Latest from Jo Critcher

• Feb 9, 2023

  With NFTs, what does and doesn’t count as art?

  

  A federal district court in New York has ruled in favor of Hermès, the maker of the Birkin brand of handbag, in a trademark case against the artist behind the “Metabirkin” NFT. Art critic Blake Gopnik, who worked with the team defending the artist, walks us through the verdict. KPMG Chief Economist Diane Swonk takes us through what the latest round of layoffs means for the economy. And, inside the CVS’s acquisition of a primary care provider. 

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• Feb 9, 2023

  This debt ceiling fight brings up old overspending concerns

  

  The fight playing out in Congress over the debt ceiling is being called different from previous spats about spending, but many arguments by Republicans today harken back to a longstanding unease with government overspending. We talk to Michael Boskin, a professor of economics at Stanford who headed the U.S. Council of Economic Advisors during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, about his views on the dispute playing out in Washington. And, Disney’s not-so-new CEO, Bob Iger, is running into a litany of challenges as he tries to boost the sagging entertainment giant. 

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• Feb 9, 2023

  Is there a moral obligation on richer nations to help struggling countries?

  

  From the BBC World Service: The head of the World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tells us richer countries have a moral obligation to help poorer ones through the cost of living crisis. Plus, what next for games developer Activision Blizzard and its $70 billion tie-up with Microsoft after the UK competition regulator said it would hurt consumers? And, can Credit Suisse rebuild? After a string of scandals, it has a new management team and a new plan but a massive annual loss – its worst since the 2008 financial crisis – shows the scale of the task ahead.

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• Feb 8, 2023

  Retailers are stocking more stuff, a good sign for the economy

  

  The most recent issue of the Logistics Managers Index, an industry gauge of retail inventories, showed that sellers expanded their stocks in January. That suggests that consumer demand is remaining strong and that supply chains are sorting themselves out, all good signs for the economy. We spoke with Dr. Julie Varughese, senior vice president of programs and chief medical officer at Americares, a disaster relief nonprofit, about the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. And what’s behind Fed Chair Powell’s most recent words on inflation and rate hikes?

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• Feb 8, 2023

  Inside the anti-labor history of austerity

  

  Austerity, or government measures to cut spending in times of economic crisis, has a long history of being used to suppress the labor force, argues a new book called “The Capital Order.” We speak to the author, Clara Mattei, an economics professor at the New School for Social Research. And, President Biden’s State of the Union speech last night featured a heavy dose of economic policy, including a proposed billionaire tax. 

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• Feb 8, 2023

  Turkey counts the cost of massive quake

  

  From the BBC World Service: Turkish President Erdogan heads to the epicenter of Monday’s earthquake as rescue efforts continue in freezing conditions. The death toll continues to grow and the damage to infrastructure is becoming clearer. Plus, McDonald’s has signed a legal agreement with the UK watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, in response to concerns about its handling of sexual harassment complaints by staff. And, the trains in Spain – questions are being asked after $250m was spent on 30 trains that can’t fit through some tunnels.

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• Feb 7, 2023

  Google’s Bard isn’t Shakespeare, but instead an AI chatbot

  

  Google announced this week that it is developing Bard, the tech giant’s chatbot intended to rival ChatGPT. Microsoft, meanwhile, is trying to develop its own chatbot to work with the Bing search engine. The recent scandal in India involving the Adani Group, one of the country’s largest companies, is sending waves through the Indian economy. And, a look into why consumer debt is on the rise in the U.S. ahead of the Fed’s report on consumer credit. 

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• Feb 7, 2023

  Economics likely to headline Biden’s State of the Union address

  

  President Biden’s State of the Union Address tonight will likely tout recent economic victories, including a recent tempering of inflation and strong jobs numbers. But the president will likely have his work cut out for him bringing around a skeptical American public. Oil producer BP posted record profits, which is just the latest positive result reported by oil giants. And, the Bank of England is considering introducing a digital version of the pound sterling. 

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• Feb 7, 2023

  BP announces record profits

  

  From the BBC World Service: BP has announced its profits in 2022 more than doubled to just shy of 28 billion dollars. But the oil giant scaled back its green targets – we ask why. Nissan’s chief operating officer tells us the company’s alliance with Renault is still going strong. Plus the UK has started a consultation on whether to create a digital pound.  

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• Feb 6, 2023

  Lab-grown meat could be in some restaurants soon

  

  Lab-grown meat could be on its way onto grocery store shelves and restaurant pantries sooner rather than later. One California-based startup, UPSIDE Foods, is seeking USDA approval to distribute its cultivated chicken product by the end of this year. Disney and the state of Florida are continuing their spat over Disney World’s special status in the state. And, economist Julia Coronado gives some insight into why there’s optimism that the U.S. economy might be able to avoid a recession this year. 

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