Week of February 14th, 2011

The National Basketball Association and its players square off over new contract. Threat of lockout looms.

They want to give the private sector a chance to complete the rail line.

Tess Vigeland and MSN's Liz Weston answer listener questions. This week, Liz offers suggestions on the best way to get out of debt and tell us whether or not it's wise to invest in the stock market over the housing industry.

Tess Vigeland and senior producer Deborah Clark goes over listener responses to recent stories. This week: People who want to offer their zip code to the cashier, and the good and the bad of reverse mortgages.

Presidential historian Julian Zelizer talks about about the historic deal on social security between President Reagan and Tip O'Neill, and how it might reflect on our current situation.

For the winner of a German investment contest the answer was easy — a little bit of luck and a lot of derivatives.

Tourists already flock to Civil War historical sites, but the National Park Service and others hope to cash in on the war's 150th anniversary.

Alan Escabar let's us take a peek into his wallet and talks about making music on the streets.

Can thinking like an economist spruce up your sex life and help get the dirty dishes clean? Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson, authors of "Spousonomics," talk with Tess Vigeland about why treating your marriage like a business partnership might help solve some of your marital issues.

Posted by Chau Tu…

"Crash taxes" may go by other names, but they're essentially fees for public services like fire department response and clean-up in auto accidents. But who should foot the bill?

The housing crisis has forced the U.S. government to take a second look at how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operate. So how could those mortgage giants change?

Republicans in Wisconsin plan to cut collective bargaining powers for unions. But Democratic legislators have cleared out of the state to stop the vote.

Rising food costs hurt poor and middle class people in the Middle East. Prices have fueled protests everywhere from Jordan to Yemen and Egypt.

Kai Ryssdal Megan McArdle of The Atlantic and Felix Salmon from Reuters about Obama's budget and what impact it'll have on the economy.

Posted by Chau Tu…

For more insight into money and homelessness following Tess' interview with Patrice Nelson, executive director of the Urban Ministries of Durham,…

These final notes today. First of all, a follow-up to our item earlier this week about the guy in Philadelphia who's trying to foreclose on Wells…

A journalism professor goes offline, and finds her relationships suffer and shopping a chore.

Egyptians celebrated the week anniversary of former President Hosni Mubarak stepping down, while demonstrations continued over pay and working conditions. Reporter Mitchell Hartman talks with Kai Ryssdal about what he saw in Tahrir Square and how the revolution in Egypt is affecting the country economically.

A new online game called SPENT helps players imagine the reality of living below the poverty level. Host Tess Vigeland explores what playing SPENT teaches you with Patrice Nelson, executive director of Urban Ministries, which helped co-develop the game.

Title: Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes Authors: Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson Publisher: Random Ho…

Governor Rich Snyder of Michigan has proposed nearly eliminating the state's tax incentives for the film industry. Currently, Michigan is the third most popular state in the country for film production, behind California and New York. Alex Rosaen, consultant for the Anderson Group, explains.

Jeremy Hobson speaks to Dan Cook, CEO of IG Markets, about the two big economic issues of the week — inflation and debt. These two issues are front-and-center in the U.S. and around the world. Dan Cook explains the impact.

Now that the German and New York stock exchanges have tied the knot, it's time to discuss which entity is going to take a new name. Germans think…

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers seeking to reduce the state's deficit want to pass a bill that weakens the state workers' union. Steve Chiotakis speaks with Jill Schlesinger, editor-at-large for CBS/MoneyWatch, about how budget woes could influence other states to do the same.

Posted by Katharine Crnko…

A team of Yale University scientists have built a device that can absorb a laser beam entirely….

Soon, Facebookers will be able to designate themselves as "in a civil union" or "in a domestic partnership". This in addition to "married", "single…

This is the bill that everyone was saying had a "kill switch" for the president to shut off the internet. The bill dropped late last night does NOT…

The Wall Street Journal reports that the government is very interested in Apple's new policy pertaining to publishers and app developers. It's…

House republicans have moved to block the Federal Communications Commission from using government money to implement its new net neutrality regulations. Eve Troeh has more.

