Week of June 23rd, 2014

Reports that BNP Paribas will pay almost $9 billion in penalties.

Why does ESPN's online streaming choke at the worst possible time?

Ukraine today signed an Association Agreement with the European Union – what does it mean for Ukraine?

The White House Summit will stress the U.S.'s poor record on paid family leave.

Ukraine signed a historic trade deal today with the European Union. An accord with the EU was rejected last year by former president Viktor Yanukovych in favor of a deal with Russia. The backlash sparked his ouster, fighting between pro-European and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. We look at what’s in the EU Association Agreement and what it will mean for Ukraine in terms of trade, jobs and exports. Also, did anyone else have trouble watching the World Cup US-Germany game online? Why does ESPN’s online streaming choke for US viewers at the worst possible time during the World Cup? We investigate the “peak” problem.  

After plummeting in the recession, the rate of voluntary job-quitting is slowly rising. But it's not high enough to show the job market is healthy, yet.

Dan Washburn talks about China's ban on golf in his book "The Forbidden Game"

Marketplace Datebook for the week of June 30, 2014

Virgin Galactic hopes to bring space and terrestrial tourists to New Mexico.

Cities try turning neglected telephones into wi-fi hotspots.

The Wall Street Journal's Kelly Crow says countries who feel successful buy art

Writer and Jezebel creator Anna Holmes tells us how money shaped her upbringing.

Stories of buyers' remorse.

Soccer, Westeros, meth.

A recent poll shows that fewer Americans call themselves middle class.

Recapping the week with Andrea Chang of the L.A. Times and Buzzfeed's Ken Bensinger.

This week the Supreme Court pulled the rug out from streaming service Aereo.

This week on Marketplace Weekend, Lizzie O’Leary and Quartz’s Zach Seward discuss what’s next for internet TV company Aereo after a Supreme Court decision ruled their service illegal. 44 percent of Americans consider themselves ‘middle class,’ down 9 percent from five years ago. What does middle class mean, anyway? Marketplace’s David Gura recaps President Obama’s plan for paid family leave. $2 trillion lives under the table in the U.S., we look at a few listener stories that exist in the gray area. Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson tells us why New York is changing their payphones. And, since it’s the weekend, it’s time for brunch. Andrea Chang from the LA Times and Buzzfeed’s Ken Bensinger discuss what’s on their plate.

A stunning GDP revision, a bitcoin auction, and strategies to address homelessness

Two of the nation’s largest business groups are preparing to break ranks with the Obama administration over any further penalties on Russia due its actions in Ukraine. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers are preparing to run newspaper advertisements tomorrow in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, warning that potential sanctions on Russian energy, defense and financial sectors could damage U.S. businesses and cost American jobs. Also, the U.S. Marshal’s office auctions off bitcoin seized in its Silk Road investigation. We look at what it means when the U.S. government starts trading in the virtual currency. Plus, we talk to Dan Gould, cultural strategist at Sparks and Honey, a market research firm based in New York about Generation Z and what marketers need to do to cater to this new generation born 1995 to present. And after, even the Great Recession didn’t create a bump in homelessness, according to a recent report. Some advocates credit a strategy called “housing first,” which keeps the hardest-to-serve, chronic homeless off the streets and supports them with services.  

With the U.S. Marshal’s office auctioning off bitcoin seized in its Silk Road investigation, we take a look at what it means when the U.S. government starts trading in the virtual currency. Plus, how well have you kept up with the week in tech? It’s time for Silicon Tally, our quiz on tech news from the week. Host Ben Ben Johnson takes on Jim Garrison, founder of Garrison Architects, in his post-disaster urban housing prototype in Brooklyn. 

New rules mean it will be easier for millions to get mental health treatment.

Research shows that offering aid without preconditions has better results.

Two big business groups warn that sanctions against Russia could hurt US jobs.

The U.S. Marshal’s office auctions off bitcoin seized in Silk Road investigation.

How our producers, myself, and you the listener will shape Marketplace Weekend.

How well have you kept up on this week's tech news?

GM has recalled 20 million vehicles this year.

General Motors is recalling some Chevy Cruze sedans because of a potential problem with the airbags. The Cruze is GM’s best-selling vehicle in North America, and this is just the latest in a string of GM safety issues. Is this the tipping point where the recalls start hitting GM’s bottom line? Plus, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency yesterday released a study showing that banks are making riskier loans. They’re making them indirectly to individuals in the form of auto loans, and directly in the form of so-called covenant-lite loans. We look at what these loans are, why they’re risky and what it means for the economy. Also, sponsors pay big money to put their names on team gear. So when one Brazilian player peeled off his shirt to reveal he was wearing the wrong underwear, it was more than something funny to talk about. We look at the serious business of sponsorship—and product (mis)placement. 

