Week of March 16th, 2015

Licensing and keeping these colorful characters is a complicated plot of its own.

They're a dime a dozen, but do they really drive sales?

The reporters who traveled the world for "Six Routes" tell their stories.

Does the American dream still exist in America? Location, location, location.

Lizzie O'Leary talks to him about the common themes we found profiling six economies.

Airing on Friday, March 20, 2015: Nothing happened today in Europe. Nothing, that is, except a solar eclipse. And that’s a good thing that nothing happened. Europe, especially Germany, counts on solar power for a good chunk of its electricity, and utilities were concerned that their grids would have trouble dealing with a relatively quick shutdown of solar power. It’s a vivid illustration of how basic power grids have to be rebuilt and re-engineered to keep up with new sources of electricity. We explain. Plus, the FCC ruled against the cable companies on Net Neutrality in the hope of making the Internet a utility, and ensuring that all our data is treated equally. Now it’s time for the cable companies to find a way to get what they want anyway, by finding and exploiting existing loopholes, or creating new ones.  

Don't try to book a transatlantic flight on this budget airline.

Power grids have to be re-engineered to keep up with new sources of electricity.

Cable companies seek different avenues around new FCC ruling.

On this week’s episode, Marketplace and our partners at the BBC focus on the United States for the final installment of our series about the global economy,  Six Routes. What is the American dream, and how can we get ahead? Listen to a round-table discussion with the journalists from our Six Routes collaboration about what they learned while reporting thier stories. Plus, we hear from some people who left their native lands to come to America in search of economic opportunities.

The economics of waiting.

North Bonneville, Wash., is the first U.S. town to open its own marijuana shop.

A look at the week that was plus a few fun facts from this week in news.

Medical students found out Friday where they'll spend their residencies.

Marketplace wants to know how you consume media.

An announcement from Tesla, Starbucks' race initiative, and women breaking into construction.

Airing on Friday, March 20, 2015: First up, we’ll talk about the merger in Europe worth the euro equivalent of $44 billion, and creates the largest company in the world of its kind. More on that. And Michelle Obama is midway into her trip to Asia, where she’s launching her Let Girls Learn initiative. At last count, 62 million girls worldwide were not going to school. But rather than take a broad brush to all this, Obama is teaming with the Peace Corp to try and move the needle. Under the plan, the Peace Corps will recruit and train about 650 additional volunteers to focus specifically on adolescent girls’ access to education — on a grass roots level, so they can identify specific barriers and come up with ways to remove them. We explore. Plus, the U.S. rail system is the mirror opposite of rail systems in other countries. In Europe, for example, passenger rail rules. But the U.S. freight rail system is widely recognized as the most efficient in the world. So why are we so different?    

Airing on Friday, March 20, 2015: First up is Stephen Cobb, security researcher at ESET North America, to talk about the Target data breach settlement. Next, we with Jacob Poushter, Research Associate at Pew Research Center, about a new report that looks at attitudes about the Internet in developing countries. And how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? Marketplace’s David Gura joins us for this week’s Silicon Tally.   

Around the world, an estimated 62 million girls ages of 6 to 15 are not in school.

Starbucks new #RaceTogether campaign has set off a storm of controversy.

CEO Elon Musk said the company could push the feature as soon as June.

U.S. freight rail is profitable, and it's attracting international attention.

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

The greenest industry is wilting

A baseball team has about the same economic impact as a midsize department store.

Author Kabir Sehgal explores the history and psychology of money in his new book

Millions of Americans filled out brackets this year — while on the clock

On average, students in grades 3-5 spend 15 hours a year taking standardized tests.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court will soon decide if fracking is linked to earthquakes.

The industry takes in only half the revenue it did at its peak.

Comparing the salaries of world leaders

The company admits fault and will offer victims significant compensation.

Airing on Thursday, March 19, 2015: A Minnesota judge is set to approve Target’s proposed $10 million settlement today in the class-action lawsuit over the retailer’s huge data breach back in 2013. But it might be hard for victims to collect any money as they will have to prove they were harmed by the breach and that is typically hard to do. We explore. Plus, there’s a drumbeat of science pointing to a link between fracking and earthquakes. A new report this month says Oklahoma will experience more damaging quakes as fracking there “reactivates” seismic faults. Meanwhile the State’s Supreme Court is already hearing a case on whether oil and gas firms can be held liable for earthquake-related damage. Also, the recording industry earned more from streaming than from CDs for the first time last year. But just as striking, music revenue has settled at a level only half of its peak 15 years ago. What happened to those billions of dollars? We investigate this and more.

Helping low and middle-income countries fight challenges from tobacco companies.

