Marketplace for March 8, 2011

Segments From This Episode

• Program in Mexico helps families make better choices

  by Jeff Tyler

  A government program named Oportunidades offers Mexican families small financial rewards for meeting certain obligations, like getting kids regular medical check-ups or keeping them in school.

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• Freakonomics: The etiquette of ‘following’ on Twitter

  by Kai Ryssdal

  To follow or not to follow? It may not be such a simple choice on the social media site.

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• Egypt’s transition to democracy

  by Marketplace Staff

  Political parties are starting to form in Egypt — in preparation for elections to be held later this year. Will the country be ready?

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• Bank of America retrenches as rivals grow

  by Heidi Moore

  Stung by bad mortgages and mergers, Bank of America plans to cut costs, staff and branches as rivals Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase expand.

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• Facebook renting movies

  by Steve Henn

  Now members of Facebook can rent movies and pay for them with Facebook credits. The first flick: Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight."

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• The short and long-term future of oil

  by Scott Tong

  Oil executives are meeting in Houston. Reporter Scott Tong discusses whether there is panic among execs at the energy conference and what's in store for the oil industry going forward.

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