Week of December 30th, 2013

I am a 27 year old attorney, single with no kids. I currently work for the Government, but next fall I will begin a job with a private law firm in Washington, D.C. I like being a lawyer and think that I will probably enjoy working for a private firm, but I am acutely aware that the private firm world can be quite stressful. I have my doubts about whether this high-income but high-stress field is something I will want to stay with for a long time. This in conjunction with the ever-present threat of being laid off for economic reasons (which still happens with some frequency in private firms) makes me want to shore up my financial situation, save a great deal, and avoid the golden handcuffs for at least a few years while I figure out how permanent the job will be. I have about $150,000 in debt — $15K is a car loan, and the rest is student loan debt. Interest rates on the student loans range from between 6-8.9%. I have no credit card debt. My current salary is about $80,000, but next year it will more than double, plus a $50,000 starting bonus based on my prior experience. The only luxury I want to fund in the foreseeable future is a multi-week vacation to Europe between jobs, which I have not planned in any detail yet. What should I focus on as I move into this higher-income job, keeping in mind that I may not find the money to be worth other sacrifices? My gut feeling is that I should pay off my student loans with haste, but what other strategies should I be looking into?

In 2014, Marketplace Money will be following a few listeners and help them succeed in their financial New Year's resolutions. Melissa and Joshua live in Portland, Ore…

India's Prime Minister announces he'll leave office in May. That could mean big changes for their economy.

Nina in Oakland, Calif., is gearing up for retirement … ideally abroad in Latin America or Asia. Carmen suggests some tips so she can get ready well in advance.

Leigh Gallagher, of Fortune Magazine, and Felix Salmon, of Reuters, say that last year's profits could mean good news for the economy in 2014.

In three NFL playoff games (out of four), hometown fans could have had their playoff games blacked out this weekend.

Decades ago, Carl Drake left the Smithsonian millions of dollars set aside specifically to collect bugs.

Airlines and airline pilots are facing a major rule change this weekend that may impact flight delays and scheduling.

Airlines and airline pilots are facing a major rule change this weekend that may impact flight delays and scheduling — the same weekend that airline traffic will be impacted by the snowstorm on the East Coast. Next, three NFL teams (out of four) could have their playoff games blacked out this weekend if they don’t sell out their stadiums by this afternoon. Under a nearly 40-year old rule, games can’t be televised locally if the stadium has empty seats. But the whole pro football industry has changed. Finally, decades ago Carl Drake left the Smithsonian millions of dollars set aside specifically to collect bugs.  Now, the Smithsonian says it has collected enough bugs. 

Bernanke said 2014 potentially "bodes well" for the US economy, but then things got weird when a University of Chicago economist played a tribute.

This weekend on Marketplace Money, host Carmen Wong Ulrich celebrates a new year with four devoted listeners determined to make and keep important financial resolutions in 2014. We meet Nina, a single mother in Oakland, Calif., who wants to retire abroad; Melissa and Joshua, a couple in Portland, Ore., who want to keep their newfound financial stability and stay off government assistance; Eric, a college student in Williamsburg, Va., who is striking out on his own for the first time this year; and Destie, a nonprofit worker in Bath, Maine who wants to plug her family’s budget leaks. Plus, Marketplace reporter Mitchell Hartman discusses the new software employers are using to screen applicants and how job seekers are working around it.

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The Washington Post is reporting the NSA is trying to build a quantum computer.

AT&T is going after T-Mobile customers, with a new promotion.

The GED test was set up to help GIs get high school credit when they returned from war.

A look at what happened on the first trading day of the new year. Soon, you will be able to buy a box of Cheerios that is GMO-free. And, which country gets most of its energy from renewable resources?

Which country gets most of its energy from renewable resources?

Cuba has lifted its ban on importing cars.

Today, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced his plan to retire after 10 years in power.

Soon, you will be able to buy a box of Cheerios that is GMO-free. General Mills says it will use corn and sugar that have not been genetically modified.

