Latest from James Graham

• Apr 4, 2023

  Florida fights its nurse shortage at the root — by funding schools

  

  Florida, the nation’s fastest-growing state, is in need of a lot more nurses to accommodate its growing population. One way it’s looking to fight the shortage is by routing more government funding to nursing schools to attract more students. Today, we get data on the number of job openings — we speak with analyst Guy LeBas about what could be in the release. And, there’s a new analysis out that shows the hottest jobs markets in the country are in states along the so-called “Sun Belt,” which includes cities like Austin and Nashville.

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• Apr 4, 2023

  Failure to launch: Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy

  

  Virgin Orbit, the arm of billionaire Richard Branson’s larger company that sought to break into the space industry by launching satellites from airplanes, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We look at what that means for the Virgin Group, and how it could affect the larger commercial space industry. Plus, we talk to Lee Hawkins, host of American Public Media’s upcoming podcast on the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how their health has been impacted by the struggle for civil rights. 

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• Apr 4, 2023

  The price of beauty? L’Oreal to buy Australian beauty firm Aesop for $2 billion

  

  From the BBC World Service: $2.5 billion — that’s how much the French beauty giant L’Oreal is buying Australian skincare brand Aesop for. It’s L’Oreal’s largest takeover in decades, but why did they want Aesop so much? BBC’s Phil Mercer in Sydney gives us the details. Plus, BBC’s Jane Chambers finds out why there’s an increase in the number of urban cowboys in Uruguay.

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• Apr 3, 2023

  What calculus goes into central bank rate decisions?

  

  One of the main jobs of central banks such as the Federal Reserve is to set interest rate targets, which can have wide-ranging effects on the economy. These days, amid shakiness in the banking industry and persistent inflation, that calculation has gotten harder. We speak with Susan M. Collins, president of the Boston Fed, about how she thinks about the tradeoffs and other considerations that go into rate decisions. And, economist Julia Coronado gives us a taste of what economic stories could move markets this week, including oil anxiety and Friday’s jobs report.

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• Apr 3, 2023

  Boston’s Fed president talks banks and regulation

  

  There’s been much talk of monetary policy in the wake of recent bank failures, especially as the Federal Reserve continues its fight against inflation. We have one such important conversation with Susan M. Collins, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, about body’s role in everything from setting interest rates to safeguarding the financial system. And, a look at the implications of OPEC+’s recent announcement that member countries will significantly cut oil production.

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• Apr 3, 2023

  Oil output slashed by the million in the Middle East, but what will be the impact?

  

  From the BBC World Service: With some of the biggest oil producing nations in the Middle East voluntarily cutting output by over one million barrels of oil a day, what will the impact be? The BBC Middle East Business Correspondent Sameer Hashmi is in Dubai finding out. Plus, it’s one of Senegal’s most visited tourist attractions, but the Pink Lake is no longer so pleasing on the eye, the BBC’s Soraya Ali reports from Dakar.

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• Mar 31, 2023

  How might the Trump indictment affect markets?

  

  The announcement of criminal charges against Donald Trump by the Manhattan district attorney’s office last night may not have come as a shock to markets, which were notably muted on the news going into Friday. We chat with Christopher Low, chief economist at FHN Financial, about what the reaction has been so far and what could happen going forward. Plus, we look at projections about a key consumer sentiment gauge before data is released this morning. And, the BBC reports on the Japanese government’s move to stop high-tech microchip exports to China.

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• Mar 31, 2023

  America’s energy transition has a worker shortage problem

  

  The Inflation Reduction Act has set out a slew of funding opportunities for government agencies and private companies looking to usher in the green transition. But as of right now, many industries crucial to that effort are facing an acute labor shortage, including trade jobs like electricians. Plus, a look with University of Michigan Professor Erik Gordon at how former president Trump’s indictment could affect markets. Also, the White House has outlined a plan to beef up regulation and oversight of mid-sized banks. And, Amtrak is seeking record funding this year on the heels of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

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• Mar 31, 2023

  Japan moves to restrict China chip exports

  

  From the BBC World Service: Japan is planning to impose export restrictions on equipment used to manufacture semiconductors. The trade controls align with an American push to limit China’s ability to make advanced chips. Plus, the outgoing head of the World Bank, David Malpass, tells us he’s concerned about some of the loan conditions China has been giving to low income countries. And, we talk to the man behind one of the most successful ever cell phone games — the Candy Crush Saga.

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• Mar 30, 2023

  FDIC hints at who will end up paying for recent bank rescues

  

  The chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said yesterday in remarks to the House Financial Services Committee that the agency’s board would vote in June on a new bank assessment fee to make up for the money spent in the rescues of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. We look at the details. Plus, China has issued warnings to the U.S. over its brief hosting of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. And, we talk to Sophie Pedder, The Economist’s Paris bureau chief, about what’s been going on in France amid unrest over the government’s pension reforms. 

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