Marketplace All-in-One

We talk more inflation with Diane Swonk of KPMG following consumer price index numbers coming in today. The IMF has changed its outlook for global economic growth, and it’s not looking good for China. We look into how a Florida transit authority is dealing with a bus driver shortage.

The agency says the oil cartel’s move to cut production could push the world economy into recession. Other states have taken on the entity of dark money – and actually secured some wins. We learn about them in the fourth installment of our series.

From the BBC World Service: One in three gas stations in France is struggling for supplies, resulting in long queues. Ongoing talks between unions and workers have failed so far to yield agreement. Plus, the BBC has learned finance ministers from major world economies gathered at the International Monetary Fund in Washington are warning against some of the U.K.’s unfunded tax cuts. And, India’s e-commerce companies are seeing strong demand come back this festive season.

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but now it’s just science. Brain-computer interfaces are making it possible for people and other sentient creatures to control technology with their brains. Last year, Neuralink, the brain device company owned by Elon Musk, claimed it had trained a monkey to play the video game Pong using this technology. Now there are a number of private companies and academic researchers trying to improve this technology for broader use. AE Studio, a software development firm, works in this space. “Marketplace Tech” producer Daniel Shin recently visited its offices in Venice Beach, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, to test out a fun experiment — playing a video game with just his brain.

Galveston, Texas, was all but wiped out when a Category 4 storm hit the port city in 1900. Thousands died, surviving residents fled and Houston became the economic center of the region. One of our listeners wants to know: Could that be the future of other coastal cities? We’ll talk about it on this Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday. Plus: What are i bonds, and where’d the arugula go?

If you’ve got a question about the economy, business or technology, let us know. We’re at [email protected] or leave us a message at 508-U-B-SMART.

A recent proposal by the Joe Biden administration could reclassify gig workers as employees rather than independent contractors and expand benefits and protections for millions of Americans. Today, a look at what the move would mean for workers and companies. Also, big but slowing price increases for producers, a dramatic cooling in the mortgage business and a firsthand account of Hurricane Ian’s damage near Fort Myers, Florida.

The markets are trying to recover from some losses in the past week, but what’s happening over in Britain isn’t helping. We have an instance where COLA will end up being good for people on Social Security. More HBCUs are cashing in on pitting their football teams against big-time programs.

There’s the mythical version of Miami, the version that’s all about wealth and glamour and a never-ending party on the beach. And then there’s the real Miami, a deeply unequal place that could eventually be swallowed up by the Atlantic Ocean because of glaciers melting halfway around the world. Miami has been called the most vulnerable coastal city in the world because of climate change. South Florida could be one of the first places in the United States to see true devastation wrought by the climate crisis, devastation that threatens its very existence. This season, we’re asking: How will South Florida survive sea-level rise?

It’s the third installment of our series on dark money in Arizona politics. This time, we get a view from the volunteers. Also, a freight rail strike might be back on the table.

From the BBC World Service: The Bank of England started short-term rescue efforts two weeks ago to stabilize a dramatic selloff in the U.K. bond or gilt market, that put U.K. pension funds at risk of collapse. Plus, oil workers at refineries and fuel depots in France voted to continue their strike, despite the government saying it will use mandatory powers to force them to go back to work. And, a BBC investigation revealed TikTok is keeping up to 70% of donations given through their app to hundreds of displaced families in Syria.