Marketplace for Monday, May 17, 2010

Segments From This Episode

• Venezuelan politics hot on the Internet

  by Marketplace Staff

  Venezuela's socialist government and its opponents are spending millions of dollars to win over Internet users, with President Hugo Chavez Twittering to over 234,000 fans. Reese Erlich reports.

  ShareDownload

• The new generation of electric cars

  by Sarah Gardner

  Two big auto companies are nearly ready to launch electric vehicles for the American market: GM's Chevy Volt debuts in November, Nissan's Leaf rolls out a month later; but is American ready to make the transition from gasoline-fueled cars to ones powered by electric batteries? Sarah Gardner reports.

  ShareDownload

• The future of Wall Street

  by Marketplace Staff

  Michael Lewis, author of "Liar's Poker" and "The Big Short," talks with Kai Ryssdal about his hopes for financial reform on Wall Street.

  ShareDownload

• Will Thailand spark another collapse?

  by Rob Schmitz

  Thirteen years ago, events in Thailand led to the Asian financial crisis, and today much of it is under a state of emergency after two months of anti-government protests that have left dozens dead. Rob Schmitz reports.

  ShareDownload

• Racial wealth gap worse today?

  by John Dimsdale

  A new study finds the wealth gap between whites and African Americans in this country has expanded dramatically. John Dimsdale reports.

  ShareDownload

• Will banks continue derivative dealing?

  by Bob Moon

  Derivatives, you recall, have gotten much of the blame for the financial meltdown, but as Bob Moon reports, banks are hoping to stay in the business.

  ShareDownload

• Ad spending finally on the rise

  by Jill Barshay

  Jill Barshay reports TV execs and others are finally feeling more optimistic about attracting those ad dollars.

  ShareDownload