryssdal about the politics of health care reform, and whether the markets should be doing as well as they are.
British Airways has announced a big loss, and many of Europe's other so-called full-service carriers are also reporting lower earnings. Stephen Beard reports this may force Europe's airlines to fly the American way.
Gross Domestic Product only declined 1% in the second quarter. That was better than expected, but is the worst over? Bob Moon gets to the bottom of the situation.
Cash For Clunkers is so popular the government wants to invest billions more into the program. But not everyone thinks investing in the clunker trade-in is a good move. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
A bill that passed the House would allow shareholders to vote on pay packages for Wall Street executives, and give regulators new powers to limit rewards for risk taking. Amy Scott reports.
It's recess time in Congress, and President Obama still hasn't reached his goal of putting health care reform on the fast track. Dan Grech explores how a five-week break might influence the proposed bill.
European bank HSBC reports its half-year earnings today, and analysts are forecasting a net loss of $600 million. Car loans and credit cards in the U.S. hurt the bank, as well as one particularly bad acquisition. Stephen Beard reports.
The Gross Domestic Product shrank last quarter
by 1 percent. a smaller decline than what economists expected. Bill Radke explores GDP in the bigger picture with Bankrate.com analyst Greg McBride.
Consumers in Massachusetts have enjoyed a weekend-long holiday from state sales tax every August for the past five years. But this year, the break is gone and taxes are going up. Abigail Beshkin reports.
Despite representing over one-fourth of the U.S. population, plus-sized people are often under-served in businesses. But some companies are popping up that embrace the physical differences. Rico Gagliano reports.
Democrats are working on a bill that would force most credit-default swaps onto exchanges where they can be monitored by the government. Jeremy Hobson breaks down how these potential regulations would work and how they would help.
The government's Cash for Clunkers has been an instant hit — so successful, in fact, that the car-swapping initiative may be out of money.
Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman about the program's possible next steps.
As lawmakers try to figure out affordable health care, several Miami hospitals have found an alternative: They're launching a campaign to attract foreigners, at least the sick and wealthy ones. Dan Grech reports.
Brown University professor James Morone talks with Kai Ryssdal about how different presidents have dealt with health care, and lessons President Obama can learn.
In Manhattan, high-end retailers rule the scene. But now one mid-priced chain with Midwestern roots is opening up a shop at a time when cash-strapped New Yorkers just might take notice. Kaomi Goetz reports.
Congress will soon head into recess, but they are still grappling with overhauling health care. John Dimsdale reports on the heavy lawmaking to be done this fall.
Roy Stearns, spokesman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, talks with Bill Radke about how the department is coping with the Golden State's budget hole by asking people to sponsor its parks.
Kellogg was among the winners in today's financial market. Steve Chiotakis explores the connection between cereal and recession with Juli Niemann from Smith, Moore and Company in St. Louis.
Foreclosures continue to swamp states like California, Nevada and Florida. But now states like Idaho and Arkansas, which didn't have high rates of subprime mortgages before, are also starting to feel the pain. Jeff Tyler reports.
Once the ink dries on a new merger, some companies find uniting their workforces is a different matter entirely. Many such financial institutions are dealing with culture clashes amidst employees. Amy Scott reports.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will set up its first permanent office in Beijing later this year. Chinese authorities must still approve the move, but some say it could help China crack down on shoddy goods. Amy Scott reports.
To combat their city's high crime rate, businesses in Lancaster, Penn. raised capital to install and operate an elaborate security network. But some worry about giving control of the cameras to a non-police entity. Joel Rose reports.
A new scientific study out of the U.K. says organic food has no nutritional or health benefits over ordinary food. Not sparkling news for the organic food industry. Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Stephen Beard.
Even as the economy shows signs of a turnaround, experts say more people will likely become homeless. This is leading to a strain on U.S. shelters and limiting the options for those without permanent housing. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The wife of convicted Ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff is being sued for millions acquired from her husband's investment firm. She's the first of Madoff's family to be sued over his case. Mitchell Hartman has more details.
With mail volume down 20 percent and a mountain of debt to sort out, Congress wants to know what the U.S. Post Office plans to do to bring costs down. This could mean the end of Saturday deliveries. John Dimsdale reports.
In the final part of our series on mobile phone choice, we hear from a woman who gave up her iPhone, and a man who says he loves iPhones but would never actually buy one.
Road trips are back this summer, as families cope with an ailing economy. Commentator Robert Reich says slowing down for a drive down the highway is actually a good thing.
Joel Stager, director of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming, talks with Kai Ryssdal about how the ban of performance-enhancing swimsuits might change the business of swimming.
Violence in the West Bank is at its lowest level in years and Israel has started to ease restrictions for Palestinians at some checkpoints. The new calm has encouraged a new kind of leisure activity. Daniel Estrin reports.
The push for electric cars has given battery technology companies star status among investors. But some people think the real opportunity lies in building much bigger batteries. Sam Eaton reports.
CNET writer Ina Fried talks with Kai Ryssdal about what the Microsoft-Yahoo deal means for the companies and if it will help Bing compete against Google.
Microsoft and Yahoo have announced a new deal that will comprise roughly 30% of global search traffic. Both companies hope to grab a bigger piece of online advertising. Bob Moon reports.
The Obama administration's foreclosure prevention program has had a slow start. But the Treasury Department says it got commitments yesterday from banks and loan servicers to modify mortgages more quickly. Tamara Keith reports.
The Microsoft/Yahoo deal would span 10 years and target Google's online searches and advertising. Bill Radke talks to Ina Fried of CNET, who explains the potential competitive advantages and who will do what in the partnership.
The market holds its breath as Yahoo and Microsoft join forces to take on Google. Steve Chiotakis talks to Doug Foreman of Highmark Capital, who describes the battle in an analogy of chimps versus gorilla.
A group of nearly 200 ultra-wealthy Americans is delivering a petition to President Obama and Congress today asking lawmakers to roll back high-bracket tax cuts. Stacey Vanek-Smith explains why.
Abu Dhabi is buying 32 percent of Virgin Galactic, earning it the exclusive right to host Galactic flights into space from the Gulf region. But is space tourism really going to happen? Stephen Beard reports.
Kentucky and Michigan went head-to-head for stimulus money recently offered by the Department of Energy. But while states are used to waging job wars, some say it's different where recovery money is concerned. Jennifer Guerra reports.
Despite a drop in Hong Kong stocks today, the China State Construction Construction Engineering Group had a very successful trading debut. Bill Radke talks to John Foley from Breaking Views about Asian investors' elevated view of IPOs.
The Taurus was a big hit with auto fans when first unveiled in 1986. But by marketing the car as its flagship vehicle, can Ford expect a repeat performance? Tracy Samilton explores what the new Taurus has to offer.
Negotiators for a new international climate treaty have fielded several proposals that would allow poor nations to break patents on green technologies. The move could help countries stay innovative in the field. Sam Eaton reports.
Further details are expected today on a deal between Microsoft and Yahoo. The search engine would sell advertising on its sites using Microsoft technology. Steve Chiotakis gets breaking info from tech blogger Kara Swisher.
European and American green energy companies complain that China is practicing protectionism by favoring local contractors for billion-dollar projects. But the "Buy American," language in the U.S. stimulus plan may have encouraged China's position. Scott Tong reports.
Kai Ryssdal reviews what listeners had to say about some of our most recent stories on health care: Medical records going digital, health-care costs for small businesses, and taxing the rich to pay for universal care.
Kai Ryssdal talks with Kaiser Permanente CEO George Halvorson about health-care reform. He says it's not just about cost, but also about changing the way doctors treat patients.
