Posted by Ryan Faughnder

For Marketplace, Tue., Aug. 16, 2011

Germany is a key player in the effort to stabilize Europe’s wobbling fiscal house, but its own economic growth is slowing dramatically. On the second day of President Barack Obama’s economy tour, the administration announced a program to create jobs in rural areas, which may not have as big of an effect as it might seem. Wal-Mart is making more money than expected, but the U.S. is not cheering just yet, since most of that growth comes from overseas markets. Scott Tong comes on the show to discuss the future of jobs in America. In Baltimore, Marketplace’s Amy Scott reports on a city that the recovery has all but completely passed by. What can the U.S. learn from the E.U., which has high average unemployment, as well? And finally, host Kai Ryssdal asks a University of Nebraska senior about job prospects.

Here are the songs we played today:

• I Believe In You – YachtBuy

• For Emma – Bon IverBuy

• Juveniles – The WalkmenBuy

• Hard To Be – David BazanBuy

• Spectacular – DujeousBuy