Decoding the statement from the fed, the new Dow debuts, and cars in the age of cheap gas.

Airing on Thursday, March 19, 2015: Media entrepreneur and former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg is teaming up with fellow billionaire Bill Gates to help low and middle-income countries fight legal challenges from tobacco companies. We’ll have more on that. Plus, the National Urban League ‘State of Black America’ report is out Thursday. We look at how Blacks and Hispanics fare with education and the economy — this year for the first time, the report includes a state level education index. We’ll also talk about Apple’s first day of trading on the Dow with Washington Post columnist Alan Sloan.      

Airing on Thursday, March 19, 2015: First up is Forrester analyst Frank Gillett to talk about Apple’s inclusion in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Next, we talk to Astro Teller, “Captain of Moonshots” at Google(x), about failing, ideas Google(x) has passed on, and the one technology that could unlock all kinds of other moonshots. We’ll also introduce you to the sounds of Austin during SXSW.

It turns out the Dow isn't what it used to be.

…and the moonshot that could unlock other moonshots.

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

It costs as much as $100,000 to keep a kennel of sled dogs running year-round.

In which we deliver the latest on the Fed's movement regarding interest rates.

Luxury brands want to expand in China, not sell to Chinese tourists in Paris

Consumers found metal pieces in the packages of classic comfort food.

As more families opt out, some wrestle with explaining the choice to their kids.

Data protection is popular at SXSW, but opting out might be a false promise.

Airing on Wednesday, March 18, 2015: Lots of Americans are thinking about European vacations this year because the Euro has become so cheap. But luxury brands like Chanel aren’t happy about some of the tourists who are buying up their products in Paris. The price difference for Chanel between Paris and China has grown so wide that Chinese tourists are flying around the world to buy handbags and other luxury items, which is undermining these brands’ strategies of opening stores in China itself. Plus, Kraft Food Group’s shares are already down after its recall of around 6-and-a-half million boxes of Macaroni and cheese. The voluntary recall came after some consumers complained of finding metal pieces in the food. We explain how recalls work, whether consumers pay attention and the economic cost to the companies involved.  

The State Department needs more copy machines to clear up this backlog.

Collect points for paying your AT&T bill, redeem them for Hulu videos.

We’re watching closely today for any clue to when the Federal Reserve could be raising interest rates, and most of the speculation hinges on just one word: “patient.” What does it mean and how did we get here? J.P. Morgan’s David Kelly is here to shed some light on the situation. Then, Facebook is adding […]

Few clues and nothing recovered. The art world will never be the same

The app adds the option to send and receive money between friends.

It's about bridging experience gaps and designing for the "after-wow."

That sounds true, but the numbers are elusive.

We’ll get the latest read Wednesday on when the interest rates could be going up.

Airing on Wednesday, March 18, 2015: We’re set to get the latest read today on when the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates. It may sound counter-intuitive, but rising interest rates may be a boon for the housing market. Plus: The EU is looking to make European governments exchange information about tax arrangements with multi-national companies, making “sweetheart deals” and tax incentives more difficult. Finally, the latest dispatch from the Marketplace Tech team down at SXSW. Privacy was the big theme at Austin’s massive technology gathering in 2014. This year, it’s anonymity.

Airing on Wednesday, March 18, 2015: From SXSW in Austin, we speak with John Maeda, former president of RISD and design partner at the venture capital firm KCPB, about reconciling the pace of the tech industry with the pace of good design. Next, Thomas Middleditch, star of HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” on recreating an authentic version of nerd culture. 

Thomas Middleditch talks about what "Silicon Valley" is doing to champion nerds.

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

“It’s easy to go to investors who have fear of missing out on the next Google or Facebook."

Corrosion can be costly, even calamitous.

About 10 percent of homeowners now owe more than their house is worth, boosting mobility for jobs and reviving retirement areas.

Airing on Tuesday, March 17, 2015: ICANNs decision to allow all sorts of new new domain suffixes is causing a stir in corporate circles. Companies are all hot under the collar about dot sucks, claiming that people will open up domain names such as coke.sucks and hold companies to ransom. How much do companies care about this kind of negative campaigning. And how much will they pay to snuff it out? Plus, Pinterest says it’s now raised $367 million, giving it a valuation of $11 billion. Like Snapchat, this doubles Pinterest’s valuation in less than a year. And, like Snapchat, the fact that Pinterest is now selling ads is named as the reason. Why are these targets audiences so attractive to advertisers and is Pinterest’s female-centric user base particularly alluring? We explore.

A paradigm shift in healthcare spending is already starting in Massachusetts.

New construction hasn't regained momentum, despite low mortgage rates and demand.

