SHORT BIO
Stacey Vanek Smith is a former senior reporter for Marketplace.
Stacey’s Top 2 Stories
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Hire these guys and we'll pay you
Mar 4, 2009
A Virginia-based advertising firm is paying $4,000 to companies that hire one of the two dozen workers it just laid off. The incentive has been working. Stacey Vanek-Smith explores how there's money in it for prospective employers.
Less opulence on TV next season
Mar 3, 2009
"Gossip Girl," "Privileged," and "The Hills" are some of the TV shows that glamorize wealth. But next year's TV lineup may reflect more of our economic reality. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Golden State tarnished without budget
Feb 16, 2009
California is on the brink of financial disaster. The Golden State is $42 billion in debt and lawmakers still haven't agreed on a budget. If they don't come up with a plan, California might be facing bankruptcy. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Art imitates life in new movies
Feb 12, 2009
The movies "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and "The International" open this weekend. But will viewers be entertained by a movie about our pre-recession consumption or one about our current banking crisis? Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Music industry juggernauts may merge
Feb 4, 2009
If reported merger talks between Live Nation and Ticketmaster come to fruition, the new company could centralize power in the music industry and potentially drown out competition. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Credit cards take swipes at stability
Feb 3, 2009
With consumer credit-card debt climbing, banks are shifting marketing strategies to get their plastic in the hands of more financially stable customers. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Movie industry still stuck in 2D
Jan 16, 2009
A few years ago, 3D was supposed to be the next big thing in movies. But last time we went to the theater, most movies were flat on the screen. Stacey Vanek-Smith explains why the movie industry has yet to completely enter the third dimension.
Smart phones are watching you
Jan 13, 2009
The technology on a smart phone can show marketers everything you do, from your purchases to transactions made through online banking. But Stacey Vanek-Smith reports why that wealth of information has its limits.
Consumers expect to buy low
Jan 8, 2009
The 2008 holiday shopping season was one of the worst ever. Retailers offered a lot of sales, but it didn't get people to hit up the stores. As Stacey Vanek-Smith reports, all those markdowns have created an expectation from consumers and put retailers in a bad spot.
What's deflation all about?
Jan 1, 2009
In this economy, it seems like everything is on sale -- homes, clothes, stocks, cars. What could be wrong with that, right? Lots of things. In this installment of the Marketplace Decoder, Stacey Vanek-Smith explains deflation.