Week of March 26th, 2018

Policy change and international trade tensions are behind a reactive market.

California’s early history redefined how Americans saw failure and success. Today, the state’s economy continues to benefit from entrepreneurs eager to take big chances.

"It's a profitable hobby all of the sudden" says trivia enthusiast Neal Pollack.

Dairy company Tillamook is more than 100 years old. How has their ad strategy changed?

The taxman cometh.

(Markets Edition) With news that Walmart wants to purchase the health insurer Humana, we’ll recap what the two each stand to get from this deal. Afterwards, we’ll talk to Nobel-prize winning economist Robert Shiller about whether a trade war for the U.S. still looms on the horizon, and what this means for the global economy. Plus: A look at the Chinese government’s plans to make it harder for American companies to get around the country’s “Great Firewall,” which blocks a lot of foreign websites.

This month we ask Alison Green about raises, regional wages, religion at work and more.

It's the work of one of the longest ongoing sales promotions in U.S. history.

"Everybody in health care is in a battle with everybody else in health care …"

(U.S. Edition) Walmart reportedly wants to purchase health insurer Humana in a deal that could be worth $37 billion. On today’s show, we’ll take a look at why the retail giant wants to move into this space. Afterwards, we’ll discuss what bitcoin holders might see on their tax bill this year. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Walmart might be about to make its biggest-ever acquisition, and it doesn’t involve online shopping. Then, four African economies are among the most improved in promoting gender equality, according to a new report from the World Bank. There’s a lot to celebrate … but a lot to improve, too. Afterward, a look at the ever-changing makeup market. 

A fatal accident involving an Uber autonomous vehicle has called their safety into question.

A self-driving Uber car struck and killed a pedestrian last week in Arizona. The state, which welcomed autonomous vehicle testing with the promise of little regulation, has suspended Uber’s Arizona operations. Uber had already voluntarily stopped all self-driving activities after the accident. Marketplace Tech host Jon Gordon spoke with reporter Jimmy Jenkins of public radio station KJZZ in Tempe, Arizona, to take a second look at how self-driving cars will be regulated.

Why a coffee company makes the most-published Passover Haggadah. How a 109-year-old dairy company advertises on social media. Plus: What it takes to win a trade war and how to get on the internet in China. 

And does fining players actually work?

… about who controls it or where it all goes. OK, that’s not great poetry, but it is a pretty good business model. Even Facebook couldn’t get enough. The embattled company was getting consumer data from outside brokers until this week, when it announced it won’t let advertisers use them. We’ll kick off today’s show by explaining the world of data brokers, along with the latest news from the latest White House Infrastructure Week. Plus: It’s opening day for Major League Baseball, so we’re looking at fines in sports. Sometimes they’re peanuts, sometimes not so much. Who decides?

Under the new policy, academic study authors will have to share their raw data, leaving it vulnerable to distortion, some worry.

(Markets Edition) With Trump expected to speak about infrastructure in Ohio later today, we’ll talk with Diane Swonk — chief economist at the accounting firm Grant Thornton — about the problems she sees with his proposals. Next, we’ll discuss how Atlanta’s cyberattack may have begun, and then we’ll look at what opening day for Major League Baseball means for workplace attendance. 

North Korea might end up giving up its biggest bargaining chip: nuclear weapons.

(U.S. Edition) President Trump will speak in Ohio later today to tout his infrastructure plan, which had been delayed in recent weeks. On today’s show, we’ll look at what we can expect to hear from him. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how Puerto Rico’s governor plans to tackle the island’s debt — which will include some painful cuts. Afterwards, we’ll hear from Georgetown University professor Bill Brown on how sanctions might actually help develop North Korea. 

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service …there are just 365 days to go until Britain leaves the European Union, but citizens across the country still have basic questions like: Will they be able to freely travel, and how will their wallets be impacted? We chat with some of them today. Then, call it a gin-aissance … global demand for the classically British spirit is still booming. And it’s a trend that’s helped lift not just gin sales, but tonic and mixer sales, too. But what happens when the boozy bubble finally bursts? We’re on the case. 

