Week of March 3rd, 2014

The celebrated author and tech evangelist talks software, hardware, and the tech bubble scare.

The BBC's Natalia Antelava on the mood at the Crimean markets

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"Money spent on getting wasted is never wasted."

No, it’s not like everybody’s opening up their fallout shelters. But c’mon, there has been a certain Cold War quality to the past week. This time, though, it’s international trade and not tactical nukes that’s the real weapon. So today, a Marketplace special: “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Global Economy.” We get the perspective on the ground in Ukraine, and give a breakdown of exactly which parts of Ukraine’s economy have the most impact in the world. And in this global economy, we look at what the idea of a global superpower really means.

This weekend, guest host Lizzie O’Leary and reporter Nancy Marshall-Genzer discuss the impact of President Obama’s federal budget proposal. How does the budget impact our wallets? Plus, Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson discusses the latest tech in money. Personal finance expert Louis Barajas answers listeners’ questions about saving and spending. Also, musician Andrew WK contemplates the personal finance behind partying, we examine whether networking actually works for everyone and listeners tell us how their music buying habits have changed over the years.

Employees could lose money if their company contributes only once a year

Undocumented workers likely will not leave current jobs even when they can work here legally — part of our series, City of Dreams.

David Sanger from the New York Times on President Obama's options.

Journalists and scholars see reasons this is — and isn't — deja vu all over again.

Despite all the Cold War rhetoric, the global economy is the bigger picture.

Marketplace Datebook for the week of March 10, 2014

The Soviet-born author remembers spending family time in Crimea.

From the dissolution of the USSR to the rise of the global economy: What's changed for Ukraine?

In a world where networking can make a career, race plays a big role.

Louis Black, co-founder of SXSW, offers a primer on what to expect.

A look at supermarket mergers. And some employers are shifting how they contribute to 401(k) plans.

Marketplace Tech is talking to Neil DeGrasse Tyson

The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in February.

In the grocery business, supermarkets are the underdog

Hear from two job seekers about their struggles finding work after their unemployment benefits ran out. Plus, Slingbox goes to Mexico, and is selling for a lot more than it costs in the US. The Conservative Political Action Conference kicks off, but does a good appearance at CPAC yield lots of money down the line? Also, how companies that make year-end, lump-sum contributions to retirement plans save money, but can shave tens of thousands from employees’ retirement accounts.  

Louis Black, Co-founder of SXSW, talks about the growth of SXSW Interactive, why technology matters for film and music, and Austin’s growing tech scene. It’s supposed to be a meeting of the minds and the money when it comes to media and tech innovation. And what better way to get a preview than to talk to one of the guys who started it all. Plus, Nathan Bernier, host and reporter at KUT in Austin, joins us to play Silicon Tally.

Job seekers try to find work after unemployment benefits run out.

Play Silicon Tally to find out how well you've kept up on this week's tech news.

Competition and other factors can lower the price of consumer goods in this country.

Ukraine's largest trading partners are more circumspect.

People in the plans that don't comply with Obamacare tend to be healthier.

News media was in hot pursuit of Satoshi Nakamoto, the alleged creator of bitcoin.

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Philadelphia Magazine reporter Sandy Hingston says changing culture in America is killing the business of death.

The world’s fourth most valuable crop is threatened by a fungus.

Analysts say part of the problem is too much competition from the likes of Amazon.

We look at how the natural gas boom in this country could be used a weapon in geopolitics — by undercutting Vladimir Putin and Russia’s dominance of Europe’s fuel. And, though there are so many wonderful uses for them, bananas are doomed. At least according to one writer with Quartz. Meanwhile, we’re following up on the news of yet another delay in the Affordable Care Act. People enrolled in plans that don’t meet the law’s stricter coverage standards can keep them for another two years. That potentially buys Democrats some political cover in the coming mid-term elections. The question, though, is who picks up the tab?

Lessening Ukraine and Europe's dependence on Russian energy.

Marketplace Datebook for Friday, March 7, 2014

The stock-photo giant switches from suing bloggers for borrowing images… to encouraging them.

Dell CEO Michael Dell tells Marketplace his plans to meet future demand. And getting ready for the next unemployment report.

A look at the efforts on both sides of the Ukraine/Russia spat to cripple infrastructure and cause economic difficulty. Plus, there are millions and millions of Americans who don’t have enough credit history to generate a credit score. So what happens when someone wants to check their creditworthiness? We’ll also quiz a first time homebuyer who’s been studying up on tax breaks offered to those looking to purchase a house. Also, we’ll check in with Micahel Dell, CEO of Dell, whose buyout of his namesake company has been called one of the nastiest tech takeovers in history. 

A look at the efforts on either side – and possible third parties – in the Ukraine/Russia spat to cripple infrastructure and cause economic difficulty.

Dell CEO Michael Dell tells Marketplace his plans to meet future demand.

Some big data companies are offering faulty consumer credit reports.

The crisis in Ukraine continues, this time with reports of cyber attacks from both sides of the conflict. Plus, ArsTechnica gets in the cryptocurrency game. Last but not least, hear from a passenger on the StartUp Bus whose team is developing an app that reveals what the internet knows about you.  

Hey homeowners: Here are some tax tips you may not know about.

Until 2016, that is.

The EU and U.S. are considering sanctions to punish Russia for its intervention in Ukraine.

Calcium is a fundamental building block in chemistry and in modern life.

And the new National Economic Council boss is not a longtime political insider, either

Violence, money, power, gangs, sex… HBO put two and two together, and asked hip hop artists to write lyrics for Game of Thrones.

