Future Of Retail May Involve Personalized Shopping
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Friday, December 14, 2012
Planet Money
Why A Principal Created His Own Currency
December 14, 2012 He created incentives that 11-year-olds could relate to. (Somehow, "Come to school and you'll be better off in 20 years," just wasn't working.)
Farewell, Bosses: A Wave Of Young Entrepreneurs
December 14, 2012 Burdened by the weak economy, more and more millennials — ages 18 to 34 — are becoming their own bosses. A study shows that more than half of them want to start a business or already have.
Economy
Inflation Index Fix Could Cut Federal Deficit
December 14, 2012 The Consumer Price Index is one of the most familiar measures in economics and politics. Some in Washington want to change the way the index is calculated to better reflect consumers' shopping habits. While the proposed change is described as a technical fix, it could cut the federal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
HSBC Critic: Too Big To Indict May Mean Too Big To Exist
December 13, 2012 The accusations against HSBC were harsh — that the bank laundered money for Mexican drug cartels and conducted transactions on behalf of Iran and other states tied to terrorism. So, why did federal authorities fine HSBC rather than pursue criminal charges?
Planet Money
Why Legos Are So Expensive — And So Popular
December 13, 2012 Legos often cost twice as much as similar blocks from a rival toymaker. So why are Legos so much more popular than other brands?
It's All Politics
For Business Owners, Higher Taxes Could Mean Fewer New Hires — Or More
December 13, 2012 If the tax rate rises for the top 2 percent of wage earners, business owners would generally react by hiring fewer new workers, according to a fundamental Republican argument. But the actual outcome might be a bit murkier, and — in some instances — counterintuitive.
The Two-Way
Jobless Claims Fell Sharply Last Week, Wholesale Prices Dropped In November
December 13, 2012 The pace of applications for unemployment insurance had accelerated after Superstorm Sandy, which threw many out of work. Now, the trend is back to a rate that signals a slowly improving labor market.
Politics
Most Of Congress In The Dark On 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks
December 13, 2012 Of the 535 members of Congress, not many are in the loop about negotiations to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases in the new year. Lawmakers are waiting to see what President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner come up with — and some are nervous about having to quickly vote on a bill despite misgivings.
Planet Money
Will A $1.9 Billion Settlement Change Banks' Behavior?
December 13, 2012 For punishments to work, they need to be both swift and meaningful. The HSBC settlement may be neither.
Etsy Crafts A Strategy For Staying Handmade And Profitable
December 13, 2012 Etsy began as a place for home crafters and small businesses to sell their goods, but it has experienced growing pains as it surpasses 800,000 sellers. Some sellers are actually fronts for factories, while other sellers have left because the site isn't designed to handle volume.
