Jun 10, 2013

Marketplace for Monday, June 10, 2013

Can we really afford all the things we're buying? We explore the consumer economy in our new series "Consumed." First up: how we're pushing our kids to get ahead in the consumer arms race. Plus, Google is buying crowd-traffic-mapping app Waze. In light of the whole PRISM deal, how does voluntary data compare? Also, business bankruptcies are way down. We take a look at who is still going bankrupt and why.

Segments From this episode

Consumed

A Saturday shopping trip leads to some big questions

by Kai Ryssdal

Jun 10, 2013

A Saturday shopping trip started out fairly innocently... and ended with some big questions about our consumer economy and whether it is sustainable long-term.

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Consumed

For middle-class parents, raising children becomes a consumer arms race

by Scott Tong

Jun 10, 2013

Trying to give your children an advantage in growing up makes consuming a competition. When everyone has a tutor, a trainer or a special baseball bat, you can't help but keep up.

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Final Note

'1984' moves up Amazon best-sellers list

by Kai Ryssdal

Jun 10, 2013

Concerns over Orwellian surveillance and Big Brother provides a literary boost.

Consumed

How Adam Smith's economic philosophies apply in today's world

by Marketplace Contributor

Jun 10, 2013

Most people remember the idea of the free market's "invisible hand," but it turns out, Adam Smith had a lot to say about consumers, too.

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Why PRISM is powered by private-sector technology

by David Gura

Jun 10, 2013

The government began using the so-called “Hadoop” software for data collection, even after launching a $16 billion project to come up with its own way to manage 'big data.'

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Waze: A volunteered, social sort of surveillance?

by Queena Kim

Jun 10, 2013

Google scoops up the crowd-sourced social mapping app, where users volunteer their location and traffic details. How does volunteer surveillance data compare to the PRISM/NSA variety?

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What kinds of businesses go bankrupt these days?

by Krissy Clark

Jun 10, 2013

Business bankruptcies are down overall, but companies still make mistakes. And some entire industries are in trouble.

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Consumed

By the Numbers: Consumed Day 1

by Mary Dooe

Jun 10, 2013

This is a Marketplace.org Reader

Consumed

Tell us: What's the craziest thing you've been upsold?

by Mary Dooe

Jun 10, 2013

This is a Marketplace.org Reader

When did the whole "Do you want fries with that?" line become so ubiquitous?

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Can we really afford all the things we’re buying? We explore the consumer economy in our new series “Consumed.” First up: how we’re pushing our kids to get ahead in the consumer arms race. Plus, Google is buying crowd-traffic-mapping app Waze. In light of the whole PRISM deal, how does voluntary data compare? Also, business bankruptcies are way down. We take a look at who is still going bankrupt and why.