How a business built on sitting still and listening to old music is adapting to the new market.

A new test was announced today with big changes to the verbal section.

A new SAT is being revealed today. We look at the substantive difference —  and how they’ll play into the market, where the SAT is losing ground to the ACT. Next: The new head of Obama’s Economic Council has an unorthodox background – he’s not an economist, for a start. So what does this say about the any new direction and expectations for the job? And finally, after a honeymoon period of through-the-roof ratings, HBO’s Game Of Thrones is losing out in the ratings. So they’re turning to rappers.

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Marketplace Datebook for Thursday, March 6th.

Some communities rely heavily on nurses to fill their healthcare needs.

In 2012, Congress updated the National Flood Insurance Program, to reflect higher risks and costs. Now, it wants do-overs.

The makers of the SAT have a new college admissions test. And Americans are drinking less and less orange juice.

The Obama administration is reportedly exploring new guidance this week that allows insurers to continue offering non-ACA-compliant health plans.  This temporary fix helps avoid a wave of plan cancellations set to come right before midterm elections. How many people will this affect?  Is this purely political, or would some really become uninsured if they weren’t allowed to keep their old plans? And as a revamped SAT test is unveiled, we look at the battle between the SAT and the ACT, which is getting more heated every year. 

American fast food chains are doing well catering to China's new consumer class.

China chases 7.5 percent economic growth, less pollution, and Internet banking.

Americans are drinking 40 percent less orange juice.

The battle for coffee domination is heating up, with Keurig accused of developing preventative technology that bars other companies from producing cheaper, competitive pods to be used in Keurig coffee makers. And no, it’s not an episode of Punk’d – Ashton Kutcher is working with Lenovo to design a line of cellphones. Plus, check in with the StartUp Bus as they continue to make their way to SXSW, one startup at a time.

The firm that administers the SAT is under competitive pressure from other standardized tests.

High unemployment among African American teens lead many to look into entrepreneurship.

The technology and tactics of high frequency trading are impressive to some.

Teams of designers, coders, and tech enthusiasts are making their way to SXSW via bus, and along the way, they're building the next great startups

He helped advise the White House on health care reform. His new book looks at the history of health care reform in the U.S.

In its 90-year history, Radio Shack has attached itself to – and let slip from its grasp – nearly every new consumer technology

In which strangers let you use their bathrooms.

Natural gas is one of the most important components of the Ukraine equation — Europe is a big consumer, and Russia has a significant surplus. We ask what role natural gas plays in this conflict, and how it has affected the behavior of countries on both sides. Plus: Radio Shack’s latest survival strategy is to close 25 percent of its stores. In its 90-year history, Radio Shack has attached itself to – and let slip from its grasp – nearly every new consumer technology, from that new invention the radio, to hi-fi, home computers and wireless. Finally: Dish Network has cut a deal with Disney, allowing it to stream content from ABC shows and channels. The deal is the first of its kind. But in exchange, Dish has agreed to limit the use of controversial ad-skipping technology on its digital video recorders, for which it was being sued not just by ABC but other major networks as well. 

Oh, your car won an award? So did everyone else's.

Dish Network has cut a deal with Disney, allowing it to stream content from ABC shows and channels.

We dive into the origin of a few popular finance terms.

Marketplace Datebook for Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Express lane tolling systems were designed to keep lanes free by jacking up prices during peak periods. But it turns out rush-hour drivers aren't discouraged by sky-high tolls.

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President Obama face an uphill battle in getting more funding for early childhood development. And the Fed takes a more personal approach in New England.

If the judge approves, a new agreement could be a big step toward the city getting out of bankruptcy.

Obama wants to get an additional $58 billion of education spending into the budget tomorrow. Republicans are strongly opposed. Plus: Sanctions might seem like one way the U.S. could pressure Russia on its Ukraine adventure, but the U.S. doesn’t have many business interests in Russia.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is rolling up its sleeves to get closer to the community.

The rise of social media has been a game changer, especially for activists looking for an uncensored outlet to spread their message. Hear how some Ukranian citizens are taking to social media to combat the agenda in Russian news coverage. And take a ride on the NYC StartupBus: a group of designers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts that are building companies from the ground up as they make their way from New York to SXSW.

Protesters in Ukraine are taking to social media to paint a very different picture of the situation in their home country.

One professor is sleeping in a dumpster to raise questions about U.S. home ownership.

They try so hard to lure you in

Weighing the immediate costs of wringing more sulfur out of emissions, against long-term health and economic benefits from less smog.

Tech companies have begun to team up with car manufacturers to figure out how to get smart phones into our vehicles.

The arrival of Russian troops in Crimea have increased tensions in the region.

As tensions rise in Ukraine, the Russian economy is feeling the effects. The Russian currency, the ruble, has fallen to an all-time low against the dollar and the Euro.  Plus: Apple and car manufacturers now let drivers use their iPhones to make calls, play music, get directions with a touch or a voice command. Apple’s “CarPlay” technology comes this week to Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz cars. Android is also going after the car. We navigate the tech war in your car dashboard. Finally, new sulfur emission rules coming from the EPA throw a spotlight on cost-benefit analysis: weighing immediate costs of wringing more sulfur out of emissions, against long-term health and economic benefits from less smog.

Which SXSW panel should you attend: "Your Mystery Barge is your Brand" or "Tacos Are Dead, Long Live Tacos?"

Last night, ABC promised to stream the Oscars live online for the first time. But it failed.

Marketplace Datebook for Tuesday, March 4, 2014

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So how did it go when ABC tried streaming the Oscars live online for the first time? Get your popcorn ready.