Week of December 24th, 2012

Start the New Year off right by taking these 5 simple financial steps.

The end of the year is a great time for a financial tune-up. Here are some smart money moves you can make to ensure a good New Year.

A new year provides the perfect opportunity to give our personal finances a fresh start. What do you resolve to change in 2013? We have tips for keeping those money resolutions. If you’re looking for lessons on money, perhaps you should turn to “Hamlet.” We look at the connection between Shakespeare and finance. Plus, stories on getting money for your unredeemed gift cards, how to control the behavior of your party guests, what you can learn financially from pawn shops, and the high costs of attending college bowl games.

President Obama and some members of Congress have returned to Washington from their respective holidays to discuss the impending fiscal cliff and debt ceiling deadlines. But other things worth thinking about are happening, too.

A unique course at Duke University blends economics and English literature, asking students to explore financial decisions through the works of William Shakespeare.

A look at what's in store for the European debt crisis in 2013.

If there’s no deal made by Dec. 31st regarding the fiscal cliff, many of the Bush-era tax cuts will expire, including the death tax. We also look at what the impact of the fiscal cliff could mean for Wall Street. All the talk surrounding the possible port strike this week got us wondering aboout what a longshoreman does. Unilever has announced that it will remove tiny plastic beads from its soap products by 2015. Stephen Beard goes over the underlying themes of this past year in European economics, politics and culture. And David Gura takes a look at music and the economy in 2012.

Unilever says it will stop adding tiny plastic beads that act as exfoliants to its soap products by 2015.

A strike by East Coast dockworkers has been put off at least 30 days. These union members are often highly skilled, and they're critical to vital bottlenecks of global trade: ports.

Come Monday, if there’s no fiscal cliff deal, the best way for people to indicate their unhappiness is the markets.

From travel to organized festivities, lodging to food, and oh yeah, the tickets — attending a college bowl game costs a pretty penny.

Pop musicians draw on economic hardship as narrative theme.

An estimated one-fifth of Americans pay fees to homeowners associations, or HOAs. Many of them wonder if they're getting their money's worth.

Among the tax cuts set to expire if Congress rolls over the fiscal cliff is the federal estate tax. Some states are looking forward to the old law, which gave them a slice of the tax revenue.

Planning to attend a New Year's Eve party? That got commentator Scott Huler thinking about the economic principles of party planning.

After a quick update on the strike that almost was, we'll talk about the end of that payroll tax break you probably forgot you were even getting… we'll see how this whole fiscal cliff thing is playing overseas, find out why kids in eastern Montana are putting off college. And the iPhone — now available in Brazil. And Apple ain't happy.

We've told you about the energy boom unfolding in the Northern plains states. Centered in North Dakota, the industry is quickly spilling over into Montana.

We head into the weekend facing not one, but two possible shocks to the economy. There's the fiscal cliff, of course. And then there's the ports. Unionized longshoremen at 14 ports from Maine to Houston threaten to strike at midnight on Saturday, over a pay dispute.

There are countless resources for those of us who want to be better money managers. But comedian and commentator Tim Bedore says the pawn shop is also a good place to go to learn some important lessons about personal finance.

The stuff we all buy – shoes, clothes, tools and nails – could all be harder to come by starting soon. Longshoremen on the East Coast and shipping companies and port operators have until midnight Sunday to work out a new contract.

Most charitable foundations take a big pot of money, usually bequeathed by a rich guy, and invest it for profit — then take those profits and donate to charity. Great system … unless you aren't actually earning a profit.

As the drama unfolds here at home, it is important to see how the fiscal cliff is affecting economies elsewhere in the world — like Asia.

This week we’re looking at what’s going to be big in tech in 2013. One of the most important stories next year will be about what we’re giving up when it comes to the version of ourself we present online. Plus, while we’re talking about living online, a new experiment for an old medium: Lettrs.com. Founder Drew Bartkiewicz, a tech entrepeneur who has a soft spot for snail mail, launched the website this month.

While there may still be hope for a fiscal cliff agreement, and that could prevent income taxes from going up for many Americans. But we are still likely to lose the payroll tax — that extra money in your paycheck that was put in to stimulate the economy. This year’s drought is hurting more than farmers. The Mississippi River is at its lowest level in decades. It’s so bad that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is fighting to keep barge traffic moving. And, we look ahead to what the labor market will be like in 2013.