The most profitable part of Amazon’s business has nothing to do with retail. A huge chunk of the internet is powered by Amazon Web Services, ranging from Pinterest to Buzzfeed to Netflix. The thing is, cloud computing is hard, and lots of companies are turning to Amazon to make it happen. But what are the downsides? Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood talks about it with Lily Hay Newman, who covers security for Wired.

The South Korea trade deal we were talking about has finally gone through, and there’s a lot in there: cars, currency manipulation and steel. South Korea gets out from under the steel tariffs that went into effect last Friday in return for limiting how much it sends here. The “here” in this case happens to be just 6 miles from Marketplace headquarters in Los Angeles. We went to Hannibal Industries, where 300 employees use imported steel to manufacture pallet racks you see at places like Costco. They’re used to some instability, but new tariffs could be a “worst-case scenario” for their business. Then: The latest on Facebook’s privacy fiasco. Plus: What’s that thing we’re always saying? Listen to the bond markets.

After Trump’s tariff announcement, manufacturers saw raw materials prices rise.

Or, maybe not.

The two months after the holiday are traditionally "jobs season."

Silicon Valley has seen an uptick of female chief operating officers (think Sheryl Sandberg at Facebook). Could that mean more female CEOs in the next few years?

(Markets Edition) We have preliminary figure on the rate at which the economy grew in the last quarter of 2017, and it’s one that beat expectations: 2.9 percent. Susan Schmidt, senior vice president at Westwood Holdings Group, joined us to give some context about the number and why the markets aren’t jazzed about it. Afterwards, we’ll talk about the next phase of Walgreen’s business plans following its Rite Aid purchase last fall, and then discuss how rural areas are coping with hospital closures. 

Without enough patients with health insurance, hospitals are closing in rural parts of the country. Some communities have turned to hybrid health centers — shy of a hospital but more than a clinic — to try to meet their community's health needs.

(U.S. Edition) Tech stocks got crushed yesterday, despite their recovery on Monday. We’ll examine what’s going on in this sector, and why this is spreading to European markets. Afterwards, we’ll look at the rise of genetically edited organisms — different from genetically modified organisms — where technology snips out or rearranges a crop’s existing genes. Plus: We explore why meat consumption is expected to hit a new record this year in the U.S. 

Demand for “clean” protein, a “pork craze” and cheap prices are fueling high meat consumption in 2018.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … A secret meeting between China and North Korea revealed: What leaders of both countries hope to gain from talks ahead of a highly anticipated summit this spring between America and the North. Then, the head of the World Trade Organization told the BBC this morning: We’re not in the midst of a global trade war yet, but we are seeing the first signs of one on the horizon. Afterward, a look how more African brands are making their mark in the luxury goods category. 

The social media platform is tracking more about your acquaintances than you might realize.

Facebook’s data collection habits have been an eye opener for many in the past few weeks, with users learning how little control they have over their data. And Facebook isn’t just collecting data to figure out who you are, but also who you know and who your friends know. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Kashmir Hill, who covers privacy and tech for Gizmodo, to explain the so-called shadow profiles on Facebook.  

If we want better policies, then politicians need to start thinking more like economists — and vice versa.

What do you know about what Facebook knows about you?

The Facebook CEO can't be forced to testify, but it might hurt his reputation, our London bureau chief says.

An excerpt from Princeton economics professor Alan Blinder's new book, "Advice and Dissent: Why America Suffers When Politics and Economics Collide."

The U.S. homeless population ticked up last year for the first time since 2010, led by a 26 percent percent surge in Los Angeles.

(Markets Edition) The pressure on Facebook just keeps growing, with the Federal Trade Commission investigating whether the social media giant is properly handling its users’ information. We’ll talk to a former FTC policy adviser about what the agency can actually make Facebook do, and whether the company will have to change its basic business model. Afterwards, we’ll look at why consumer confidence levels and actual consumer spending might not always line up, and then we’ll explore how fashion startups are banking on shoppers’ desire for individuality rather than mass market trends. 

(U.S. Edition) Markets are rallying worldwide, which may have to do with relief that we’re not facing a global trade war (at least not yet). We’ll look at why banks and tech companies are leading this rebound. Afterwards, we’ll discuss Apple’s plans for a more affordable iPad, and then explore how new farmers are putting down roots in Detroit.     

