Week of March 4th, 2013

A new viral video called "Wealth Inequality in America" has put a spotlight on CEO pay.

A survey commissioned by Marketplace and The Chronicle of Higher Education reveals that what really stands out for employers in the resumes of recent college graduates is internship experience. But are colleges doing a good job preparing grads for work?

Google’s computer eyeglasses are just one device in a fast-growing field called augmented reality. This kind of technology has been around for a while, but it hasn’t really caught on. Until now.

Who had the best week ever? The Dow. Wall Streeters are high-fiving each other, but what does a record high mean for you? Also, whatever happened to the good ol’ days when a degree from a decent school could land you a gig pretty much anywhere you pleased? These days employers want experience. And what’s a movie monster worth? Plus, your reactions to a viral video on income inequality, a warning about the varying prices of generic drugs, how to sell yourself, and the cost of living with HIV.

The oil industry and the thousands of workers it's attracted have swallowed up communities like Williston, N.D., where neighborhoods on the edge of town now feel like they're in the center.

You may have been forwarded an unusual YouTube video this week, based on an economic analysis of income inequality. But where did it come from?

Looking at the jobs numbers in the full context of the country's economic recovery.

February’s job numbers show there’s more jobs to be had — Jeff Tyler checks in with a long-time unemployed worker who just found a new job. The GED test will look radically different next year. We explore the origins of a viral YouTube video about income inequality that highlights the off-the-charts wealth held by the country’s top one percent. Wrigley is set to release a new caffeinated gum that’s half as potent as a cup of joe. And for some, life’s getting a bit scarier for those in the oil boom area of Williston, N.D.

The best-known high school equivalency test, the GED, is getting its biggest makeover in decades. It’s also facing increased competition.

Drug manufacturers can charge very different prices for essentially the same generic medicine.

Wrigley plans to start selling “Alert” gum next month — that is, gum with caffeine. Gum sales overall are down, and “energy” products are booming. But cities, states and the FDA are investigating caffeine marketing to kids.

Last night, the city of Philadelphia approved efforts to close 23 public schools, about 10 percent of the city’s total, because they are underused and the city says they costs too much to keep up. The closures are part of a national trend brought on by more kids going to private and charter schools and public budget cuts.

The government's report showed a mild improvement in the overall unemployment rate for February, but some professionals find the path to a job leads back to school.

Global stocks reach a five-year high while U.S. unemployment falls to a four-year low. And, while more consumers want to buy food from small, local farms, those types of growers are having a hard time getting start-up money.

How does living with a disease like HIV affect one's financial choices?

Alan Krueger, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, breaks down the latest jobs report and shares his thoughts on the sequestration.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the economy added 236,000 jobs last month, beating analyst expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, its lowest point in four years.

From "The Walking Dead" to "Warm Bodies," zombies have experienced a resurgence in pop culture. So why do we love to watch these mindless, murderous creatures? Plus, find out what your favorite movie monster represents financially in our interactive photo.

More consumers want to buy food from small, local farms. But those types of growers are having a hard time getting start-up money.

The recent federal tax increase on the top 1 percent of earners means some of the wealthiest Americans will pay taxes at the highest level since 1979. But the wealthy are also wealthier too — and their money goes further.

A look at the art and science of selling yourself — something author Daniel Pink says we all do in one way or another.

This week, the Dow hit a record high. So what does that mean for investors?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit yet another all-time high — and the world is following suit. Global shares are at their highest level since June of 2008, thanks to strong market performance in France, Germany, the U.K., and Japan.

Jessica Lawrence, director of NY Tech Meet Up, shares her views on the tech community in New York and whether or not the tech world is a boy's club.

What was first known as an indie music gathering and then a music and film festival, starts out this year as very much an interactive, startup, new media hotspot.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the economy added 236,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, beating analyst expectations.

Last week on Marketplace, a payday loan lender defended his industry, saying as long as customers did the math, he wasn't doing anything wrong. Commentator Helaine Olen begs to differ.

The Transportation Security Administration has announced a policy change that would allow airline passengers to carry small knives and sports equipment onto planes, beginning next month. Flight attendants and air marshals protested.

The Labor Department's jobs report for February is expected to be decent: Signs are that the labor market continues to improve. Aren't the sequester's budget cuts going to have any effect?

Daffodils are starting to bloom in Jackson and that's when buyers start coming out looking for a home. We check in with a broker to see what real estate's like in Mississippi.

A health care employer in Florida has a great company policy: Beer Cart Fridays — on the company's time and dime.

The Transportation Security Administration announced this week that it will allow small pocket knives and certain sports equipment back on planes for the first time since the 9/11 attacks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit yet another all-time high — and the world is following suit. Global shares are at their highest level since June of 2008. And Chelsea, a neighborhood in Manhattan that has long been a magnet for art, is starting to get too pricey for galleries.