As we all patiently await the new year — and the fiscal cliff — what will happen to the labor force remains unclear. But there are some clues as to what we can expect.

Gizmodo's managing editor Brian Barrett talks his tech predictions for 2013, and Lettrs.com offers a new way to trade old school correspondence online.

For two years, paychecks have been a little fatter thanks to a payroll-tax cut. But did it stimulate the economy, and what happens when it goes away?

In Missouri the law requires retailers to turn over proceeds to the state if a gift card remains unused for more than five years. The Missouri state treasurer says his office has millions to return to consumers.

One stretch of the river is closed during the day so Army Corps of Engineers can blast away rock just below the low water.

Can you monitor your credit report frequently without it damaging your credit score? Does removing a secondary user from a credit card affect your credit rating? Personal finance guru Liz Weston answers listeners' questions about money.

Private-equity group Blackstone plans a public stock offering of SeaWorld Entertainment. The home of Shamu is now profitable but heavily indebted.

Frank Gerstenkorn is the owner of a gun shop in Cheyenne, Wy. He says if a ban on assault weapons is put into place, his store will have to make some adjustments in order to stay profitable.

The U.S will hit its $16 trillion debt ceiling — we explore how this affects the fiscal cliff. Jeremy Hobson talks to Memphis mayor AC Wharton about what happens to his city if we do go over the cliff. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Lisa Jackson has announced that she will be stepping down. SeaWorld is going public. Curbside buses have extended their routes for the holiday travel season, even through not-so-populated places. And with 18 states and the District of Columbia now permitting medical use of cannabis with a prescription, along with Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, there’s a rise in opportunity for “pot-trepreneurs.”

Raising the debt ceiling used to be routine. Is now really different than before?

There’s a new trend emerging that is rivaling the car and even some airlines.

Administrator Lisa Jackson pushed through rules limiting emissions despite opposition from energy industry and little backup from the Obama administration.

Memphis, Tenn., is the poorest city in the country, according to the U.S. Census. And Mayor AC Wharton worries that inaction on the fiscal cliff would have a drastic impact on already cash-strapped residents.

The growing use of medical marijuana and the legalization of recreational use in two states have created more opportunities for pot entrepreneurs.

The Obama Administration announced this morning the head of the Environmental Protection Agency — Lisa Jackson — is stepping down.

Toyota announces a big settlement, the EPA will have a new director, and we all keep waiting for the inevitable fiscal cliff on the horizon.

For weeks now the major indexes have jumped on days when a fiscal cliff deal seemed possible. What might investors realistically hope for at this point as the deadline draws near?

Marketplace's technology reporter Queena Kim tells us what we can look forward to in the tech sector in 2013, from ongoing tablet wars to more privacy regulations.

The automaker Toyota has agreed to one of the largest settlements in automotive history. Pending court approval, the company will pay more than $1 billion to resolve a class-action lawsuit related to unintended acceleration.

This holiday week we are looking into the future of tech in 2013. Our first guide is General Electric’s chief teechnology officer Mark Little. He’s looking closely at the energy industry. GE has been working a more efficient tech — like tiny cooling devices that could make our laptops and tablets even thinner. But there have been huge leaps and bounds in big tech, too. Plus, If you tried to escape the family this Christmas Eve by firing up your trusty Netflix account, you might have been Scrooged.

The president is back in Washington today to deal with the fiscal cliff. A long-term deal is unlikely at this late date, but the hope is lawmakers can find a stopgap solution to prevent higher taxes and big spending cuts. How does the general public feel about the situation? Fresh numbers on new home sales come out later this morning. Lately they’ve risen to levels not seen since 2010. And in Baltimore, a holiday icon may shine no more.

The President is back in Washington today to deal with the Fiscal Cliff. A long-term deal is unlikely at this late date. Now the hope is lawmakers can find a stopgap solution to prevent higher taxes and big spending cuts.

The British government is plowing more public money into a miracle new substance. Graphene is said to be the lightest, thinnest and strongest material known to man. It was developed in Britain and could revolutionize high-tech manufacturing.

