Marketplace All-in-One

Marine archaeologists and a small army of scuba divers are working to uncover the stories behind sunken ships from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams talks with Justin Dunnavant, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and one of those divers, about how advances in technology are improving our ability to examine those ships and understand the history they represent.

Marketplace is for public good, not for profit. We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the tech and business reporting you rely on. We’re going to remain free and accessible to everyone. That’s part of our mission. But if you’re in a position to donate, we’re counting on you. You can use this link to donate now.

The United States has threatened Russia with “swift” and “severe” economic sanctions if the country further invades Ukraine. The unprecedented sanctions would target Russian financial institutions and potentially affect any company or individual with links to the Kremlin. Today, we’re joined by Marketplace’s London bureau chief, Stephen Beard, to hear about the global economic ripple effects — from inflation to an energy crisis — that trade restrictions on Russia could have. We’ll also look at the precarious existence of pandemic-era museums and hear how poachers are pushing some West Texas cactuses to extinction.

When Wednesday comes, phones and any other devices that utilize AT&T’s 3G cellular network will stop working. That could be mean potential issues for parts of rural America that have relied on 3G service. The BBC’s Victoria Craig discusses the activity on the European markets, as the U.S. markets are closed for today. And while inflation has boosted food prices, the extra money people are paying isn’t necessarily finding its way back to farmers.

It will take some patience, but waiting until 70 to file for retirement benefits could raise those benefits by about 76%, according to Marketplace’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell. However, there are a few reasons for why many people don’t want to wait that long. The BBC reports on how a data leak has put Credit Suisse on the defensive. Also, some new data indicates some rural communities that could be left behind in the infrastructure bill.

From the BBC World Service: Nearly 50 media organizations have spent months combing through data which found evidence Credit Suisse accounts had been used by clients involved in serious crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking. Also, Africa’s biggest hydroelectric power plant officially opens, and Australia re-opens is borders to travelers for the first time in two years.

Today, we’re re-airing an episode from Jan. 20.

Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks to open up more bandwidth for expanded 5G networks. On Feb. 22, AT&T will be the first carrier to end its 3G services. T-Mobile will shut down its network by July 1 and Verizon by the end of the year. Commercial 3G networks first started popping up in the early 2000s and were about 30 times faster than their 2G predecessors, opening the door for new technology — remember Palm Pilots and BlackBerrys? — and creating infrastructure for many of the apps we use today. Joanna Stern, who’s covered the coming shutdown for The Wall Street Journal, joins us to discuss.

Marketplace is for public good, not for profit. We count on you, our listeners, to help cover the cost of the tech and business reporting you rely on. We’re going to remain free and accessible to everyone. That’s part of our mission. But if you’re in a position to donate, we’re counting on you. You can use this link to donate now.

Grab your drinks and settle in, folks. It’s time for a little Economics on Tap! On today’s show, we’ll discuss the National Archives revealing that classified materials were recovered from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. Then, Kai and Kimberly dive into the troubling reactions to an ice skating final at the Winter Olympics, and the latest on a potential land war in Europe. Then things get a little musical during a round of our game Half Full/Half Empty (with a surprise host!).

Sign up for the Make Me Smart newsletter (or any other Marketplace newsletter) by Feb. 28 and be entered to win a signed Vintage Kai T-shirt.

Here’s everything we talked about on the show today:

Got any questions, comments or concerns? An answer to the Make Me Smart question? Email it to us: [email protected]. Or leave us a voice message. We’re at 508-827-6278 (508-U-B-SMART)!

Bargain hunters be warned: It’s rough out there. Consumers are sensitive to inflation and searching for deals right now. But supply chain issues are producing scarcity and a willingness to pay a little more. Today, we look at the deals consumers can expect as companies aim to benefit from rising prices and increased retail sales. We also parse corporate performance metrics and break down the week’s biggest economic news with our panel of experts.

The people hoping to capitalize on a furniture store’s Presidents Day weekend sale could be in for some disappointment this year, as supply chain problems might lead to a dearth of deals. Christopher Low helps us wade through what the markets have to tell us today. The BBC reports on the use of “smart water” (not the drinking kind) as a tool against waste crimes.

A new bill before Congress says schools that give special consideration to children of alumni or donors won’t be able to access $120 billion dollars in federal student aid. Amherst College announced in October that it was going to end legacy admissions practices. What does this mean going forward? Recent data is showing how the economy is holding up during the pandemic. The BBC reports on the newly released list of “notorious” markets.