Jessica Lawrence is the executive director of NY Tech Meetup. Along with helping to showcase some of the city’s most exciting new companies and digital projects every month, Lawrence is also helping to change the culture of the scene she is part of. Tech may not exactly be a boys club, but it does suffer from lopsided numbers when it comes to participation of the sexes. With women-only demo showcases, and a willingness to speak out against sexist remarks, Lawrence’s daily work is helping to make New York’s tech scene more diverse. 

Guest host David Lazarus answers listeners' personal finance questions including advice on what to do when a elderly relative racks up big debt late in life and whether voluntarily lowering one's credit limit can negatively affect one's credit rating.

Ready for your personal drone? A look at what a world of civilian drones with CEO of 3D Robotics, Chris Anderson.

Facebook is rolling out another redesign, with hopes of upping its advertising revenue. The number of people suffering from diabetes has skyrocketed over the past few years. In the age of cell phones, Skype and Google phones, traditional telephone area codes may be going extinct. Scott Tong takes a look at a court case in rural western Pennsylvania that may fundamentally alter how fracking is regulated. And Kai Ryssdal flies a drone and talks to 3D Robotics CEO Chris Anderson about how the machines may become a household item sooner than we think.

Writer and artist Tim Sniffen explains why Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's ban on working from home simply won't work for him.

In Pennsylvania's shale-gas region, many cities and towns have passed ordinances restricting where drillers can put their fracking wells, equipment and wastewater. Now a case is before the state's Supreme Court.

Do you have what it takes to start your career in today's job market?

The FCC may allow Internet phone providers to assign any area code regardless of the customer’s actual geographic location. Do area codes still matter? How has our relationship with area codes evolved?

New research says diabetes cost the nation a record $245 billion in 2012, up more than 40 percent in the past five years.

Facebook unveiled its new newsfeed. What does all the tinkering tell us about where the Silicon Valley giant is headed?

The Dow stayed in record territory this morning after strong jobs data from the Labor Department. As home prices rise, construction and building supply chains do to. And, is the Nasdaq feeling left out?

The movie "Black Swan" and the scary Bolshoi acid attack share a commonality: "Swan Lake." That specific ballet can be the pinnacle of a ballerina’s career — and a huge earner for ballet companies.

The Dow is still in record territory in early trading this morning. The surge comes on the heels of strong jobs data from the Labor Department, which show applications for unemployment benefits have fallen to a five-year low.

Time Warner announced plans to spin off its magazine namesake. In fact, the company is getting rid of all of its magazines.

North Korea's government has said it reserves the right to carry out a preemptive nuclear attack against the United States ahead of a U.N. vote on tighter sanctions against the communist regime.

The Geneva Auto Show opens in Switzerland this week. It’s usually a glitzy affair, but while U.S. carmakers are on the rebound, gloom has descended on the European auto industry.

The social network has started offering free Internet in a few places. The catch? It makes it easier for advertisers to find you.

As home prices rise, more owners are preparing housing for sale — and construction companies and building supply chains are hiring again.

As the Federal Reserve issues its annual stress test results for big banks, the question is do they have enough cash to survive a deep recession, a 50 percent stock market fall and 12 percent unemployment?

Acting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro said today that Hugo Chavez's body will be permanently displayed.

The tech-heavy index hasn't been this high in 12 years, but it's tech-bubble days remain the highest heights.

New York City's Chief Digital Officer, Rachel Haot, began in the city's startup world and rose to prominence quickly. Now, as member of Mayor Bloomberg's administration, she advocates for more private-public collaboration to make the city a tech mecca that rivals Silicon Valley.

North Korea is threatening a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States as the United Nations prepares to vote this morning on a resolution that would boost economic sanctions on North Korea. Facebook is unveiling changes to its ‘Newsfeed’ later today in an effort to sell more ads. The company and its rivals are also exploring location based advertising, but it turns out determining your exact location isn’t as easy as it sounds. And, what’s got automakers down in Europe?

ERF Wireless uses radio waves hopscotched over short to medium distances to bring high-speed wireless Internet to places that wires or fiber optic cables can’t reach.

New York City’s Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot began in the city’s startup world and rose to prominence quickly. Now, she’s a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s administration who is advocating for more private-public collaboration in making New York a tech mecca that rivals Silicon Valley. Marketplace Tech explores Haot’s latest efforts, including finding strong ideas for reinventing the city’s 11,000 payphones, drawing more talent to the city as well as growing it at home. 

More parents are turning to college financial planners for advice on how to pay for college.

Managers might send out dozens of “great job” emails each day — but does it help motivate employees? Freakonomics finds out. Adriene Hill takes a look at why the Dow Jones Industrial Average still commands so much attention. The FAA has released a list of 173 airports that could have their control towers closed next month because of budget cuts. Freight railroad operator BNSF announced it’s switching from diesel fuel to natural gas. Families are hiring financial advisers to help them squeeze out every possible penny for college. And author Jonah Berger talks about why things become trendy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is widely cited but has limitations as a market index. It doesn't take into account the size of companies, only their stock price.

