Coinstar introduces vending machines that let you exchange your unwanted/unused gift cards for cash. Mitchell explores how the secondary gift card market works. Also, Latin America is one of the few places in the world where the gap between the rich and poor is narrowing. Pegged to the World Economic Forum meeting on Latin America this week, we examine why there are more Latin Americans in the middle class than living in poverty.

Among the biggest donors to food banks and other social-service agencies are corporations including Walmart and Kroger’s- a sometimes awkward partnership, since of the people served by these agencies are employees of these stores. Later, we talk to Allan Sloan about a tax-avoidance deal that is making it possible for some companies to save hundreds of millions of dollars, legally.

Kevin Spacey has been lobbying the state congress in Maryland, which is where the Netflix hit House of Cards is filmed. The company wants tax breaks, but Maryland’s saying no. Also, we take a look at the individual investor in the HFT environment. 

The Affordable Care Act reaches an important milestone — and deadline — on Monday. The law’s rollout has worked pretty well in some states, and has been a mess in other states. In the case of Oregon, the state promised big and hasn’t delivered. Also, up to $50 billion in tax breaks that expired in 2013 may get a new life as the Senate takes up a proposal to extend them temporarily. Good news for lobbyists and their clients, but the breaks will have to get through the House. And the National Perinatal Association, representing the folks who work in neo-natal ICU units, has released a statement to urge doctors and health insurance cos to reduce health risk and costs by changing in vitro fertilization procedures.

The César Chávez  film opening on Friday is partnering with the makers of a new smartphone app that allows Spanish-speaking movie-goers to watch the English-language movie while listening to it in Spanish. For $2, consumers download Spanish-language audio track app that will play in synch with the on-screen film. Plus, Payscale’s new study has a pretty interesting and complex calculation of the return on investment for graduates — but is it the right way to measure the value of a degree? Many liberal arts schools argue that they’re penalized in studies like this because their graduates often work in the nonprofit sector or other lower paying lines of work—on purpose. Julie Beck of the Atlantic about the mechanics of office design, and how various studies have shown how overhead lighting can affect your aggression, office doors can impact your sense of control, and too much caffeine can be harmful to the introvert.

With President Obama’s meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City, we’ll take a look at where they disagree – contraception, abortion, same-sex marriage – as well as their shared ground on fighting poverty and inequality. Plus, with Microsoft’s Office suite will available for iPad, we explain the potential impact in the market, and the risks Microsoft runs with this move. Also, we look at the GDP’s strengths and weaknesses as an economic indicator and how an organization called Measure of America aims to track well-being. We’ll also be taking a look at the efforts to stretch the tech industry into Santa Cruz, which is home to over 20,000 people who commute to the Silicon Valley for work.

An annual report examining health in the U.S. count-by-county looked for the first time at factors like housing, transportation and food insecurity. We explain the links between these factors and overall health. Plus, with the IPO of King Digital, we take a look at the company’s strategy of making dozens of games that are free to download but have in-game costs. Also, a conversation with philanthropist George Soros about his new book, “The Tragedy of the European Union.” And these days, you may be asking, “Where’s the beef”? A 10% increase in sales of chicken over beef indicates that consumers are not only put off by the high prices of red meat, but also the health benefits of staying away.

With a report from the New American Foundation showing a problematic 8 percent rise in debt levels for graduate students over the last four years, Marketplace puts the value of a law degree on trial. Plus, a look at a new report that breaks down by state the 32 million people in the U.S. who are underinsured, meaning they have health coverage but it’s not robust enough to keep them from shouldering high costs when they get sick. Also, a conversation about how millennials are approaching the twists and turns of the present day economy from mounting student loan debt to securing employment in a still rocky job market. And as part of our New York Times’ series, reporter Ann Carrns met with one young man who decided plumbing was the best way for him to get ahead.

With Russia excluded from the upcoming G-8, we explore the economic benefit that comes from attending these summits. Plus, after piloting the idea in a few dozen locations, Starbucks will begin to serve alcohol and small plates at thousands of locations in coming years. What are the risks to Starbucks’s new strategy? Also on tap is a look at mid-career switchers who are learning to code. Plus, more on how Cypriots are still struggling to recover from the bank collapse in Cyprus a year ago, and the recent finding of offshore reserves of gas in the eastern Mediterranean.