Author Archives: robert

The artful dollar

Marketplace Scratch Pad has a post up on master of origami Won Park, who works in the medium of dollar bills. As Scott Jagow writes, if we reach the point where the dollar isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, perhaps the traditional Japanese art of paper folding will be a good alternative use.

These days, this piece seems particularly apt:

If the U.S. ever officially folds up, you’ll know where to turn…

High times in Humboldt

The U.S. economy has gone to pot, but in one Northern California county, it’s gone to pot. Get the difference?

This NPR report from Humboldt County will enlighten you. California’s liberal medical marijuana law has created boom times in a traditional marijuana mecca, where the trade in this federally illegal drug is conducted out in the open, to the delight of customers and pot entrepeneurs. “Without weed, this county would go belly up,” says one participant. But some locals are focusing on the social costs.

Related post: If marijuana were legal: Projected revenues by state (EconomyBeat)

Listening to the economy

PRX has created several playlists–each containing multiple radio pieces–related to the recession. Try these on for size:

Scraping by: The Great Recession has exacerbated the effects of poverty. These pieces offer a glimpse into the world of those who live on the edge, surviving any way they can.

Dealing With Debt – With both individuals and nations running record fiscal deficits, a look at the history and concept of debt. Novelist Margaret Atwood, former Comptroller General David M. Walker, a cowboy poet, and average citizens from three generations all weigh in.

Job and Unemployment – How has the worst recession since the 1930s affected the employment market and people’s relationship to work? Plus some particularly insightful and informative looks at different types of workers and their struggles and strategies for getting along.

The Economy: An Historical Perspective – Take a look back at unemployment, financial panics, strikes, popular entertainment, and jobs to understand just how much has changed — and how much hasn’t — in the American economic narrative.

The Economy: The Big Questions – The ethics of capitalism, the wisdom of regulation, and the future of retail are some of the macro-topics discussed. Both fierce critics of capitalism and those who believe business can and must play a big role in fostering a more ethical society are represented here.

Health Reform – health care and the impending reform legislation wending its way through Congress

Coping With a Shaky Economy – pieces on a potpourri of topics related to these perilous financial times