Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke about the fiscal cliff and QE4 today. As some prominent rich people are calling for the government to raise the estate tax as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations, we look at this history of this tax. A number of businesses are benefitting from the ‘apocalypse economy.’ States have until Friday to decide if they will operate their own health care exchanges or let the federal government do it. Freakonomics Radio’s Stephen Dubner talks about what economists like to give — and get — during the holidays. And micro-micro-brewing? It’s actually called nano-brewing, and reporter Mark Garrison has the story of the explosion of super-small craft beers.

The Wealth & Poverty Desk’s Krissy Clark reports from Lansing, Mich., about the state’s passing of right-to-work legislation. The U.S. Treasury has sold all of its remaining shares of AIG, but the government still owns shares of some pretty big companies. With drug patents expiring, there’s been a drop off in big pharmacy advertising, and that’s hurting Web MD. The consumption of horsemeat is commonplace in the EU, but now there’s cause for concern because some of the drugs given to American horses aren’t safe for humans. And crossword puzzle creator Ben Tausig talks about the economics of creating crosswords for a living.

Outgoing SEC Chair Mary Schapiro talks about her last four years in office. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union today, and many are wondering why. Dan Gorenstein takes a look at new legislation promoting the training and hiring of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to provide peer counseling to fellow veterans. Deductions for charitable giving could be on the chopping block as part of a deal on the fiscal cliff. Retail stores are increasing their giveaways this holiday shopping season to get customers in stores. And we consider whether song orders on albums still matter in this digital age.

November’s job report shows the jobless rate fell to 7.7 percent, and 146,000 new jobs were created — but how can the report be of any practical use to job seekers? We look at the changes IBM says they’re making to employee benefits and how it could ripple to other companies. Some mortgage companies say they won’t foreclose over the holidays. There’s a breakthrough in the shipping industry that has tankers reaching their destinations more quickly than ever. And Scott Tong profiles George Mitchell, the godfather of modern-day fracking.

Democrat Sen. Max Baucus from Montana discusses the fiscal cliff talks in Washington and whether or not a deal is possible. We take a look at what the purchase of one home means to the economy. The price of guar gum — used in everyday products like ice cream, gum and paper — has been skyrocketing. There’s a battle in the U.S. over whether to export natural gas. An outfit called The Golden Spike Company says it plans to run private missions to the moon. Amy Scott takes us back to Oyler School in Cincinnati to see what progress they’ve made after a $21 million renovation. And Furbies are making a comeback — no, really.

Fresh & Easy stores are leaving the U.S. because of lack of profit. Meanwhile, Starbucks plans for 1,500 new stores in the country over the next five years. AT&T hopes to help people understand their phone bills with short videos. A new British opera aims to explain confusing financial markets. Kai Ryssdal talks to artist and photographer Robert Burley about his new book and the collapse of the photo industry. And Nashville Mayor Karl Dean talks about his city’s rise in popular culture and whether or not that translates to economic growth.

Shoplifting could cost retailers nearly $9 billion this holiday season. The strikes at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are entering their second week, but some businesses are actually benefiting from the stoppage. The future of agriculture might be in the hands of robots. Employers are requiring degrees for jobs that didn’t require a diploma just five years ago. We ask a mathematician what it takes to make elevators run smoothly. The series Black Gold Boom provides a look into the life of a North Dakotan roughnecker. And we learn about the history of boredom and how boredom affects our daily lives.

The holiday season is for giving but the National Retail Federation expects shoppers to spend up to 20 percent of their holiday budget on themselves. The American Psychiatric Association has said compulsive hoarding should now be classified as a mental illness. Bank of America has announced that it will delay debit card fees again. Five states are extending their school year with hopes of boosting student achievement in the U.S. Felix Salmon from Reuters explains the Argentine sovereign debt situation and why it has been taken to court. And we hear about how one professional baseball player has written a provision in his contract to protect himself from the fiscal cliff.

The Weekly Wrap talks about the stalemate in Congress over the fiscal cliff. A strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has entered its fourth day. Meanwhile, FedEx and others that hire large amounts of seasonal workers can’t find enough people to fill the jobs. The gaming company Zynga has loosened its ties with Facebook, but both companies see this as a positive. Rob Schmitz takes a look at China’s sex shops and the role they play in couples’ love lives. And Eve Troeh explores why reality shows these days have become so niche.