Week of November 2nd, 2020

Biden has been declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. What will he do for the U.S. economy?

Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and the first person of color vice president-elect.

Happy Friday?

Historically, it’s been all about building employee loyalty and tax breaks for businesses.

We’re living through stressful times, and people are turning to apps to help keep calm.

Some who left forbearance plans are delaying payments again.

On today’s show, a look at the business of calm. Plus, jobs recovery is losing momentum and mortgage forbearance remains high.

More Americans are returning to the labor market. But more are also joing the ranks of the long-term unemployed.

The ballot measure passed at a time when women are leaving the workforce due to a lack of child care.

Plus, social media companies swatting down election misinformation. And, the possibility of two runoff elections for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, and what that means for campaign money.

Social media companies are now in the business of trying to swat down misinformation, as is clear from the 2020 election.

Social distancing and wearing masks will help get the economy back to full strength, Powell said Thursday.

The decline in unemployment has slowed since an early rebound from the first wave of COVID-19 shutdowns.

Eight months after the virus struck, the U.S. economy still has recovered barely half the that were lost to the pandemic.

Candidates are likely to use money to double-down on TV and online advertising, and to get out the vote.

Plus, Uber’s plans to push for more laws across the country like Proposition 22 in California. And, Los Angeles County voters approved a criminal justice reform that would boost social services spending by hundreds of millions of dollars.

So is it just about politics or are pandemic concerns resurfacing? Plus, worries over COVID-19 will see Denmark cull its mink population. A mutated virus strain can pass from the animal to humans.

Measure J requires the county to spend at least 10% of its unrestricted general fund on things like job training and mental health treatment.

Opponents of the recently passed Prop 24 argued it might lead to data privacy inequality.

Plus, why the “Hunter Biden’s laptop” story didn’t stick.

Even as the pandemic drives down ridership, voters approved more than a dozen local transit measures.

But the U.S. is way behind most developed countries in mandating paid sick leave.

On today’s show: an update on the COVID economy and a look at how paid sick leave could slow the virus’ spread.

The change in your morning routine is impacting the grab-and-go breakfast business.

No state lets people stay on unemployment benefits for more than 26 weeks.

What are you saying to other people with how you spend your money? And what’s it say about you? Plus: We need your help with an upcoming episode.

Cities were designed to serve a world with different gender roles, where men went to work and women stayed home with children, says journalist Antonia Cundy.

It doesn’t look good, considering the pandemic is still raging and there’s no additional federal relief yet.

Plus, what’s going on with Ant Group’s planned IPO? Also, what exit polls can and can’t tell us about what’s on the mind of voters. And, how productivity has been hit by election uncertainty.

The real challenge is making sure toilet paper hits shelves at the same pace consumers are buying it.

Those who voted for Biden said they are having a harder time in the COVID economy, according to exit polls done for major television networks.

The election has had a major effect on work productivity this year, with more people voting and paying attention to the results.

But worrying also comes with a few benefits.

Eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, weekly jobless claims still point to a stream of layoffs.

Today we know more about the election results, but we still don’t know everything. So why has the stock market been running so strong? Plus, a CEO tax initiative in San Francisco. And, what it costs you when you worry.

Investors hold steady, despite a series of legal challenges to vote counting. Plus, working to keep supermarkets stocked with toilet paper as England starts another national lockdown.

It’s a chronic problem we have to be aware of, says Renée DiResta of the Stanford Internet Observatory.

Plus: your questions about jobs data, tax filing in the pandemic and all the money thrown away on Senate races this year.

Prop 22 bypasses a state law that would have reshaped the gig economy.

As the pandemic continues, it may fall to the Federal Reserve to find more ways to boost the economy.

More than seven months into the pandemic, more people are filing for unemployment benefits every week than at any point in the Great Recession.

On today’s show: a look at what a divided government could do to the economy and a rundown on a few important ballot initiatives in Florida and California.

Proposition 19 would remove a disincentive to sell property. But a decline in moving is squeezing the housing supply all over the country.

When variables include who will be president and who controls Congress, GDP and unemployment forecasts look very different.

Hourly wages for some 2.5 million workers in the state will rise to $10 next year, then a dollar a year through 2026.

Some Americans have expressed concerns over the possibility of unrest.

Journalist Kyle Chayka says the anxiety of this moment has people painting their walls soothing blues and greens.

