Dec 20, 2011

Marketplace for Tuesday, December 20, 2011

AT&T has dropped its bid to buy T-Mobile. Kai talks to small business owners about how the payroll tax cut extension may affect them. A new website brings online learning into the classroom. Nonprofit hospitals receive tax breaks for charitable care, but it turns out most only spend 2 percent of that on actual charity cases. New home construction was up in November. Comedian Marc Maron reflects on holiday gifts. And we look at the past and present of Kodak.

Segments From this episode

Economy 4.0

Decline of Kodak offers lessons for U.S. business

by David Brancaccio

Dec 20, 2011

The once-mighty camera film company suffered when cameras became digital and its home base lacked the skills to reconquer the market. American businesses need to preserve and foster relevant skills.

LearnZillion does a number on classrooms

by Amy Scott

Dec 20, 2011

The online video service offers teachers hundreds of instructional math videos, for free. But what about the human touch?

Commentary

Comic holiday relief: Be nice about your gifts

by Marc Maron

Dec 20, 2011

Marc Maron, comedian and podcast host of WTF, shares his insights on buying and receiving gifts.

AT&T-T-Mobile deal too big to go through

by David Gura

Dec 20, 2011

AT&T used all its lobbying muscle to get this deal approved. But regulators and market realities got in the way.

Small businesses on the payroll tax cut

by Kai Ryssdal

Dec 20, 2011

As Congress continues to debate over the payroll tax cut extension, we ask small business owners about how the decision might affect them.

Housing construction up in November

by Sarah Gardner

Dec 20, 2011

Builders are as busy as they've been in a year-and-a-half. Some of those homes aren't the typical house though -- they're being built for multi-generational families.