Online retailers peddling a customized shopping experience.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … dodgy diesels are in the spotlight at the British High Court today where a hearing begins to decide whether there should be group litigation against Volkswagen after its 2015 emissions scandal. We’ll explain what’s at stake. Then, a new study says antibiotic use increased 65 percent and is seen rising sharply over the next 15 years. While people who haven’t had access to antibiotics now do, reliance on the drugs is also presenting a problem for the world. Afterward, Rome is eternal and apparently so is its garbage. We’ll take you there to find out what’s going on. 

Since 2016 Detroit has gained more than 22 new large scale gardens and farms. As these new farmers put down roots, some wonder what the future of urban agriculture will look like there.

“Ready Player One,” the movie based on the bestselling book opens in theaters this weekend. The story is set in a dystopian version of the future where people spend more time in a virtual world, called the OASIS, than they do in the physical world. The book is full of pop culture references from the 1980s and ‘90s, as is the movie version directed by Steven Spielberg. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with Ernest Cline, the author of the book and a screenwriter on the film, about whether he really thinks we’ll eventually spend all of our time in virtual reality.      

Unplugging from the virtual world is essential, author Ernest Cline says.

Some experts refer to Opportunity Zones as "a zombie program, staggering on despite moribund results."

The U.S. has accused the country of forcing American firms to transfer technology to gain access to its markets.

Cambridge Analytica allegedly leveraged a personality test taken by 270,000 people to scrape data from 50 million Facebook users in its effort to influence elections. The quiz was based on a popular test used for modeling what’s called the “Big 5” personality traits. We had Kai Ryssdal take the personality test and talk to cybersecurity researcher Stephen Cobb about how these tests can be used as a message-targeting tool. Also on today’s show: South Korea has become the first nation to be permanently exempted from the steel and aluminum tariffs. But it has also accepted quotas reducing the quantity of steel it sends to the U.S. Lastly, we take a look at “opportunity zones,” programs in the new tax law that are trying to bring private investment to low-income communities. Such programs have proven ineffective for nearly 40 years, so why try again?

Writer Joy Press explains how the show changed TV history at a time when "there were very limited ways to be a woman on television."

And they might use the same tactics on you.

Ask a Manager's Alison Green joins Marketplace Weekend to answer your pressing questions.

(Markets Edition) With all the news about tariffs, we’ll check in with Julia Coronado, founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives, on how the markets are doing. Afterwards, we’ll look at how a Supreme Court case could open the door for more legal sports gambling, and then we’ll discuss Texas students’ reluctance to enroll in oil and gas majors — despite the oil boom. 

(U.S. Edition) China decided to retaliate against the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs, making their trade relationship with the U.S. look grim. But it turns out things might not be as bad as they seem, with both beginning serious negotiations over the weekend. We’ll take a look at what’s on the table. Afterwards, we’ll discuss new data that shows limited English proficiency is a barrier to owning a home, and then talk about the growing number of women who are entering the construction trade — along with some of the pitfalls they might encounter). 

Some colleges are finding that students are not eager to enroll in oil and gas majors.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … A first in Chinese commodities today: Crude oil futures will begin trading on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange. This is the latest in a string of moves to open up the nation’s financial markets, so what does it mean for the international trading community and investment in China? Then, why Uber is selling its Southeast Asia business to regional rival Grab. Afterward, more than 90 percent of poppies used to make heroin and morphine come from fields in Afghanistan, where last year’s harvest was the biggest ever recorded. We’ll take you there and explain how it’s impacting those fighting the global heroin epidemic, and the fight for peace and stability in the country. 

Former Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff talks about the strategy behind the hacks.

From harnesses to heavy-duty gloves to restrooms, construction sites are not prepared for the next generation of construction workers.

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Russian hackers have infiltrated the U.S. electric grid. That means they may have the ability to shut down major power plants. The targeted facilities included at least one nuclear power plant and other types of infrastructure as well. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood spoke with former U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff about the strategy behind the attacks.