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 (2,017)

Unemployment expansion a tough sell

Mar 20, 2009
With unemployment benefits soon to run out for 500,000 laid-off workers, the federal government is encouraging states to sign up for more funding. But some governors don't want the money. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Franchises can still sell in a downturn

Mar 20, 2009
The International Franchise Expo kicks off today in Washington, D.C., and companies from everywhere will be looking hard for franchise buyers. Mitchell Hartman reports why this might be a good time to get into a franchise.

Taking arms against the recession

Mar 12, 2009
Firearm maker Smith & Wesson reports its earnings today, and analysts expects strong results with sales of guns and ammo on the rise. Mitchell Hartman explores the correlation between firearm sales and the recession.

Disagreement over teacher merit pay

Mar 10, 2009
President Obama is endorsing a plan to increase pay for high-performing teachers. But teachers' unions oppose the idea. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Seattle paper eyes Web-only future

Mar 6, 2009
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is looking at becoming the nation's first metro newspaper to go Web-only next week. Its journalists are facing lower salaries and benefit cuts. Could this be a model for newspapers' survival? Mitchell Hartman reports.

Credit card lingo 101

Mar 6, 2009
The average American has more than $9,000 in credit card debt and often fail to realize that the interest rates change often. Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman reports on how to decipher the fine print and hot to get a handle on debt.

Dog-sled race has a little less bark

Mar 6, 2009
The Iditarod, a 1,100-mile dog-sled race across Alaska, is hurting in this recession. Prize money is down and costs are up. Mitchell Hartman reports.

IRS fighting UBS on bank secrecy

Mar 4, 2009
A Senate committee is holding a hearing on whether Swiss bank UBS's adherence to international bank secrecy is helping wealthy U.S. citizens avoid income tax. Mitchell Hartman reports what Swiss defenders are saying.

Can small biz owners dodge new tax?

Feb 27, 2009
President Obama wants to finance health care reform by rolling back tax cuts and deductions for people earning more than $250,000. Mitchell Hartman reports whether that tax increase will punish small businesses.

Business franchises defaulting big time

Feb 24, 2009
In this downturn, franchisees are defaulting on loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration in record amounts. That could have a huge impact on franchise lending in the future. Mitchell Hartman reports.