Several pharmacies are offering to provide drugs to folks who've signed up for ACA — even if their coverage hasn't kicked in yet.

Three quarters of the world's poor live in middle-income countries.

What's at stake for Boeing and its union workers in the contract vote?

32,256 LED lights, 4.6 million phone numbers and $6.99 … know what those numbers mean? Must be another Silicon Tally!

More than 30,000 machinists could vote today on Boeing’s latest contract proposal. At stake is production of the 777X plane, which Boeing says it might move out of Washington after machinists rejected an earlier offer. The stakes are high for machinists, who worry about voting themselves out of jobs, but there are risks for Boeing as well. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plans to retire after 10 years in power. Twenty years ago, if you mapped where most of the world’s poor were concentrated, the result would was that 90 percent lived in the poorest countries. But today, three quarters of the world’s poor live in countries that have supposedly graduated to middle income status — places like India and China. And that’s complicating things for aid organizations like the World Bank.

All this week Marketplace Tech has been talking to people about big tech issues in the coming year. Today, a discussion of online privacy. An apparent casualty last year was the idea of truly private and secure email. And it’s Friday, which means it’s time to play Silicon Tally, our weekly tech news numbers game.

A new initiative calls for more than doubling the number of U.S. students who study abroad in Latin America and the Caribbean, and vice versa.

For decades, sharing cigarettes has been common practice for China’s government officials. But president Xi Jinping is cracking down on smoking to revamp the party’s image.

In 2014, Marketplace Money will be following a few listeners and help them succeed in their financial New Year's resolutions. Eric is a soon-to-be college graduate …

'Grocery is the largest consumer category in the world,' and Internet retailers are lining up to deliver.

The Dow’s 2013 record would have been even higher but for IBM’s showing. What about Big Blue made it miss the market's rally?

Our technology reporter Queena Kim looks at how the tech industry will respond to the news about NSA surveillance.

Fiat is set to acquire full-control of Chrysler in a $4.35 billion deal. Could foreign ownership of this American classic dent sales in the U.S., or do people no longer care about “buying American?” Next, the Affordable Care Act is supposed to give more people access to primary care doctors, getting them into treatment early instead of relying on the Emergency Room (which costs more). Also, the Dow’s 2013 record would have been even higher but for IBM’s showing. IBM, which carries a lot of weight on the Dow, was the only component to see its shares fall for the year. And finally, the rescue of 52 passengers on a scientific research in the Antarctic today was the result of collaboration among several nations, including China, Australia and the U.S. 

The Affordable Care Act is supposed to give more people access to primary care doctors, getting them into treatment early.

First it was open office space, and now its open management.

That contrasts with 2.3 million for Pope Benedict in all of 2012.

Snapchat suffered a major security breach and Skype saw its social media accounts compromised.

The continent has been devoted to science — not business — but minerals and lucrative seafood could challenge order in the Antarctic.

Starting today, the high school equivalency exam supposedly get tougher and will only be offered via computer. And, foreclosures are way down from the worst of the housing crisis, but don’t be surprised if some places see a rise in foreclosure sales.

The Italian carmaker hopes the deal will make them more competitive, and give them more of Chrysler's cash.

Tests for high school equivalency are getting tougher, and will soon only be offered via computer.

The stock markets saw huge gains last year, but are investors just on a sugar high?

A local TV station in Cincinnati will start charging for online content in early January. It’s among the first stations in the country to put up a so-called paywall.

We talk to Whitson Gordon, editor in chief of Lifehacker, about which apps will keep you on track.

What kind of software will see the most growth, and where will the next start-up scene be in 2014?

China has lifted a one-year ban on new stock listings, and a handful of companies are preparing to sell new stocks as early as today. The market for initial public offerings was frozen by the government in 2012 as it pushed to bring rigor and heft to a trading system seen as too risky. And, in this new year, you could hit a paywall when it comes to watching local TV news. Also, the S&P 500 went up 29 percent in the year gone by. The Nasdaq Composite rose nearly 40 percent. But this has prompted an argument that stock prices in 2013 were like cotton candy, lots of size, but not a lot of substance. 