There's good news and bad news on the credit reporting and scoring front. Renters could soon see their rental payment history affect their credit…

Question: We received quotes for 20-year level term life insurance ($1 million) and found that there is a $600 annual difference between the…

Egyptians in Cairo are celebrating today. It's been one week since President Hosni Mubarak stepped down And as the economy continues to regain ground, the Egyptian stock market is encouraging citizens to invest.

The combined German and New York Stock Exchange must now find a suitable name for the newly merged trading floor. And as Stephen Beard explains, instead of using a brand consultant, the new exchange is going the social media route for suggestions.

Marketplace Tech Report for February 18, 2011

Marketplace Money for February 18, 2011

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, February 18, 2011

Marketplace for Friday, February 18, 2011

DVD? So five years ago. Download? Whatever, Grandpa. Two big Hollywood hits are now available to watch through apps on an iPad or iPhone. Better get used to it.

Elizabeth Warren, special adviser on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, talks with Tess Vigeland about what has been done so far to set up the agency and what major concerns consumers have at the moment.

About 800 Americans across the country were asked their opinions on how to solve the U.S. budget deficit. The results did make a substantial dent in the debt.

The Port of Miami is undergoing construction to accommodate bigger ships. But having lost out on funding from President Obama's budget, port officials are now scrambling to find money elsewhere.

It's estimated that poor Mexican workers have invested more than $2 million in U.S. jobs that don't exist.

Six months after the Dodd-Frank law passed, the Senate Banking Committee questions regulators about their progress in fixing the financial system.

Experts advise U.S. securities regulators impose tougher rules on high-frequency trading to prevent a sequel to the May 6, 2010, "flash crash."

Along with 19,000 other people, Klaus Neukert of Munich entered a stock trading contest sponsored by the German Stock Exchange. A virtual, online…

Harvard economist Ed Glaeser talks with Kai Ryssdal about his new book, "Triumph of the City," why cities are our greatest invention, and how they are good for the environment as well.

Results of a federal survey on Net connectivity out today suggest that more than a quarter of all Americans still do not use the Internet, and as…

Posted by Chau Tu…

The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" is playing at my favorite pizza joint in Portland as I tell my kids, age 10 and 13, that I'm going to Cairo….

This final note today, in which the foreclosure shoe is on the other foot. You know how we were explaining earlier how some of the big banks have…

Kai Ryssdal talks to Kate Betts about the return of menswear-for-women and minimalism to today's catwalks.

I used to have this NBA video game a long time ago that had every player in the league on it except Michael Jordan. It wasn't like it was missing,…

Sony has announced a new subscription music service. They say they have 6 million songs on their servers. You can use it as a radio, picking the…

Read an excerpt from Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier …

Title: Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier Author: Edward Glaeser Publi…

IBM's conversational computer kills on "Jeopardy." Now the business world is clamoring to put Watson to work.

President Obama meets with Apple's Steve Jobs, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Eric Schmidt of Google. Sure to be on the agenda: What Obama wants from the tech industry, and what tech wants from the administration.

Even though a nice house out in the suburbs with a white picket fence is the prototypical American dream, a lot of home buyers are voting with their feet and choosing to live within walking distance of public transit.

President Obama's budget plan was unveiled this week. And one area of debate: How much should we spend on transportation initiatives in the U.S?

President Barack Obama has a high-profile dinner date tonight in the San Francisco Bay Area. He's scheduled to meet with a handful of the tech…

Question: Some friends at retirement age have invested all of their savings in one family of mutual funds, a well respected fund (Templeton). My…

Scott is a working actor in LA. In 2010, he made about $60K from acting. After shooting a commercial, a client complained that they had to spend …

Fitch Ratings today announced changes to the way it analyzes U.S. state and city pension bills. In a report, Fitch warns the new approach could have some consequences. Dick Larkin, director of credit analysis at Herbert J. Sims & Co., explains.