One marketing professor's look at why some foods, music and names enter the zeitgeist, while other things don't.

The court battle pitting Macy’s against J.C. Penney and Martha Stewart turns a simple idea — a store — into a legal and philosophical quagmire.

BNSF, the railroad owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, should profit by switching to cheaper natural gas. Buffett's company also has a big stake in natural gas.

Sure, we all like to hear compliments. But if you’re truly looking to get better at something, criticism is what will get you there.

The Federal Aviation Administration has identified dozens of airfields that could be closed, many of which are regularly used by business travelers and executives.

The Dow posted another record high this morning. What is Hugo Chavez's economic legacy? And BNSF Railway is announcing that it’s trying a new experiment — running some of its locomotives on natural gas this year, instead of diesel.

BNSF Railway is announcing this morning that it’s trying a new experiment. The railway is going to try running some of its locomotives on natural gas this year, instead of diesel.

The Dow posted another record high this morning. The surge came on the heels of a new report from the payroll processing company ADP, which showed that private employers added 198,000 jobs in February.

The EU says Microsoft abused its market dominance by making Internet Explorer the default browser on its Windows operating system.

Remember the MiniDisc? Sony has announced it is killing off the music format this month.

How will Chavez's passing affect the economies of other countries in Latin America?

Complaints are rife that the video game industry treats female employees and female players as outsiders or worse. But it wasn't always that way.

According to new research from the Pew Research Center, Twitter is a bad way to predict public opinion.

What's ahead for Venezuela after the death of Hugo Chavez?

Controversial Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez died yesterday leaving a nation divided over the wisdom of his policies. Both critics and supporters agree that he has changed the role of the poor in Venezuela.

Harley-Davidson factories no longer allow music on the assembly line, due to safety concerns.

People who got out of the markets during the financial crisis need to act cautiously if they want to get back in now.

"I'm disappointed the White House has chosen to comply with sequestration by cutting public tours," the Speaker of the House said.

Complaints are rampant that the video game industry treats female employees and female players as outsiders or worse. But it wasn’t always that way. And, remember MiniDiscs? Way better than cassettes, right? But as of this month, Sony says the format is no more. Though Minidiscs were engineered to make imperfect copies, some people clung to it deep into the iPod era.

The Dow sits at a record high this morning and looks like it could go higher today. What does it mean for ordinary investors? Global oil markets are steady this morning after the death of the Hugo Chavez in Venezuela which has the world’s second largest oil reserves. And, Harley-Davidson factories just got a little less cool. The company is no longer allowing music to be played on the assembly lines because of safety concerns.

Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro says President Hugo Chavez has died. We look back at the legacy the leader left behind.

The recession and stock market collapsed cost Americans 40 percent of their net worth. Now that the Dow is back, how much wealth has been recovered?

Does the new Dow high mean mission accomplished for the U.S. economic recovery? Not so fast, but it closes another chapter on the financial crisis.

Taking power in 1999, Hugo Chavez almost single-handedly transformed Venezuelan society, wielding the country's oil wealth as a weapon. Can a strongman economy continue after his death?

The Venezuelan government announces the death of President Hugo Chavez. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new record high, but does that mean the overall economy is better? Americans lost an average of 40 percent of their wealth from 2007 to 2010. Fox is launching a new 24-hour cable sports network that will directly compete with ESPN. And the Chinese government is moving ahead with legislation to combat land seizures from the nation’s 650 million farmers.

The story of Maggie Lane, a Shanghai land grab gone wrong. Forty million Chinese people have lost their homes to local governments, bent on boosting GDP. The incoming government of Xi Jinping may change that.

More competition to win TV contracts could drive up cable costs.

A guide to living under austerity (and that's another word for sequester).

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell shares his expectations for the months ahead as the sequester takes effect. What's got the Dow into record territory? And lost your Metrocard? That'll cost you a dollar.

The regulator overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has announced an idea to reform the mortgage giants. It involves starting a joint venture to bundle mortgages into securities that people can invest in.

The Dow gained nearly 100 points this morning, topping 14,225 and breaking into record territory.

China's National People's Congress convenes today as it concludes its once-in-a-decade transition of power. In his final address to the Congress, outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao set an ambitious economic growth target of 7.5 percent.

This week, New York subway and bus riders will have to hold onto their Metrocards or face a $1 surcharge for a new one. NYC's transit authority says it costs $10 million a year to produce the cards.

Public anger over unsafe food and drugs is widespread in China. The country's new leader, Xi Jinping, is setting up an agency equivalent to America's Food and Drug Administration to tackle the problem.

Female video game developers and enthusiasts share their reason for loving the game and why they don't always feel included.

The sequester could force the IRS to furlough workers, including those who investigate tax fraud. Just to be safe, the IRS hopes to delay any furloughs until after tax season.

Copyright authorities in Washington have recently started to take a dim view of people who want to switch their cellphone from one carrier to another. But now, phone 'unlockers' are getting some support from the White House.