archive
Parallels
Spaniard's Song Brings YouTube Fame ... And Maybe A Job
May 18, 2013 Enzo Vizcaíno looks like a busker, strumming away on his ukulele as he roams a Barcelona metro car. But he sings of his bachelor's degree and postgrad diploma. "I'm the King of Microsoft," he croons. He's not looking for a handout. He just wants a job. And his creative approach may be paying off.
The Two-Way
In Depressed Spain, ATMs That Dispense Free Cash
February 28, 2013 For Coca-Cola, it was both a PR move and a social experiment. The company set up an ATM that gave out 100 euros ($131) and asked only that recipients share the money. A video of the campaign has gone viral.
The Two-Way
Flash Mob Brings Some Sunshine Into Spanish Unemployment Office
January 14, 2013 A performance of "Here Comes the Sun" brought smiles to a group of jobless Spaniards gathered to request government benefits.
The Salt
Green Grapes And Red Underwear: A Spanish New Year's Eve
December 31, 2012 As a clock tower rings out 12 chimes, people all over the country will scoff a dozen grapes, hoping for good luck. With several seeds per grape and only a couple of seconds to swallow each one, the task is harder than it sounds. And then there's the bit about wearing a gift of red undergarments.
All Tech Considered
Spain Expands Renewables With Wave-Powered Electricity Plant
November 26, 2012 The Bay of Biscay, off Spain's northern coast, is notorious for its huge surf, which has claimed countless lives in shipwrecks over the centuries. Now Spanish engineers have found a way to harness the power of those big waves to produce electricity.
The Salt
To Get Around Tax Hike, Spanish Theater Sells Carrots, Not Tickets
November 12, 2012 Anybody want a carrot? In Spain, carrots are being sold in place of theater tickets as a way to avoid a 21 percent tax on the tickets. Many Spaniards say the "Carrot Rebellion" is a creative response to the country's unpopular austerity measures, but some simply call it tax evasion.
The Two-Way
Spaniards, Who Usually Aid Others, Being Asked To Help Their Own
October 10, 2012 For the first time, the Red Cross in Spain is looking to raise money so that it can get food to those who are suffering most because of the country's financial crisis. For decades, the organization has focused on helping starving people elsewhere.
The Two-Way
Woman Who Ruined Fresco Of Jesus Now Wants To Be Paid
September 20, 2012 Cecilia Giménez turned her Spanish church's 19-century work of art into something that looks more like a werewolf than Jesus Christ. But tourists have come to see it and the church as been collecting more money. Should she get a piece of the action?
The Two-Way
Europe's New Deal Has Markets Cheering
June 29, 2012 At a summit in Brussels, leaders agreed to steps that were more bold than expected. A key part of the plan: Loans from a bailout fund will go directly to troubled banks in Spain. So the Spanish government won't pile up more debt.
The Two-Way
Spain's Borrowing Costs Soar; Latest 'Ominous Sign' In Europe
June 19, 2012 Investors are demanding sharply higher rates. That's adding to the pressure on world leaders to do more to get Europe's financial crisis under control.
Planet Money
Another All-Downside-No-Upside Weekend For Europe
June 18, 2012 Every time, there's the possibility of disaster if things don't go well. If things do go well, it means only that the disaster is postponed.
Planet Money
Why Germany Keeps Saying No
June 13, 2012 It's not just money. Germany fears a lack of control. German leaders think if they intertwine themselves more closely with the rest of Europe — without having some control over the actions of other countries — they will once again be on the hook for bailing out their neighbors.
Planet Money
Spain's Bank Matchmaker On What Went Wrong
June 13, 2012 Spain's plan to combine small banks didn't go so well. The man who helped make it happen explains.
Planet Money
Europe Solves A Debt Problem With More Debt
June 11, 2012 The money Spain is borrowing will likely be the first money it has to pay back. That may make other international lenders even more wary of lending money to Spain.