Marketplace Tech Report for February 17, 2011

Apple is requiring a 30 percent cut of any purchases made within applications on the iPhone or iPad. It's a change that's already leading to charges of anti-trust violations and threats of lawsuits. What will this mean to you?

Violent protests continue today in Bahrain as the U.S. encourages the government to control the protests. The BBC's Katey Watson reports from Dubai about America's interest in controlling the turmoil in Bahrain.

The Senate banking committee today is questioning regulators of the Dodd-Frank law to gauge how much they've improved the financial system. The law…

Posted by Katharine Crnko…

President Barack Obama will fly to California today to meet with three of America's most notable tech CEOs — Apple's Steve Jobs, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, and Google's Eric Schmidt — presumably to discuss job growth. Steve Henn has more.

Australian airline Qantas was forced to ground its Airbus A380 super jumbo fleet after one of its plane's Rolls-Royce engines exploded in midair over Singapore last year. That accident cost Quantas an estimated $80 million — and didn't help Rolls-Royce or Airbus, either. Christopher Werth explains.

The International Monetary Fund has recommended that Afghanistan's largest bank, Kabul Bank, be placed in receivership and sold off. The IMF hopes this move will stabilize the country's corrupt financial system.

The Food and Drug Administration will allow cosmetic drug and device maker Allergan Inc. to market its stomach-restricting Lap-Band to millions of new patients — patients who are less obese than those currently using the device. Eve Troeh has more.

Want to solve the U.S. debt crisis? You may have more success in cutting the federal deficit than the politicians in Washington. Today on Marketp…

The photo on the left was taken two days ago by the China Daily outside the train station in Liwu, Zhejiang province–the manufacturing hub of th…

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, February 17, 2011

Marketplace for February 17, 2011

Some job listings these days specify that only employed workers need apply. It can be a frustrating situation for the long-term unemployed.

Food is getting more expensive worldwide, but economists predict rising prices won't largely affect American life.

David Lazarus of the Los Angeles Times discusses why online credit card fraud is becoming a big problem, and how to best guard yourself from it.

The Senate's banking commission is asking regulators today how the implementation of the new Dodd-Frank financial reform law is going. Diane Swonk, chief economist with Mesirow Financial, explains what's at stake in these hearings.

An optimist might see in financial regulatory reform a glass half full, a pessimist a glass half empty. But either way, the system seems to have …

In his final note on Valentine's Day, Kai Ryssdal told us he wasn't getting his wife any valentines, flowers, or any gifts — just on principle. Listener Molly Bloom tells us how Kai's declaration affected her.

Marketplace Tech Report for February 16, 2011

The Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings today on how best to combat online piracy. We talk to the chairman of that committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) about the aggressive approach he would like to see.

Posted by Chau Tu…

U.S. and its allies are quietly discussing an economic aid package to help Egypt make a stable transition to democracy. The idea is to create the conditions for private job creation.

Rising wholesale prices raise fresh concerns over inflation. But factory output and housing figures suggest economic weakness will contain prices.

Since the end of World War II, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked to further America's foreign policy inte…

The latest battle is over paid subscriptions for digital media, like newspapers and magazines. And just how much of the price Apple and Google will keep.

American pharmaceutical companies want to build their sales in Russia. Russia is eager to let them so long as they build something else, too. Factories.

A complaint of protesters across the Middle East is widespread unemployment — even among the young, motivated and well-educated. It's causing tensions from Jordan to Egypt.

President Obama introduced his budget plan this week. But the real story behind the numbers is what's not being said.

A year ago most of the new federal credit card rules went into effect. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 was…

Question: My husband and I have been diligently saving for a number of years, and have socked away enough to put down 20% on a house, to replace…

Higher fuel and food costs pushed up wholesale prices last month. Steve Chiotakis speaks with analyst Peter Cohan this morning to get more information on these numbers.