Week of August 5th, 2019

In the United States, the financial burden of developing elite young players falls to parents.

Plus: the future of gig economy workers in California and the unwritten rules of the middle class.

A law under consideration in California would require the companies to classify their drivers as employees.

JCPenney just got a letter from the NYSE warning that its days on the exchange are numbered.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed loan just hit 3.6%, according to Freddie Mac. That’s a three-year low.

Still in its pilot phase, Onward promotes saving in small increments with a view to building a nest egg and eventually creating credit.

Prices could rise for rideshare services, especially in places like airports where demand is high.

What uncertainty overseas means for homebuyers in the U.S. Competition keeps Uber’s profits low. Finding an alternative to expensive payday loans… at work.

Kevin Alexander on the rise and fall of “the independent fine-casual dining spot.”

Amid Middle East tensions and the U.S.-China trade war, the price of oil is not wildly different from 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Bayer stock is up. Oil prices are down. Tracing the U.S. food revolution back to Portland.

From the BBC World Service… Criminal charges are unveiled in the long-running 1MDB scandal. Fresh Italian political uncertainty ripples through markets. Plus, it’s another weekend of peaceful protests in Hong Kong.

Not everyone buying an EV cares about the electric car tech so much as looking cool.

Writer Maura Cheeks looks back at how race has affected her family’s finances over several generations.

In the corporate sense, “goodwill” is a certain je ne sais quoi — those hard-to-pin down assets above and beyond what is more easily identifiable.

Plus: How the trade war is affecting food and the growing business of clothes rentals.

Ever wondered where your online returns go? They may be fueling new resale businesses.

The House-passed Raise the Wage Act would phase out the $2.13 an hour federal minimum for tipped workers.

Even before the trade war began, American dairy farms were dealing with low prices and oversupply throughout the global market.

A college counselor who helps kids navigate life after high school

Tacking on the possessive “s” is a habit for many of us.

A listener struggles to navigate all the unspoken rules of middle-class life.

But is there enough other delivery business out there?

Food delivery apps offer consumers a wider variety of eat-at-home options.

The commodity is attracting nervous individual investors and central banks looking for a safe bet.

High-yield bonds are all the rage. On-demand food cuts into the pizza business. A fresh look at carbon capture. Glow-in-the-dark ramen is now a thing.

China’s exports rise despite trade feud. Chevron moves to offset its environmental impact. Workers try to save shipyard famous for building The Titanic. 

Chinese exports rise. The value of gold also goes up. Food server pay might get a big boost soon.

Temporary restaurants offer novel experiences to attract new clientele.

A proposed California law could change the status of gig workers and bring major change to “disrupter” companies.

There is no perfect economic crystal ball, but the bond market often gives a indication of where the economy is heading.

Plus: A conversation with Ben Folds about his career in music and why FedEx is dropping Amazon.

The U.S. economy is slowing. Whether it goes into recession could depend on tariffs and trade disruptions.

Politicians and retailers say tax holidays are good for sales and they save people money. But it’s not that simple.

The refugee entrepreneurs’ motives are often a mix of altruism and self-interest.

“As satisfying and safe as it can feel to have mastered a craft, it also can be a sign that it’s time to learn a new trick,” the musician writes.

We’ve all worked with a “brilliant jerk.”

Markets deal with trade and currency uncertainty. Apple rolls out its credit card. Evaluating those high-achieving jerks at work.

How might this change the competitive landscape?

Walmart employees walk out over gun sales. Employers increasingly look into active shooter insurance. The U.S. levies secondary sanctions against Venezuela.

Glencore shutters the world’s biggest copper mine. Three more global central banks slash interest rates. The U.N. warns one-third of Zimbabweans will need food aid before the next harvest amid drought and economic crisis.

The DOD has paused its search for a tech giant to take over its $10 billion cloud project.

This week, we dive into the latest research on racial inequality.

The Federal Reserve has plans for a new instant payment network, set to launch in 2023 at the earliest. But critics say the Fed’s waiting too long, given that a rival instant payment network already exists.

The celebrated author worked to make the American publishing industry more inclusive.

One of the largest recycling companies in California just declared insolvency and shut down all of its bottle and can redemption centers.

Plus: Toni Morrison’s legacy, China’s new label as a currency manipulator and what it’s like to “curate” snacks at Google.

Farmers hoped for a resolution to the trade war, then everything got worse.

GM says it has jobs for nearly every one of the 2,800 laid-off workers, but they must decide whether they’re willing to relocate.

In a tight labor market, timing might be everything.

One professor suggests kids are missing out on the “experiential dimension” of the start of a new school year.

Investors weren’t mad at China Tuesday. Is the U.S. allegation of currency manipulation even valid? Online retailers are in back-to-school mode. The state of Uber and Lyft.

On one hand, a government program that pays workers to learn new skills. On the other, jobs.

The U.S. officially labels China a currency manipulator. Venezuela faces a U.S. embargo. A former auto worker opts for retraining.

The U.S. has officially accused China of being one. A major global hotel group says the U.S.-China trade feud is having an impact on growth prospects. Big data helps business deal with unpredictable climate patterns. 

Cybersecurity expert Mark Rasch says law enforcement is still working on how to treat domestic terrorism online.

The U.S. dollar offers a safe haven in times of investor uncertainty and fear.

Companies that want to sell planes turn to brokers, who work a little like real estate agents.

Usually when the markets have a day like today, we like to say, “Take a deep breath, calm down.” Not today.

Companies have to strike a delicate balance when they are caught up in a tragedy like a mass shooting.

It comes as the Chinese yuan dropped to its lowest level against the dollar in a decade.

“Both sides should sit down and talk more,” says David Lipton of the International Monetary Fund.

A regulator warns the changing climate could cause a financial crisis.

There’s no vacation like a jury duty vacation.

Critics say the online forum enables the spread of hate speech.

It’s the largest drop since December.

The company’s stock is up 40% since the beginning of the year.

China drops the yuan. 8chan gets rescued. Marriott faces resort fee lawsuit.

The hardware retailer announced thousands of layoffs this week, but the jobs aren’t going away

Trump’s rhetoric on trade hits the financial markets. Disney’s stock surges. One former auto worker deals with an uncertain future.

Hong Kong’s leader warns of “dangerous situation” as demonstrations escalate. India could change the face of its only Muslim-majority state. Why Internet infrastructure providers are reluctant to wade into content issues for sites they service.

One area of tech around climate adaptation is better indoor air purification for smoky days outside.