An associate's often pays more right out of school, but not in the long term.

The tiny resort island of Ishigaki wants Chinese tourists, but not its military.

Susan Story, CEO of American Water, talks about plans to avoid a water crisis.

An new app called Firechat lets people ommunicate even when they're offline, allowing them to keep ahead of government censors.

Marketplace Datebook for Friday, June 27, 2014

Matt Lauer interviewed Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, Thursday morning.

China and South Korea are dumping cheap steel into the market

We look at the serious business of sponsorship and product (mis)placement.

IKEA raises wages, GoPro goes public, and the struggle for Latino representation in the media.

U.S. professional soccer is gaining in popularity, especially in Sacramento.

One of the fastest growing ethnic groups is largely absent from American media.

The video camera maker GoPro has its IPO Thursday, and it’s the largest IPO by a consumer electronics firm in decades. GoPro is popular among the skateboarder and snowboarder set, but what are its growth opportunities? We look at whether it has the promise to be a content provider, and how its cameras might fit in to the Internet of Things. Plus, a new report on housing highlights the problems that Millennials face in getting into the housing market, and why it’s important to the economy that they do get in. Also, billions around the globe are riveted to the action in Brazil. And here in the U.S, professional soccer is gaining in popularity. Nowhere is that more evident than in Sacramento, California, where a brand new team has rocketed out of the gate. Then after, we talk to Univision Anchor Enrique Acevedo about a new report released by Columbia University that highlights the underrepresentation of Latinos in the U.S. media.

The videocamera maker GoPro has its IPO today, and it’s the largest IPO by a consumer electronics firm in decades. GoPro is popular among the skateboarder and snowboarder set, but what are its growth opportunities? Nancy Marshall-Genzer takes a look into the future of the business. Then, Tim Stevens, editor at CNET, talks news from the Google I/O conference. Plus Sam Gustin, a Vice correspondent covering technology policy for Motherboard, stops by to discuss the Supreme Court’s Aereo ruling.

It's popular among the surfer set, but what about growth opportunities?

A new report stresses the problems millenials face in joining the housing market.

Where do things stand in the wake of the court's 6-3 verdict?

There are more internet-enabled devices than people. When did that happen?

Marketplace Datebook for Thursday, June 26, 2014.

And other reasons we're cutting the cord.

The U.S. economy contracted 2.9 percent in the first quarter. Severe winter weather drove the decline. Spring has been much rosier for the economy.

Ultralight oil made by fracking is seeping through cracks in the U.S. ban on oil exports.

The US economy shrank at an annual rate of 2.9 percent in the January-March quarter, according to the latest figures from the Commerce Department. Its estimates a month ago indicated the first-quarter contraction was just one percent. We explore the limited significance of the latest gloomy figures in the current climate of optimism. Also, turns out there may be a crack in the U.S. ban on oil exports, something producers in fracking regions are currently lobbying for. And the ultralight oil produced by fracking is what’s seeping through that crack. Fracked oil is so light that refineries aren’t set up to handle it, intensifying a surplus that already exists because of high production. We investigate.

Not everyone has to be an extroverted self-promoter to succeed

Now that video streaming company Aereo has lost out to major broadcasters, what will its users do?

Author Gareth Murphy says one day the record industry will face another crash

The sound of the educational technology sell.

Match these sounds to your emotions and see how you compare to other people.

The case was watched closely by everyone from ABC to Google to the NFL.

Climate change is likely to affect farmers more than corporations like Monsanto.

The tech start-up scene in Oakland is distinguishing itself with diversity.

Monsanto reports earnings the day after yet another report on the economic impact of global warming. Agriculture will be affected, though the disruption in the U.S. may be a matter of moving around which crops are grown where. Plus, the Google developer conference opens Wednesday in San Francisco, and the company is trying to boost gender and racial diversity by offering scholarships to the event. We take stock of this and other broader initiatives designed to make the coding world more diverse. Also, is the tech industry relocating? First, there was Silicon Valley. Then the tech industry surged up into San Francisco. Now it has hopped across the bay into Oakland. But the start-up scene there is distinguishing itself with a new brand. Diversity. And after, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the “world’s busiest” when it comes to passengers. But it doesn’t crack the “top 30” in terms of cargo, a list that includes Louisville, Anchorage and Indianapolis.

The Google developer conference opens today in San Francisco, and the company is trying to boost gender and racial diversity by offering scholarships to the event. We take stock of this and other broader initiatives designed to make the coding world more diverse. Plus, Brian Solis, principal analyst with the Altimeter group, talks about Nest and building software for the Internet of Things. Finally, Mike Billings, who covers tech and venture capital for the Wall Street Journal, stops by to talk about MonkeyParking – a pay-to-park app that’s been banned in San Francisco – and the regulatory challenges facing transportation startups.