The digital site says it has now raised $367 million, for a valuation of $11 bill

Aaron Schock outfitted his office with "a gold-colored wall sconce," a "crystal chandelier," and "massive arrangements of pheasant feathers."

ICANN's decision to allow all sorts of new new domain suffixes is causing a stir in corporate circles.

Airing on Tuesday, March 17, 2015: First up today, China’s stock market is back up to pre-2008 levels, we take a look at what’s fueling that bounce back and why it took so long. Then: New figures out today are expected to show an increase in housing starts. We look at the state of housing, what it means for the wider U.S. economy and whether pent-up demand for housing is about to spur this laggard sector. Finally, this St. Patrick’s day means a lot of heavy drinking, which in turn increases chances of sexual assault. From Savannah, Georgia, we take a look at the way bars are implementing bystander training to keep their establishments safe.

The stories we're reading and numbers we're watching Tuesday.

First up: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland surprised the sports world by announcing he’ll retire from professional football at age 24, due to the risks associated with concussions. We chat with Sports Business Journal’s Daniel Kaplan about Borland’s decision and what it means for the game. Then, it’s a short trip over to Oakland, […]

Most college professors are male, but that’s not the case in earlier education.

The 49ers linebacker is 24 years old, with no serious head injuries yet.

The nation's household registration policy is leaving many workers stuck in place.

Greg Kloehn builds homes out of recycled materials and gives them to the homeless.

We caught up with the cartoonist and memoirist at SXSW Interactive.

Airing on Tuesday, March 17, 2015: From SXSW in Austin, we chat with cartoonist and graphic memoirist Alison Bechdel. And yes, she’s also the one who popularized the now famous Bechdel Test. She chats with us about why we need memoirs, what it’s like cartooning in the digital age (Google Image Search helps) and what a Bechdel test for tech companies would look like.  

Behind-the-scenes recaps from SXSWedu and Interactive 2015 in Austin. #SXMP

They're just strips of metal set in plastic, right?

Experts say police departments don't keep data that could prevent abuse lawsuits.

Is China having its 'Silent Spring' moment?

Living in a state that doesn't recognize same-sex marriages can mean multiple income-tax returns.

Israel's incumbent prime minister is changing tactics a bit late in the game.

The big auto and bank buyouts are over, but the fund lives on

Here are the stories we're reading and numbers we're watching Monday.

Stricter rules are likely south of the border too.

A closer look at one of the indicators of inflation.

Airing on Monday, March 16, 2015: The Fed meets Tuesday. We explain what inflation data and indicators the Fed will be looking at in its deliberating an interest rate increase. Plus, Canada is proposing tougher standards for rail tankers that carry oil, after the latest oil train derailments involved oil coming from the Alberta tar sands. The rules would require replacing just about all tankers currently in service. The U.S. is considering similar standards.

Checking in Ben Johnson on the latest on this year’s SXSW Interactive conference.

The move will mean few merger proposals are caught in the FTC's internal court.

Pressure is mounting on Facebook and Twitter to censor everything from trolls (which can really hurt engagement) to ISIS.

If you ever find yourself on the “Jeopardy” stage in front of Alex Trebek and you’re totally stumped, what’s your best Hail Mary guess? Well, someone has gone through every Jeopardy episode between 1984 and 2012, He looked at close to 200,000 clues and found that one has been the answer, or question in this case, 216 times. The answer is, “What […]

Airing on Monday, March 16, 2015: China finds itself where the United States was in the 1960’s: economic growth has polluted the skies, and the population is demanding clean air as a piece of prosperity. But just like the auto industry in the U.S. fought regulation, China’s state-supported industries are pushing ahead, pumping out pollution along with steel, concrete and electricity. History repeats. Plus, the pressure on big networks like Facebook and Twitter to keep their houses in order is growing as social media networks grow and have to combat everything from trolls to ISIS. We look at the growing costs of keeping social media sites in check — both monetary and otherwise, and what’s at stake.

The FTC is changing the way it fights mergers it doesn’t like, cutting back on challenges in its own internal court and relying more on federal injunctions. We check in with Marketplace’s Tracey Samuelson on what the rule changes could mean for pending, controversial mergers. Then, China has reportedly passed Germany to become the world’s […]

The closure of Sweet Briar College put a spotlight on small schools.

The venture capitalist discusses how the web has changed 30 years from AOL's start

Airing on Monday, March 16, 2015: We’ve spent the weekend exploring SXSW Interactive, and today we sit down with Steve Case, former CEO of AOL and Washington venture capitalist. Then, we head over to the Austin J.W. Marriott, where representatives from Houston, Raleigh and other cities are jockeying to attract tech talent and, hopefully, the Next Big Thing.