Jeremy Hobson goes to the gun buyback event in downtown L.A. to talk to Mayor Villaraigosa about how to keep firearms off L.A.’s streets. Meanwhile, Stephen Beard reports on what gun control looks like in Europe. The housing market in the U.S. continues to rise, but one state — Michigan — has missed out on home price gains. We take a look at the private transportation system in Silicon Valley. Dan Bobkoff explores what happens when competitive companies — like Netflix and Amazon — have to depend on each other. And Freakonomics Radio’s Stephen Dubner talks about the best way to motivate your employees to be more productive.

Merry Christmas! Hopefully you’re spending it with loved ones. Some people have to work today. We look at why more businesses are open on Christmas. And are you planning to watch a movie? Hollywood’s having a good year. Plus, stories on super PACs, the business of family business in Japan, how new technology is helping Sweden care for its aging population, and the latest in our series “What’s up, Europe?”

Tonight’s the big night for Santa — we break down the numbers of Santa’s business enterprise, elves and all. Toy analyst Sean McGowan explains why Lego is still relevant in 2012. Meanwhile, Microsoft computer sales are down from last year. Charles Dickens would be celebrating his 200th birthday this year; reporter Christopher Werth explores the economics of the man and his works. And in the latest installment of the Street of Eternal Happiness series, a look into the China’s ‘mad men’ industry.

The NRA says that the only way to keep schools safe is to train and arm someone at every school in America — but how much would that cost? Meanwhile, Speaker John Boehner’s so-called “Plan B” to avoid the fiscal cliff failed before any votes were taken. Facebook is testing a $1 fee that allows strangers to message you. Some pediatricians say that expensive educational toys are a waste of money and may even actually be harmful. We hear about what’s being done to avoid costly medical mistakes. And Dan Bobkoff finds out why the Japanese no longer dominate in the world of electronics.

Now that the New York Stock Exchange has been bought, what does it mean for investors? Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, which gives shoppers — and retailers — an extra weekday for finding that last-minute gift. The demand for architects is on the rise. Shaquille O’Neal announced he will launch a new vodka called Luv Shaq. Stephen Beard follows the rise of Shahid Nazir from fish monger in London to a worldwide Youtube sensation. And we hear the story of a man who, after serving 13 years in prison, found out he owed the city of Philadelphia almost $42,000.

With six shopping days left until Christmas, we take a look at dynamic pricing. In part two of our series on Michigan’s right-to-work legislation, we look ahead to what’s next for the state’s middle class. General Motors will purchase 200 million shares of stock from the U.S. Treasury in its first step towards a government exit. When acts of violence shake the nation, sales of guns go up — and the same happens with gun magazine sales. Meanwhile, some schools are looking to beef up security. And Dr. Pepper and other affiliated products are introducing a new soda to attract more male consumers.

The photo-sharing service Instagram has changed its privacy policies to allow your photos to be used in advertisements, and users aren’t happy. Kai Ryssdal talks to game designers at USC’s Interactive Media department about what goes into designing a game and what makes some of them so addictive. Labor unions in Michigan took a blow when the “right to work” law passed last week– Krissy Clark reports on the history and the future of unions. After President Obama proposed he’ll extend Bush-era tax cuts for households making less than $400,000, we wonder whether $400,000 is the new rich. And reporter Dan Gorenstein visits Newtown, Conn., to see what small businesses are doing to help after the tragedy.

Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein has plans to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons, and that legislation is sure to attract attention and money from special interest groups. Sen. John Kerry, meanwhile, is one of the front runners for the next Secretary of State and if he gets the position, his home state of Massachusetts will have to hold a third Senate race in a little over two years. With Christmas just around the corner and many retailers offering free shipping, UPS and others will need to be smart in order to get all that stuff out in time. Rival jewelry stores are taking Zales to court over its advertising claims of selling the most brilliant diamonds. And in the last of our series “Food for 9 Billion,” we explore how eating habits affect climate change.

In the Weekly Wrap, Kai Ryssdal talks to Catherine Rampell from the New York Times and Felix Salmon from Reuters about the Federal Reserve’s meeting this week. Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer has named a new member to its board of directors. The Swiss bank UBS is likely to be fined around $1 billion for its role in a recent LIBOR scandal. To boost the country’s housing market, the Spanish government is offering a sweet deal to foreigners who buy a home there: citizenship. And Townsend Kyser, a catfish farmer from Greensboro, Ala., talks about how his business is doing after this summer’s drought.