Marketplace for Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Segments From This Episode

• Labor Board says employees can talk about work on social media

  by Janet Babin

  So it's probably not the best idea to complain about your boss on Twitter or Facebook — but the National Labor Relations Board argues that workers have the right to discuss working conditions on social media, positive or otherwise.

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• Do middle managers really matter?

  by Marketplace Staff

  Stanford University Professor Nicholas Bloom talks with Kai Ryssdal about a study he conducted looking at the role of middle managers and whether they matter, and how he conducted experiments in Indian factories to find out.

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• Rapid bus transit a cheaper alternative to rail

  by Marketplace Staff

  Demand for public transportation is rising, but transit authorities across the nation are facing budget cuts. Many cities are testing rapid transit buses, which are hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper than rail lines. Reporter Dan Bobkoff takes a ride on Cleveland's HealthLine Rapid Transit Bus.

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• Will Britain’s ‘Big Society’ move work?

  In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron's says deep public spending cuts could be a chance to reduce the size of the British state and devolve a lot more power and responsibility to local communities and voluntary organizations. He calls the idea "The Big Society." But does it add up? Stephen Beard reports.

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• Fed’s $600 billion plan is ‘risky business’

  by Sarah Gardner

  There are already signs showing that the $600 billion infusion the Fed made isn't going where they want to. Sarah Gardner looks at potential consequences of the Fed's move.

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• Some insurers oppose health law repeal

  by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

  Some of the Republicans elected to Congress earlier this month promised to repeal the health care overhaul. But at least one major health insurer says that would be a bad idea. The CEO of Cigna said earlier today that repeal would not be "in our society's best interest." Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

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• What U.S. can export to help imbalance

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  President Obama said the world needs to address global imbalances. Basically, he's hoping the U.S. will export more so we can spur growth and create jobs. Stacey Vanek-Smith takes a look at what kinds of stuff we might export and what exactly we're hoping to sell more of.

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