Week of January 5th, 2015

In theory, a growing economy and tighter labor market mean increasing competition among employers, which should push wages up. That’s still not happening. Plus. Time Warner Cable and AOL merged 15 years ago, and almost immediately fell behind the times, partly due to the culture clash that occurred when old and new media became one. Also: President Obama proposes making two years of community college free. What would that accomplish? 

Our best guess: Studio may bring in about $60 million from "The Interview."

A wrap up of what we learned this week at Marketplace.

At Consumer Electronics Show, drones get their own section, complete with safety nets.

Companies' merger was once hailed as the leading edge of a new age, the Internet.

More jobs should demand for and higher wages, but that isn't happening.

"No one with the drive and discipline" should be denied a college education, president says.

Federal government to continue as a backstop for insurers who cover terrorist attacks.

Listener Amelia Rosenman tells her story of inheriting frugality and eating cheese

An inheritance can do unexpected things to a family.

Some people whose lives and work leave an inheritance of for more than just their families.

What happens to someone's digital assets when they die?

This weekend, we focus on inheritance. Stephen Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, speaks with Lizzie about what the Baby Boom generation is leaving behind for current workers. Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, discusses how to retire out of debt. Three mayors talk about the city governments they inherited from their predecessors, and Lizzie and Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson talk about digital inheritance. Author David J. Garrow speaks with Lizzie about the Martin Luther King Jr. legacy. Financial planner Chris Long talks about how to handle inheritance within families. And next week, we’re thinking about gaps. Have you ever had a gap? A month, a year, or more, in schooling or employment. Maybe you needed to save money, or take care of a relative, or lost your job. Tell us your stories, here, on the web, or @MarketplaceWKND.

Boomer retirement and what it means for the program's future

Kids who read for pleasure are more likely to have parents who do the same.

The December jobs report, cell phones in NYC schools, and a wrap up of CES for 2015.

Airing Friday, January 9, 2015: First up on today’s show, we’ll have a look ahead to the jobs report coming later this morning. Plus, in Education Week’s annual “Quality Counts” report on the state of public education, the country as a whole gets a D-plus on early childhood education. What does it mean for our society and economy to be doing such a bad job of preparing kids for school? And you may be aware that New York is infamous for its tiny, scurrying rats. But what about their giant, inflatable brethren? We look at the business behind Scabby, the union rat.

Airing on Friday, January 9, 2015: New York City is poised to lift a ban on cell phones at schools. We look at the impact – the ban created a mini industry around phone storage – at some schools, kids had to leave their phones in vans parked outside. What happens to those businesses now? Plus, how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? We have a CES-themed version of Silicon Tally with Casey Newton, The Verge’s Silicon Valley editor. We’ll also preview the Oculus VR head-mounted display at CES.

Less than half of preschool-age kids attend, says Education Week's annual report on education

Lifting the ban on cellphones in schools hurts a number of small businesses.

Marketplace takes the new Razer headset for a spin.

The inflatable eyesore that's also a trademarked bestseller.

As the numbers for December come in, we take a look back at 2014.

The FBI blames North Korea for the Sony hack … but how can we know for sure?

Fine for Honda alone sets a record: $70 million for failing to report deaths, injuries.

L.A. company Walldogs company hand-paints those ads found on the sides of buildings.

Panel recommends that FDA approve "biosimilar" drugs, a type of generic.

President reduces FHA insurance rate, but how much of a difference can $900 make?

Airing on Thursday, January 8, 2015: Obama pushes a plan to lower some mortgage premiums by $900 a year. What does that mean for the housing market? Plus, we look at the evolution of the 40-hour workweek in light of a Republican push to define “full-time employment” for the purpose of health insurance eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. Finally, cheaper versions of biologics – drugs made out of living cells – could hit the market soon. We run the numbers.   

Energy states have tried to diversify. Wyoming and Alaska remain highly reliant on oil revenue.

"Dynamic scoring" of bills sounds boring, but it’s actually a big deal.

Venture investors poured more than $640 million in the k-12 edtech market in 2014.

The winners and losers of oil prices, health insurance premiums, and opening borders to foreign doctors.

Airing on Thursday, January 8, 2015: First up on today’s show, we’ll talk to Chester Wisniewski, senior security advisor at Sophos, on what we know from the FBI about the origins of the Sony Hack. We’ll also speak with Will Oremus, senior tech writer at Slate, about why chip makers are partnering with car companies at CES this year. And Ed Tang, founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Avegant, talks about the Glyph head-mounted display and bringing virtual reality to consumers.

Airing on Thursday January 8, 2015: Markets across Europe are up on Thursday morning. More on what’s causing the upswing. Plus, the U.S. Olympic Committee will soon decide which American city will move forward with a bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. The finalists are Boston, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. We’ll also look ahead to the jobs report for December, as well as what to expect from 2015. Is this finally a ‘normal’ job market again?  

A bigger share of Americans' household budgets goes to health care costs.

As four U.S. cities vie to host the 2024 Summer Games, we analyze what civic events make money.

Despite federal obstacles, state-legal marijuana businesses take off in a big way.

Helping employees with care may help them stay focused at work

Shareholders would benefit if JPMorgan Chase split into smaller pieces, report says.

Europe has deflation fears, but falling prices caused by cheap oil are a stimulus.

Optimism among small businesses is at a seven-year high, study says.

Airing on Wednesday January 7, 2015: Europe officially has deflation, and its economy is weak. But is  some deflation better than others? Plus, Intel throws $300 million at workplace diversity problem, which is really a pipeline problem. Can you fix the pipeline? If so, will $300 million make a dent?