A look inside the new fleet of green Nissan taxis poised to upgrade the ride around the Big Apple.

Nearly half of states require that foreclosures go through court. That slower process means a backlog of foreclosures is coming to market.

In New York City this week it’s out with the old mayor and in with the new guy — Michael Bloomberg is being replaced by Bill De Blasio. And one of the things the new mayor will be looking at is the taxi of tomorrow:  A fleet of green Nissan vehicles that launched this fall, fitted with some custom technology absent in the usual yellow cab. And today we hear from Dave McClure, founding partner at the Venture Capitol firm 500 Startups, about what kind of software everyone everyone will be using this year. He says to expect more growth in messaging apps around the world.

China has announced it will lift a one-year ban on new stock listings in the new year. The market for initial public offerings was frozen by China’s government in late 2012 in attempts to reform a trading system deemed too risky. Traders in Shanghai aren't encouraged.

Greece takes over as president of the European Union today. Marketplace host, David Gura talks to the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens about what the country's tenure could look like.

If you notice someone on your roof with a roll of aluminum foil, you may want to take note.

What does rock musician Jimi Hendrix have in common with Baroque composer George Frideric Handel? An address for starters, and now — a museum.

Marketplace host David Gura talks to Quartz business reporter Tim Fernholz about the greatest heists of 2013 and if we've learned anything from them.

Happy New Year! The year 2013 was one of diamond heists, data leaks and mass credit card theft. Will 2014 be the same? Rising home prices are a good thing, right? Not if you’re trying to buy a house. A look at what’s in store for home buyers in 2014 and beyond.  Greece takes over as president of the European Union today. What does rock musician Jimi Hendrix have in common with Baroque composer George Frideric Handel? An address for starters, and now — a museum.

Housing prices have been rising steadily in many parts of the U.S. Is this the start of a new bubble?

Our 'best-of-2013' podcast, a selection of Marketplace's driveway moments from the past year

With the budget fight resolved, Congress should have plenty of time to deal with other issues next week. And Google tries to make CAPTCHA easier to figure out.

Congress will return to the New Year without needing to fight about the budget. Will they take the opportunity to deal with other issues?

A look at the economic incentives for venturing into the icy continent.

Getting health insurance is akin to waking up to a new car in your garage, but not necessarily knowing how to drive. And consumers will be the first ones to tell you, there’s a lot to learn about health insurance.

Cyrus Farivar from Ars Technica explains which cases will be making headlines in the New Year.

The first state to allow marijuana sales to anyone over 21 has to track all that pot somehow.

Today is the first day of health insurance coverage for people who have signed up for Obamacare. More than two million people are now covered by insurance, and millions more by Medicaid. Also, the North American Free Trade Agreement came into force twenty years ago today. NAFTA created the world’s largest free trade zone, and a lot of controversy. Then-President Bill Clinton promised more jobs, while folks like billionaire businessman Ross Perot warned NAFTA would push jobs south.

Starting today, Colorado will become the first state to begin allowing the sale of marijuana to anyone over the age of 21. Recreational use has been legal in the state for about a year now, but today the plant will be officially available at stores with special liscenses. And, where there’s a crop, and retail stores to sell that crop, there’s a tracking system. Speaking of shopping for goods, if you’re planning on using your gift cards or your holiday cash for a January online buyers blitz, you’ll probably run into a CAPTCHA or two — those little tests asking you to type in letters and numbers to prove you’re not a bot but a human. Google says its popular version is now much easier to decipher. But that might not be the case for everyone. 

In Bath, Maine, Destie and her family are in solid financial shape, but they have big budget leaks they can't account for and want to get on top of them in 2014.

Talks of mediation between the government and rebels could end fighting in South Sudan.

Some states and cities are considering fees for commuters who don't pay gas taxes.

As we close out the year, we say goodbye to industry-changing successes like "Breaking Bad" and to new products no one wanted, like Watermelon Oreos.