Plus, the chances we see a divided government coming out of this election. What would that mean for fiscal policy? Also, the U.S. is formally out of the Paris climate agreement as of today. And, states vote on marijuana legalization.

Market analysts have started to look at what particular election outcomes might mean for markets, U.S. fiscal policy and more.

The race for the White House piles more uncertainty onto global markets. Plus, assessing the economic case for cutting emissions as the U.S. becomes the first country to leave the Paris climate agreement.

Is there enough information for companies and market participants to start repositioning themselves? Plus, a win for Uber and Lyft in California. And, what kind of money might be spent in post-election legal fights.

Slowing climate change and adapting to it requires cross-border cooperation, even though many costs will be local.

Nearly $14 billion will be spent by the parties and campaigns this year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s more than double what was spent in 2016.

Just the threat of a video or image not being real is a powerful weapon against trust.

As of 4 a.m. Eastern time, Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden still were locked in tight races in a handful of battleground states.

Vote! Then listen to this.

AMC Theatres, reporting a brutal quarterly loss in revenues, turn to studios for a deal to stay afloat.

Analysts say the suspension reinforces the dominant role of the Chinese government in the private economy.

On today’s show: A check-in on airlines and movie theaters, conversations with artists and artisans here and abroad, and … uh, a little bit of economic context for this election.

More airlines are starting to sell middle seats to increase capacity on their flights.

The owner of a hand-embroidery business in Milan describes how the pandemic has affected her work and life.

Sorting through mail-in ballots takes significantly more time than in-person voting.

With live performances canceled, artists are finding creative solutions.

With all of the uncertainty of the 2020 elections, why buy stock today? Plus, car and truck sales trending up. And, depending on election results, what might happen with economic policy during the rest of this year.

Markets are up on investor hopes that a Joe Biden victory in the U.S. presidential election might lead to more economic stimulus.

Analysts predict the outcome of the election will play a key role in what legislation makes it through the legislative process before the end of this year.

Andrea Hailey, CEO of the nonprofit Vote.org, thinks making Election Day a national holiday would go far in increasing turnout.

Social media companies announce steps to make it clear when a candidate has won the election or has not. Plus, stock futures up on Election Day. And, a closer look at companies giving their employees paid time off to vote.

Automakers are still trying to meet demand after production dropped in the early days of the pandemic.

So how are investors approaching the next 24 hours? The EU’s financial watchdog says German regulators were “deficient” in supervising Wirecard. COVID-19 vaccine research is vulnerable to cyberattack.

A combination of bans on political advertising and a lack of digital inventory means there are more political ads in places like Roku, Hulu, PlayStation and Pandora.

“Not dying” is a pretty good “why,” for wearing a mask … but what do we know?

As cases surge in the U.S., experts are increasingly worried about cooperation with contract tracers.

Plus: how the pandemic is changing the restaurant industry and leaving essential workers stuck at sea, and why thousands of people are being told to pay back their unemployment benefits.

The central bank dropped the minimum loan amount under its Main Street Lending Program to $100,000. But not many businesses feel confident taking out loans they’ll have to repay in five years.

In a pandemic, the less contact with customers the better, and the chains that can pull that off are doing all right.

Engineer Raymond Seguin had been at sea more than 400 days when he was finally able to return home.

Could private buses disappear? For one Nashville company, the answer may be yes without congressional aid.

Many Americans view the “I voted” sticker as a symbol of pride, but do they increase voter turnout?

Plus, after the worst week for the stock market since March, indices around the world are up this morning. Also, what low interest rates mean for Americans.

As president-elect, Trump cut a deal to keep a manufacturing plant in Indiana. But the industry’s workers have still taken a hit.

One computer science professor says there are too many uncertain variables with our current internet structure to try voting online.

What do ongoing low interest rates mean for consumer saving and spending, and businesses seeking help with debt?

Ahead of the election, a look at one of President Trump’s promises for the manufacturing industry and whether or not he’s kept it. Plus, how one European country with a population the size of Maine has figured out online voting.

Lockdown uncertainty in Europe could further curb oil demand, worrying investors. The British prime minister cancels a speech to business leaders. Lessons in online voting from Estonia.

And, for the country’s citizens, 99% of public services happen online. Voting was added to that list in 2005.

Biden and Trump disagree sharply on immigration policy and net neutrality.