Two American companies make the top 20 list of airlines known for running on time.

Median tuition at public college rose 55 percent between 2002 and 2012 as other funding sources declined.

Community bankers in the fed, payday loan regulations, and expensive Maine scallops.

Why the President appointed a local banker to the Fed.

Estate's stewardship of Martin Luther King Jr.'s papers can produce odd results.

Airing on Wednesday January 7, 2015: First up on today’s show, new data from the European Union shows consumer prices in the eurozone were down in December, which could mean consumers and companies postpone investments. More on that. Plus, President Obama is in Michigan boasting about saving auto worker jobs. But what is the cost of saving factory jobs by accepting lower wages? And from the floor of the 2015 consumer electronics show, we talk to reporter Nova Safo about the future of connected cars. 

Airing on Wednesday, January 7, 2015: First up on today’s show, we’ll talk with Julie Ask, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, about a new phone from Microsoft that comes with Facebook pre-installed. We’ll also speak with Lindsey Turrentine, Editor-in-Chief of CNET.com, about television operating systems making their debut at CES. Speaking of this year’s CES, we’ll talk about the latest in 3D printing … of food.

Reform could be coming to payday loan industry in the form of federal regulations.

Catch limits and a short season are driving up the the price of Maine scallops.

Employment in auto industry's at pre-recession levels but jobs aren't same quality.

Here are the numbers we're reading and watching for Wednesday.

Low yield in global bond market may be a sign of "secular stagnation": High savings and low investment.

One negative restaurant review in a newspaper can do more harm than you might think.

A trend that's exploding: Using sensors to connect everyday objects to the Internet.

Airing on Tuesday January 6, 2015: At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, there’s an explosion of gadgets that would place sensors throughout your home. Plus, ESPN has always been the key network for cable bundles, but now Dish is offering ESPN pretty much by itself. How can they do that? Finally, Coach will pay as much as $574 million to buy luxury shoemaker Stuart Weitzman.  

When an investment is good for transient energy workers, but not for a small town.

Luxury brand makes a half-billion dollar move to acquire footwear company.

Internet-streaming service will serve up ESPN channels for $20 a month.

You'll know world's ending when CNN airs video of band playing "Nearer, My God to Thee."

Author Nicholas Carlson talks about his new book and the struggle to revitalize aging tech company Yahoo.

New York magazine celebrates the cubicle, "your nest in a larger home."

As more institutions offer the "MOOC" option, analysts track the popular subjects.

The effects of cheap oil, the Keystone pipeline, and building a secure smartphone.

Airing on Tuesday January 6, 2015: Across Europe, investors are worried about falling oil prices. More on that. Plus, banks are issuing new credit cards with security chips, but how much more secure are they? How do they block hackers? And just before the new year, a court in Kansas ruled that public schools are so under-funded as to violate the state’s constitution. Lawsuits like the one in Kansas have become a popular tactic to try to win more money for public schools. Thirteen states are facing active litigation, from Texas to Pennsylvania. But even when those lawsuits are successful, they don’t always work  

Airing on Tuesday, January 6, 2015: First up on today’s show, we’ll talk about connected cars, wearables for babies, and other gadgets making their debut at the consumer electronics show this year. We’ll also talk to Troy Brown, Senior Electronic Systems Engineer at Kwikset, about Kwikset’s Kevo electronic lock system and their partnership with the Nest thermostat. Plus, we’ll explore the latest in security apps featured as part of a new super secure phone.

Kansas is one of more than a dozen states facing school finance litigation.

Not all new cards with security chips also have PINs.

Pipeline is at top of agenda of Republican-controlled Congress. Why?

When it comes to mobile security, it's not just the phone that matters.

Here are the numbers we're reading and watching for Tuesday.

Nasdaq bring in cash from trades but also sells information and software.

Germany reportedly warns Greece that it could be forced out of the euro. Is that such a bad thing?

At consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, wearable tech is a trend.

If a tax is not imposed on carbon-dioxide emissions, gas is artificially underpriced.

Airing on Monday January 5, 2015: Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, is the latest to warn of a Greek exit – or “Grexit” – from the Eurozone if the anti-austerity Syriza party comes to power. We look at whether a “Grexit” would harm Europe more now that it would have a few years ago. Plus, why falling gas prices could lead to new taxes on gas.   

To prevent high teacher turnover, an urban training program takes a page from medical profession.

With the Super Bowl and March Madness around the corner, expect to pay more.

School finance became a constitutional issue in this state.

Euros, interest rates, and polar bears.

Airing on Monday January 5, 2015: The euro hasn’t been this weak in almost a decade. More on that. Plus, construction spending in New York is nearly pre-recession highs. But the development landscape looks very different now, dominated by a series of ultra high-end apartment buildings. Oh, what a difference a few years makes … But building might not equal selling.  

How much could interest rates go up this year? And what would that mean for consumers?

Airing on Monday, January 5, 2015: First up on today’s show, we speak with Carissa Christensen, Managing Partner at the Tauri Group, about bringing down the cost of space travel with reusable rockets. Plus, Stephen Cobb, from ESET North America, talks about whether or not companies can strike back against hackers. And Ben Clymer, the founder and executive editor of the online watch magazine Hodinkee, on how luxury watchmakers are approaching the smartwatch market.

High demand and prices drive a New York City trend: Pricey apartments.

Enrique Peña Nieto will engage in talks with President Obama.

Churchill, Manitoba, counts on income from tourists who come to see the bears.

The numbers we're reading and watching for Monday.