Marketplace

From the BBC World Service… Germany narrowly avoids recession. China is light years ahead of Google when it comes to online payments. Plus, Sweden sets an example when it comes to closing the gender pay gap.

While you were busy watching the impeachment hearings, Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell was testifying before Congress with a warning: While a Recession is less likely now than it was earlier in the year, current fiscal policy and national debt isn’t ready for a downturn. Today, we’ll catch you up. Plus: A conversation with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the rise of “Porch Pirates.” Yarr.

The unemployment rate is at near-record lows, but if that changes, it will mostly fall to states to pay unemployment benefits. That’s what happened in the Great Recession, but many states had to borrow to make up the gap. Plus: What you need to know about Google and health care records, and why banking apps and startups are named things like “Dave” and “Alice.”

The town of Paradise, California, is still trying to recover from the deadly and destructive Camp Fire that broke out in November 2018, killing 85 people and destroying more than 13,000 homes. In the days and weeks after the fire, residents were worried that big developers would swoop in, buy up the land at a discount and rebuild Paradise in a way that would alter the existing community. Today, we’ll look at how it’s going a year later. Plus: How algorithms determine what you can borrow, how the Army’s trying to recruit Zoomers, and remaking “Joy of Cooking” for a new generation.

Apple’s credit card is accused denying approval to women while giving it to their less credit-worthy male partners. Troubles in Hong Kong are making investors nervous. Plus, the opportunity the fall of the Berlin Wall gave a young girl from East Germany.

Former WeWork head Adam Neumann walked away with a $1.7 billion payout when he was forced out of the company. Now, ahead of the planned layoffs of thousands of workers, WeWork employees are organizing to make demands of management. It’s not the only workplace trying to unlock the power of informal organizing. Plus: The lasting economic legacy of the Berlin Wall and … why is office paper that size, anyway?

The risk of a possible recession appears to have died down. So what happened? And are regular business owners and consumers feeling any better about the economy? We look into it. Then, what you need to know about Xerox’s offer to acquire HP and other cash and stock deals. Plus: AI isn’t quite here yet, but Black Friday is.

Productivity was down 0.3% last quarter, which isn’t a seismic change, but it’s part of a downward trend. Americans are working hard, so why are they working in the slow lane? We look into it. Plus: how climate change is affecting the wine industry, why a country short on affordable housing also has millions of vacant homes, and what you aren’t learning in civics class.

We’re taking the macro and micro angles on the trade war today. First, looking at the factors that caused the U.S. trade deficit to fall more than 4% to $52.5 billion. Then zooming in to look at how farmers in Montana are stinging from the hit on their income caused by trade war. Plus, conversations about carpooling, VCs and the future of banking.

Halloween’s over, so you know what that means … it’s open enrollment! And this year, the marketplace has more “skinny” health care plans. But one person’s cheap, streamlined coverage package is another person’s “crappy insurance.” Plus: Why the government is concerned about TikTok, Apple’s affordable housing play and making the “perfect” Thanksgiving dinner.