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Scott Tong

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Scott Tong is a former correspondent for Marketplace. He reported on sustainability issues (energy, climate, environment, resources) for Marketplace, as well as the U.S.-China technology relationship, frequently described as “fraught.” He is Marketplace’s former China bureau chief.

What was your first job?

English-language audiotape (yes, tape) voice-over work. Sixth grade.Taiwan.

What advice do you wish someone had given you before you started this career?

Show up an hour before the interview.

Fill in the blank: Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you ______.

Gas for kid carpools; Washington Capitals hockey tickets.

What is something that everyone should own, no matter how much it costs?

Smoker (plus wooden slotted spoon).

What’s your most memorable Marketplace moment?

Sneaking into Burma for twenty bucks.

Episodes by Scott (2)

Make Me Smart | Episode 408

The weirdest trade secrets

Apr 9, 2021
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Marketplace Tech

There’s not enough internet for remote learning to go around

Oct 19, 2020
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Latest Stories (1,339)

Water enters futures market, allowing buyers to lock in prices

by Scott Tong
Sep 18, 2020
As water becomes increasingly scarce, buying futures contracts may help businesses reliant on water keep prices down.
Carrot fields are watered in Kern County, California. Selling water in the state can be tricky due to water rights.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID-19

U.S.-China long-term investment falls to 9-year low amid pandemic, protectionism

by Scott Tong
Sep 17, 2020
Chinese investment in the U.S. also fell because of the pandemic recession.
Shipping containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's busiest container port, on Nov. 7, 2019 in San Pedro, California.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Will it work to fine people who refuse to wear a mask?

by Scott Tong
Sep 16, 2020
To encourage a certain behavior, policymakers can choose carrots or sticks. There's evidence that the sticks are more effective.
Masks are required on a high school campus in Westfield, Indiana, in August.
Justin Casterline/Getty Images
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COVID-19

E-scooters and bikes rebound as COVID-19 crisis keeps on rolling

by Scott Tong
Sep 2, 2020
Micromobility is robust despite a dip in ridership early in the pandemic. Those companies have a chance to rethink their role, one expert says.
"There’s this really intense pressure on these e-scooter companies to address these transit deserts," says transportation consultant Courtney Ehrlichman. Above, a commuter rides an electric scooter in Los Angeles in June.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID-19

A day in the life of Dr. Alex Greninger, coronavirus test lab manager

by Scott Tong
Aug 26, 2020
Among his challenges are acquiring the right tools, performing enough tests and learning as much as possible about the global health threat.
A researcher at work in a COVID-19 testing lab. The process requires the contributions of countless professionals behind the scenes.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Wall Street record high belies widening gap between investor haves and have-nots

by Scott Tong
Aug 24, 2020
Who actually benefits when Wall Street hits a record?
The New York Stock Exchange in May. Stock wealth has become concentrated among fewer people in recent decades.
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID-19

Remote college creates fertile ground for internet mischief

by Scott Tong
Aug 21, 2020
Most email hackers going after students want to make a quick buck. But those targeting faculty may be foreign governments.
A student at the University of New Mexico attends a virtual class from her dorm. Online education often involves the use of unsecured networks.
Sam Wasson/Getty Images
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Is the dollar no longer king in the international economy?

by Scott Tong
Aug 10, 2020
Pick a currency, any currency. Chances are, it gained against the U.S. dollar last month.
It won't be easy to knock off the U.S. dollar. When governments save their money, they overwhelmingly save in dollars.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
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With executive orders, White House takes aim at two social media giants

by Sabri Ben-Achour , Scott Tong and Alex Schroeder
Aug 7, 2020
These orders mean that in 45 days, transactions with WeChat or TikTok from American persons or companies would be banned.
Pictured: The social media application logo, TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on an American flag background.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
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Trump administration moves past TikTok to take action on more Chinese tech companies

by Sabri Ben-Achour , Scott Tong and Alex Schroeder
Aug 6, 2020
The rationale is that the U.S. needs "clean networks" to guard Americans’ data and the secrets of U.S. companies.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has laid out an expansive plan to keep out entire categories of Chinese tech: apps, data storage, internet and phone services. Pictured: Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department on Aug. 5, 2020.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
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