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12/22/16: What’s your return policy?
Dec 22, 2016

12/22/16: What’s your return policy?

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Greece, Italy... We're nearly a decade from the beginnings of the global financial crisis, and debt crises keep popping up. Then: the Commerce Department announced the economy grew even faster than we thought in the third quarter. We're at a healthy 3.5 percent, and there's still the fourth quarter to measure. Also President-elect Donald Trump will take office with a pledge to sharply raise tariffs. Will that expand the economy, or shrink it? Plus: The Navy's fight against climate change and everything you've always wondered about return policies, just in time to wrap up your holiday shopping.

Segments From this episode

Flexible return policies can lead to fewer returns

Dec 22, 2016
Customers associate the quality of a return policy with the quality of the store
Shoppers at Target in Los Angeles. 
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

The Navy adapts to rising sea levels

Dec 22, 2016
The military has to act when climate change threatens its bases
A beach within Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu has eroded 400 feet since the 1940's, placing critical infrastructure closer to the ocean.
Jed Kim/Marketplace

How Google is making its A.I. smarter

Dec 22, 2016
Artificial intelligence is improving Google Translate and there might be more to come.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 04: Pichai Sundararajan, known as Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google Inc. speaks during an event to introduce Google Pixel phone and other Google products on October 4, 2016. 
Ramin Talaie/Getty Images

Global economy still grappling with debt

Dec 22, 2016
Almost a decade after the European financial crisis started to report the financial troubles that brought about the Crash of 2008, banks, governments, and people are again heavily in debt
 Pensioners take part in an anti-austerity demonstration in central Athens on December 15, 2016. 
ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images

How will American-Israeli relations fare under Trump?

Dec 22, 2016
To get an idea, look at Twitter.

Would tariffs on imports expand the economy, or shrink it?

Dec 22, 2016
Latest GDP numbers show economy is performing better than thought
STR/AFP/Getty Images

Greece, Italy… We’re nearly a decade from the beginnings of the global financial crisis, and debt crises keep popping up. Then: the Commerce Department announced the economy grew even faster than we thought in the third quarter. We’re at a healthy 3.5 percent, and there’s still the fourth quarter to measure. Also President-elect Donald Trump will take office with a pledge to sharply raise tariffs. Will that expand the economy, or shrink it? Plus: The Navy’s fight against climate change and everything you’ve always wondered about return policies, just in time to wrap up your holiday shopping.

Music from the episode

Trapped Onra
C.R.E.A.M. Wu-Tang Clan
Human After All Daft Punk
Oye Como Va Santana
I'm In Love - Poolside Remix Fool's Gold, Poolside
Fidelity Regina Spektor