In Baltimore, a five-pointed star lit by dozens of light bulbs shines over a mill once operated by Bethlehem Steel. The star has been a holiday fixture for decades, but it will likely be extinguished for good once the holidays are over.

A gum store in St. Paul, Minn., was caught for selling candy cigarettes, which are banned because they're said to encourage smoking.

Many of the new homes being sold now were planned years ago. Finally demand has returned, in part because first-time buyers are being outbid by investors for bargain foreclosure sales.

General Electric's chief technology officer Mark Little talks about leaps forward in energy efficiency in the new year, and we breathe a sigh of relief after a brief Netflix outage.

Whether it’s Netflix and Amazon, or Apple and Google, companies that start off cooperating can turn into fierce competitors.

Jeremy Hobson goes to the gun buyback event in downtown L.A. to talk to Mayor Villaraigosa about how to keep firearms off L.A.’s streets. Meanwhile, Stephen Beard reports on what gun control looks like in Europe. The housing market in the U.S. continues to rise, but one state — Michigan — has missed out on home price gains. We take a look at the private transportation system in Silicon Valley. Dan Bobkoff explores what happens when competitive companies — like Netflix and Amazon — have to depend on each other. And Freakonomics Radio’s Stephen Dubner talks about the best way to motivate your employees to be more productive.

Silicon Valley tech companies are known for their posh employee benefits. Among the latest, free shuttle bus service from SF to the Valley is transforming life for tech commuters.

It’s harder than you’d think to measure the value of a boss. But some enterprising economists have done just that — and the news is good.

Angelenos traded in automatic weapons and handguns in exchange for $100-$200 grocery gift cards at a buyback event. The mayor says they've picked up over 10,000 weapons. But gun owners aren't giving up all their firearms.

The latest figures on the U.S. housing market show a turnaround is taking hold. But Chicago is a stubborn outlier on the road to recovery.

A look at Europe's gun laws, which are much stricter than in the U.S.

Twas the day after Christmas, and a big credit card company says we were not spending enough — go figure. Plus a plan to help more folks who are underwater on their mortgages. And a single-payer healthcare system is on its way to Indonesia.

One of the co-creators of Skype thinks we may be in trouble if we don't start planning for a possible real life "Terminator" plot.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration is eying new relief for underwater homeowners. Who stands to gain from the program?

Hurricane Sandy, the threat of the fiscal cliff, and the election may have all contributed to a disappointing holiday shopping season.

The world's longest high speed rail link opens in China.

Beginning in January 2014, the Indonesian government will roll out a national health care scheme to cover each and every one of its 240 million citizens.

Medical device makers say the 2.3 percent tax on sales due to start in January will cost jobs. The levy is part of the Obama health care program.

History reveals a controversial task for the debt limit that goes all the way back to World War I.

A tax credit expires at the end of December. To earn it, wind farm operators have to have their turbines up, running and plugged in.

The company is asking its employees in the Washington, D.C., area to write the words 'come together' on people's coffee cups, apparently in reference to the fiscal cliff talks.

A big idea to chew on as you recover from the holiday revelry: A dog is said to be our best friend, but what if technology became mankind’s worst enemy? Cambridge University is starting up an institute to keep an eye on things that could some day wipe out the human race. It’s got a title that would do Albert Camus proud, the ‘Centre for the Study of Existential Risk’.

Retailers hope shoppers spend some money this week as the holiday season has, so far, fallen short of expectations. A number of smaller issues are tied up in the fiscal cliff debate, and among them is a tax credit for wind power. If it expires at the end of the year, the budding industry might go bust. And, the unusual history of the borrowing limit that keeps coming back to haunt our politics.

Two big movies open today — "Les Miserables" and "Django Unchained." Overall, movie attendance is up this year. And that's after two years of ticket declines. So what's got movie industry singing?

More businesses are open on Christmas Day than before. So what's behind the working holiday?

Merry Christmas! Hopefully you’re spending it with loved ones. Some people have to work today. We look at why more businesses are open on Christmas. And are you planning to watch a movie? Hollywood’s having a good year. Plus, stories on super PACs, the business of family business in Japan, how new technology is helping Sweden care for its aging population, and the latest in our series “What’s up, Europe?”