Removing the ban on oil exports, plus increasing diversity in the tech industry.

Known as "world's busiest" for passengers, Atlanta's airport now wants more cargo

The city of San Francisco wants to ban a parking space auction app.

Google has committed $50 million to encourage young women to code.

The opportunity amidst decreased productivity and growing public health concerns.

A study says student loan deductions and credits pile up higher for big earners.

Commentator Beth Teitell says sometimes she feels guilty for not filling them out.

Politicians talk about wealth in varying ways: Did you work hard, or was it luck?

Today's Brooking report shows that graduates are worse off than undergrads.

A new Brookings report out today suggests that the crisis surrounding student loans may not be what we think it is. The report is based on data from the last 20 years and says that certain areas are worse than others. Graduates, for example, are in tougher spots than undergraduates. We look at where the problems with student loans are most acute. Plus, the Export-Import bank, whose charter is expected to expire at the end of September, faces a dire future as both the White House and Republicans call for its end. What is it and what are its main functions? We explain. Also, we look at how politicians talk about wealth when they talk about wealth: Did you work your way up, did you earn every dollar, or were you just lucky? And does it matter whether it looks like you earned every dollar? There’s earning a lot of money, and there’s being paid a lot of money.

The Export-Import Bank has been in the news this week. But what exactly is it?

In Vermont, it's the Keurig Green Mountain company, of coffee fame.

LeVar Burton also sings the Reading Rainbow theme song!

Eric Brewster and Ben Blatt on their best worst baseball road trip

Marketplace Datebook for Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Large investment funds like Calpers are trying to add diversity to the boardroom.

How to use LinkedIn to get a job. By… LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a way for job seekers to put themselves out there. Recruiters searching the site may find them.

Context to the latest housing numbers, climate change as an economics problem, and more on specialty drugs

The Fort Walton Beach Holiday Inn is a combo of hotel and military test site.

There’s a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the AT&T/DirecTV merger tomorrow. Executives from AT&T and DirecTV will argue why their proposed $48.5 billion deal should pass antitrust muster. We report on why they’ll be opposed and what arguments they’ll make. Also, DC’s city council will vote on a budget proposal today that includes a controversial “yoga tax.” In fact, the package of tax reforms would expand sales taxes to health clubs, yoga studios, car washes, and bowling alleys. In other words: more of the service sector, which is an expanding part of our economy. D.C. yogis are up in arms (as much as yogis can be), but others are making the argument that cities should tax more of the service sector, rather than just folks who sell goods, because that’s where our economy is heading. And after, guess what. Not even the Great Recession could create a bump in homelessness, according to a recent report. Some advocates credit a strategy called “housing first,” which keeps the hardest-to-serve, chronic homeless off the streets and supports them with services. We investigate.

Yoga classes, tanning salons and carpet cleaners will all be hit with a new tax.

There’s a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the AT&T/DirecTV merger today. Executives from AT&T and DirecTV will argue why their proposed $48.5 billion deal should pass antitrust muster. Mitchel Hartman reports on what arguments they’ll make. Then, Ben talks with Chelsea Clinton about what’s at stake when it comes to getting girls on track for careers in science and technology.

AT&T and DirecTV argue for their deal despite worries about industry consolidation.

Why health care spending is projected to accelerate in 2015.

A look at ways to close the gender gap in science and medicine.

A study in a state with high education funding shows how many schools are prepared

A poll asked folks how they pronounce tech words and the results are fascinating.

Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says we need a carbon tax to prevent a global-warming catastrophe. But if Congress won't act?

The White House hosts a Summit on Working Families today, to draw attention to the fact that the US actually has a pretty poor record on paid family leave. It’s an important issue in an election year. But to ensure public attention, the summit comes with its own celebrity guest- Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks. She will probably get the attention, but there are some real issues here. Plus, Henry Paulson, the prominent Republican and former Treasury Secretary, says global warming will be a bigger crisis of its kind than the financial crisis, and it’s time to adopt a carbon tax. Economist Paul Krugman says sure, but politically that’s not going to happen. Do you support “second-best” solutions? We look at the higher cost of second-best solutions. 

Marketplace Datebook for Tuesday, June 24, 2104

Men 18 to 34 are marketed to using machismo, sex, body-blows and insults.

Facebook and other corporations are pouring money into colleges. Why?

How does a man with a six-figure income have no bank account?

Sure, Hollywood is sometimes called "Washington's ATM," but there's more than just money involved.

The end of the export-import bank, the current state of the GED, and getting wi-fi into classrooms

Michael Jackson, the musician and the businessman