Economy

Trump Picks Rex Tillerson To Lead The State Department

9:25am December 13, 2016

by Michele Kelemen

In a statement early Tuesday morning, President-elect Donald Trump announced that ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is his choice to become secretary of state, the country's top diplomat.

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United Airlines will offer cheaper airfares in 2017 but the trade-off will be giving up some of the few remaining perks of air travel, like putting a carry-on suitcase in the overhead bin or getting an assigned seat.

United's 'Basic Economy' Aims To Compete With Discount Airlines

8:45pm December 12, 2016

by David Schaper

United Airlines will offer extra low fares to passengers willing to board last and carry only one bag that fits under the seat. Critics say this "basic economy" class could worsen flying for everyone.

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International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde arrives in court on Monday. She is accused of negligence in connection with her oversight of a 2008 case when she was France's finance minister.

International Monetary Fund Chief Christine Lagarde's Negligence Trial Begins

4:33pm December 12, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

Lagarde, who appeared in court in Paris, is accused of negligence in connection with her oversight of a 2008 case when she was France's finance minister. She has led the IMF since 2011.

A photo released by Venezuelan government agency Sundde shows the group's head, William Contreras, with one of the toys that have been seized from a distributor's warehouses in Caracas.

Venezuela Seizes Nearly 4 Million Toys, Saying They're Overpriced

5:25pm December 11, 2016

by Bill Chappell

"Boys and girls of the country will have a happy Christmas," says Venezuela's national superintendent for the defense of socioeconomic rights.

D.C. Family Leave Proposal Moves Forward, But Remains Controversial

5:18pm December 11, 2016

Only a few American states offer paid family leave for workers. Washington, D.C. city council member Elissa Silverman and small business owner Jonathan Cho discuss the measure proposed in D.C.

Iran Air has used Boeing 747 passenger jets for years — but their purchase was arranged before 1979's revolution. One of the planes is seen here at the domestic Mehrabad airport in Tehran in 2013.

Boeing And Iran Air Sign Jetliner Contract Worth $16.6 Billion

11:59am December 11, 2016

by Bill Chappell

U.S. officials approved the deal in September, months after Iran emerged from sanctions.

Economist Says Manufacturing Job Loss Driven By Technology, Not Globalization

8:58am December 10, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon talks to economist Michael Hicks about how most of the manufacturing jobs lost in this country are due to increased use of technology and not outsourcing to foreign countries.

The M-PESA agent who works in this shop is part of a vast network of small-time vendors.

Dial M For Money: Can Mobile Banking Lift People Out Of Poverty?

2:44am December 10, 2016

by Nurith Aizenman

We look at the remarkable findings from a new study of Kenya's M-PESA system, out in 'Science.'

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Economists Chart 'Index Of The American Dream' In 'The New York Times'

6:33pm December 09, 2016

New economic research shows Americans are no longer as likely to make more than their parents did at the same age. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to New York Times columnist David Leonhardt about what he calls the "Index of the American Dream."

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A map of the U.S. shows children's chances of moving from the bottom fifth of income levels to the top fifth.

U.S. Kids Far Less Likely To Out-Earn Their Parents, As Inequality Grows

5:13pm December 09, 2016

by Bill Chappell

"It's basically a coin flip as to whether you'll do better than your parents," a Stanford economist says.