Family businesses dominate Japan's corporate landscape. For generations, sons have always taken on the top job. But what happens if there's not a male heir to inherit the business?

Super PACs spent big money on the 2012 election. But some of the biggest donors didn't exactly get a good rate of return. So, can we expect more big spending the next election cycle?

Netflix apologizes for a streaming movie outage. Fiscal cliff or no fiscal cliff — some taxes are going up next year either way. A look ahead at the environment and energy in 2013. And we'll explain why it's a bad week for Chinese liquor stocks.

Distillery stocks in China tumble this week after the government announced a ban on high priced spirits at state events.

Fiscal cliff deal or not, some taxes will go up either way.

Japan's export economy is feeling optimistic as Prime Minister-elect Shinzo Abe takes office, and China's consumers look to end the year with a strong finish.

Marketplace sustainability reporter Scott Tong shares his predictions on what's next for the United States when it comes to energy, fracking and climate change.

Each year on Christmas, Queen Elizabeth delivers a holiday message to her subjects. This year, she's making her 3D debut.

When it comes to income inequality is the United States more like Iran or France?

Today millions will unwrap gifts they just don’t want and stores are prepped for the wave of returns. Each year on Christmas, Queen Elizabeth delivers a Christmas message to her subjects. This year, something new, the message will be in 3D. And we bring you an international quiz to test your knowledge of global equality.

This Chrismas day, many people will be turning on their new gadgets: Tablets, smartphones, laptops, and televisions. Granted, many of us don’t even really use televisions any more, unless it is to project whatever we’re streaming from the Internet. But if you’re like us, you know and love good televisions, and what it is to plug in and customize your settings just the way you like them. One problem: In 2012 there are so many different settings — with different names depending on the manufacturer — that it can get pretty complicated.

Sweden has taken giant steps when it comes to heath care. With one of the oldest populations and highest life expectancies in the world, the Scandinavian nation is using new medical technology to care for its aging citizens.

Many people on Christmas day are turning on their new gadgets, but what if once you power up your new 'smart' television, it looks all…weird?

Matt Smith, an ex-pat living in Edinburgh, Scotland, talks about what Christmas — and holiday shopping — is like away from the States.

A Santa Claus we met on the street in Brooklyn also happens to be an electrical engineering hobbyist who wants to 'replace reindeer with drones.'

Toy industry analyst Sean McGowan talks about the continued success of toy company Lego, even in 2012.

A story about striking janitors in Houston sums up the themes covered by the Wealth and Poverty desk in 2012.

Microsoft launched Windows 8 to capture a share of the touch screen computing market. But PC sales are down and tablet competition is stiff

The NRA has fewer gun owners to draw on for support, as fewer Americans live in rural areas or serve in the military, and more households are headed by women.

In the latest stop on the Street of Eternal Happiness in Shanghai, a profile of an advertising agency's journey through the lucrative and challenging China market.

Christmas is coming up and needless to say, Santa Claus must be busy. He is, after all, really the world’s ultimate personal shopper. And since Marketplace is a business program, we couldn’t help but wonder what sort of enterprise Santa runs.

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is usually read with an anti-capitalist bent, but a wider reading of his works show a different picture.

Tonight’s the big night for Santa — we break down the numbers of Santa’s business enterprise, elves and all. Toy analyst Sean McGowan explains why Lego is still relevant in 2012. Meanwhile, Microsoft computer sales are down from last year. Charles Dickens would be celebrating his 200th birthday this year; reporter Christopher Werth explores the economics of the man and his works. And in the latest installment of the Street of Eternal Happiness series, a look into the China’s ‘mad men’ industry.

What’s next for Washington in 2013? An interesting twist, in the murky politics of Italy. Egypt gets downgraded. And the mystery of the one-thousand dollar bill Salvation Army donation continues.

Fiscal cliff negotiations continue to worry markets, but end of the year holiday sales are bringing some cheer to the economy.

Vital austerity measures could be harder to push through in Egypt as political unrest continues.

Fiscal cliff negotiations will likely dominate the conversation in the weeks ahead, but what economic issues will Washington be talking about the rest of 2013?