From coffee to copper to corn, the price of commodities has fallen over the past year. Why has this happened and why do the prices of products remain so high? Next, a sad farewell to those who left us in 2013, from industry-changing successes like “Breaking Bad” to new products no one wanted, like Watermelon Oreos. Also, an intense oil-train fire in North Dakota demonstrates the scale of explosions and fire that can occur, as the nation’s rail system marks just the fifth anniversary of the modern moving-oil-by-rail era. Finally, while everybody is watching football on New Year’s Day, doctor’s offices are frantically planning for the onslaught of new patients in the new year.

At midnight, a $10,000 foam potato will drop in Boise, Idaho.

The medical industry is busy with last-minute preparations as millions of new patients sign up for health insurance;

From coffee to copper to corn, the price of commodities has fallen over the past year.

Put the 'Grand Bargain' in the rear view mirror.

There are rumors the two companies will make an announcement at CES next week.

Stocks were on a roll this year. Does it follow that it's time to turn to bonds? Also, on Jan. 1, the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act goes into effect in Illinois.

An intense oil-train fire in North Dakota demonstrates the scale of damage possible when oil is moved by rail.

When a 30 percent gain in the stock market is still not enough to win over individual investors.

European stocks are set to rise, but that's not the only measure of economic growth.

Marketplace's China Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz looks at China's struggles in 2013.

A growing number of organizations are tracking more of your shopping habits.

The big event is more sophisticated than you think.

On this last day of trading for 2013, a reminder that the stock market is by no means a measure of well-being. Case in point, Europe. And it was a year of change in China — a new president, new policy roadmaps for the future of the country. But as Marketplace’s China Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz reflected on 2013, one detail that’s come up again and again is how many regular Chinese people have turned to him and other foreign journalists as their last resort for justice. Also, business consulting is about selling outside expertise. But did you know companies like Disney and MTV are also in the consulting game?

Consulting firms bring in tens of billions of dollars a year, but it's not just other consulting firms competing for contracts. Companies you've heard of, like Disney and MTV, are in the game too.

All this week we’re talking to guests about big tech trends in the coming year. January 1, the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act goes into effect in Illinois. This limits how police can use drone surveillance (they’ll need a warrant). Today we hear from Chester Wisniewski at the cyber security firm Sophos abouton a growing number of organizations tracking people as they do their shopping. And it’s New Year’s Eve, so of course it’s almost time for New York City to do it’s big ball drop. Technically, it’s not a ball as much as a geodesic sphere weighing around 12,000 pounds. And there’s plenty of Technology in the thing.

On Jan. 1, the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act goes into effect in Illinois.

Nasdaq will pay out a total of $41.6 million in claims related to the Facebook IPO troubles.

A look back at our best digital stories from 2013.

What the interest in selling body parts – like hair, breast milk, and eggs – says about our economy.

At last count, the nation was spending $6.5 billion a year treating mental illness, substance abuse and chronic conditions in prisons.

Twitter's stock is down a significant amount this week after a string of strong performances. Even professionals wonder why.

If you want to spend your New Year’s Eve at Applebee's in Times Square, it'll set you back a mere $375 a head.

Many Swiss banks have agreed to work with U.S. tax officials, as Switzerland removes some of its cherished bank secrecy.

The attacks in Volgograd in the past two days have raised fear of terrorism in Russia in the lead up to the February Sochi Winter Olympics.

The attacks in Volgograd in the past two days have raised fear of terrorism in Russia in the lead up to the February Sochi Winter Olympics — in particular, that major transportation hubs are more likely to be targeted. Terrorism fears could put a major economic dent in Russia’s Olympic plans. Next, if you want to spend your New Year’s Eve at Applebees in New York, they will hook you up for a mere $375 a head. New Year’s Eve is big business for restaurants and party spaces. Also, week look back at the stories of 2013 from China that’ll be important to understanding China next year: air pollution plus China’s hangover from 3 decades of economic growth. And finally, the once-phenomenally profitable orange juice business is being squeezed by a bunch of little bacteria.