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Marketplace for Monday, December 24, 2012
Dec 24, 2012

Marketplace for Monday, December 24, 2012

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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.

Segments From this episode

A look at this year's holiday shopping numbers

Dec 24, 2012
According to the NPD Group, shoes rank among the top sellers this holiday season.

Taking stock of Dickens on business

Dec 24, 2012
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is usually read with an anti-capitalist bent, but a wider reading of his works show a different picture.

Breaking down Santa, Inc.

Dec 24, 2012
Christmas is coming up and needless to say, Santa Claus must be busy. He is, after all, really the world’s ultimate personal shopper. And since Marketplace is a business program, we couldn’t help but wonder what sort of enterprise Santa runs.

The Street of Eternal Happiness: China's 'Mad Men'

Dec 24, 2012
In the latest stop on the Street of Eternal Happiness in Shanghai, a profile of an advertising agency's journey through the lucrative and challenging China market.

There are more guns -- but fewer gun owners

Dec 24, 2012
The NRA has fewer gun owners to draw on for support, as fewer Americans live in rural areas or serve in the military, and more households are headed by women.

Windows 8 sales soft in changing market

Dec 24, 2012
Microsoft launched Windows 8 to capture a share of the touch screen computing market. But PC sales are down and tablet competition is stiff

The year in Wealth & Poverty 2012

Dec 24, 2012
A story about striking janitors in Houston sums up the themes covered by the Wealth and Poverty desk in 2012.

No toy slump for Lego

Dec 24, 2012
Toy industry analyst Sean McGowan talks about the continued success of toy company Lego, even in 2012.

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.

Music from the episode

Young Folks Peter Bjorn and John