Marketplace All-in-One

After hearing Ryan and Bridget talk about money all season, one of our young listeners wants to know when she can start earning some money. This week we’ll look back to the time when lots of kids had jobs and learn about what’s changed and why. Along the way, we’ll learn that kids actually do have jobs, just not in the way you might think.

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In Rio de Janeiro, surgeons separated 3-year-old conjoined twins Arthur and Bernardo Lima in June. When the twins were born, they were attached at the head, their brains intertwined. Separating them would require dozens of complicated surgeries. To prepare, the twins’ doctors in Rio used 3D printed models of the kids’ brains and they practiced the surgeries in virtual reality, using goggles and controllers while connected to another medical team in London that had done this before. Marketplace’s Marielle Segarra speaks with Noor ul Owase Jeelani, a pediatric neurosurgeon at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. His team led the VR training, and then he flew to Brazil to be one of the lead surgeons on the case.

After a little summer hiatus, we’re back and digging into the Inflation Reduction Act — specifically the part that would offer thousands of dollars in tax credits to electric car buyers. But will the incentives actually make EVs more affordable and lead to mass adoption that leads to curbing climate-warming emissions? Kimberly and guest host Meghan McCarty Carino get into it. Plus, a major investigation into the real origins of the government’s family separation policy. Then, it’s a bird … it’s a plane … it’s a slice of salami?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

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The 755-page Inflation Reduction Act, expected to pass in the House of Representatives, will take aim at legislative priorities like taxes, the climate crisis and health care. Today, we’ll take a deeper look at two components of the bill: some big wins for Big Oil and Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. Plus, workers take on multiple jobs to make ends meet, and a cross-country bike trip inspires a career change.

Consumers are still spending money and taking out loans, normally good signs for the economy. The catch: They’re saving less, and banks are preparing to deal with more loan delinquency in the coming months as things get more expensive. We take a look at today’s increasingly “weird” economy with Julia Coronado, president and founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives. Chinese exports grew in the past months, according to new data, partly because things are coming back to normal after COVID lockdowns. And, Amazon bought iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba line of robotic vacuums, to boost its smart home offerings.

Democrats passed their marquee climate and spending package late yesterday, a victory for the Biden administration as it seeks to reinvigorate its domestic agenda. We look at what provisions didn’t make the final cut, including a proposal to close the so-called “carried-interest tax loophole.” A new study finds that children with friends of different income levels saw a notable reduction in poverty rates later in life. Also, new data on worker productivity is due out tomorrow, and it may show continued declines because of the pandemic.

From the BBC World Service: Whoever wins in Kenya will take on economic challenges including record inflation, drought and mounting national debt. Plus, Colombia’s new president, Gustavo Petro, pledges a raft of reforms and says he wants to reduce Colombia’s reliance on coal. It’s one of the largest exporters in the world. And, the stress, hunger and poverty facing people in Afghanistan, as foreign funds that once paid for its public health system have been frozen since the Taliban seized power.

Last week saw multiple major cryptocurrency hacks, one affecting wallets mostly linked to solana coins. Another hit Nomad, a blockchain bridge where users exchange assets on different blockchains. The losses totaled about $200 million. And these are just the latest hacks. So far this year, there’s been more than $1 billion stolen. So, why is this industry such a target? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Josephine Wolff, associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Amid rising interest rates and falling GDP, July’s jobs report shattered expectations and brought employment back to pre-pandemic levels. On today’s show, we’ll talk with a bunch of experts about what to make of the news and where the economy is headed. Plus: Amazon is buying Roomba maker iRobot and Claire’s is going public.

The U.S. economy added 528,000 jobs in July, according to the latest jobs report, far outpacing expectations. We dig into what that means amid high inflation and whether this dampens fears of a recession. More on the reasons why the labor market will likely stay hot for the foreseeable future, including Baby Boomer retirements and declining immigration. Also, China has imposed sanctions on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her visit to Taiwan.