Mitchell Hartman

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Mitchell’s most important job at Marketplace is to explain the economy in ways that non-expert, non-business people can understand. Michell thinks of his audience as anyone who works, whether for money or not, and lives in the economy . . . which is most people.

Mitchell wants to understand, and help people understand, how the economy works, who it helps, who it hurts and why. Mitchell gets to cover what he thinks are some of the most interesting aspects of the economy: wages and inflation, consumer psychology, wealth inequality, economic theory and how it measures up to economic reality.

Mitchell was a high school newspaper nerd and a college newspaper editor. He has worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, WXPN-FM, WBAI-FM, KPFK-FM, Pacifica Radio, the CBC, the BBC, Monitor Radio, Cairo Today Magazine, The Jordan Times, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, Oregon Business Magazine, the Reed College Alumni Magazine, and Marketplace (twice — 1994-2001 & 2008-present).

Mitchell has gone on strike (Newspaper Guild vs. Knight Ridder, Philadelphia, 1985) and helped organize a union (with SAG-AFTRA at Marketplace, 2021-23). Mitchell once interviewed Marcel Marceau and got him to talk.

Latest Stories (2,023)

A cap and trade system for people

Mar 18, 2010
Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman shared the major features of legislation they're preparing to roll out soon with some big business execs. Included in the plan is a tax that encourages consumers to limit their emissions too. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Businesses save off green incentives

Mar 15, 2010
For businesses across the country that file quarterly estimated taxes, one thing they'll try to figure out is how much they've saved using various incentives for green-energy improvements. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Signs of uncertainty in temp numbers

Mar 5, 2010
The Labor Department jobs report says 36,000 jobs were lost in February and the number of temporary workers has shot up for the fifth straight month. That usually means permanent hiring isn't far behind. Usually. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Businesses gear up to start spending

Mar 4, 2010
With consumers starting to spend a little, there's also new evidence that big businesses are feeling flush with cash and ready to jump in. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Government makes strides in net policy

Mar 4, 2010
Tech executives and government officials are converging in a series of meetings on the issue of Internet freedom overseas. Mitchell Hartman explores why the stakes are high for foreign policy and American business.

A gene for entrepreneurship?

Mar 3, 2010
We've known for a long time that entrepreneurship tends to run in families. But now researchers are asking: Could there actually be entrepreneurial genes? Mitchell Hartman reports.

Small biz owners seek action on lending

Feb 26, 2010
As of this week, the Small Business Administration has run out of stimulus funding to guarantee bank loans on favorable terms. At a House hearing, legislators grilled bankers and regulators on what they plan to do to jump-start lending. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Impact of Italy's ruling on Google

Feb 24, 2010
Three Google executives were given 6-month suspended sentences for allowing a video of a boy being bullied to be posted on its Web site. Mitchell Hartman reports the case highlights international differences on Internet privacy.

Housing market psychology still fragile

Feb 23, 2010
The latest report from the Case Schiller Index says home prices in 20 big metro areas fell 0.2% in December. But the index is up by 0.3% when adjusted for the time of year. What do these numbers indicate? Mitchell Hartman reports.

Homes that hold the extended family

Feb 23, 2010
Realtors are seeing a trend of customers in the market for a house that will accommodate more members of the family moving in, possibly later on. Mitchell Hartman explores the rise of the "latchkey" family.