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Trump wants German carmakers to "become American car companies." How would that work exactly?

Incentives for German automakers to build vehicles here — or penalties for imports — could inspire a shift in operations.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

What calculus should companies make when making a political stand?

Sep 20, 2024
Companies risk alienating a portion of their customer base if their political positions don't fit with their brand identities, warns marketing professor Eric Van Steenburg.
When Ben & Jerry's first started out, the company aligned itself with progressive values — something it is still known for today.
Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn

Sticker Mule's CEO on his experience bringing politics into the workplace

Anthony Constantino of custom merch site Sticker Mule took to X after Donald Trump's July assassination attempt, voicing his support for Trump and denouncing political hate.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Economic issues take the stage during the presidential debate

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris sparred over various topics, including tariffs and inflation.
Tariffs and the Affordable Care Act were two issues that received airtime during the presidential debate.
Allison Bailey/AFP via Getty Images

How do Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's economic policy proposals stack up?

We do the numbers on how much each candidate's plans will add to the national debt and impact voters.
Joe Raedle and Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Where the Trump and Harris campaigns agree on care proposals

We'll do the the numbers on the long-term impacts of safety net programs.
Increasingly, "academic research now puts a greater emphasis on investigating the long-term impact of safety net programs on children," explains Chris Farrell.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

No political party can take union voters for granted

Aug 16, 2024
Democrats and Republicans want to win over union voters. Plus, the impact of extreme heat on Americans' utility bills. Subscribe to get the "Make Me Smart" newsletter every Friday!
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For public good, not for profit.

What if tips weren't taxed?

Aug 13, 2024
Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris support eliminating federal taxes on tips. It might attract votes from tipped workers, who make up 2.5% of the American labor force. But what would it mean for tax policy?
The Tax Foundation estimates that eliminating income taxes on tips would cost at least $107 billion in revenue over 10 years.
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Why the so-called “left behind” bloc might be doing better than you think

The Economist digs into data regarding those who lost their jobs in manufacturing.
Above, the Gautier Steel Mill in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in September 2016. "The traditional Rust Belt states ... actually have had lower unemployment rates than the national average," said The Economist's Zanny Minton-Beddoes.
Dominik Reuter/AFP via Getty Images

What can we learn from political polarization in a Michigan swing county?

Marketplace's Nancy Marshall-Genzer visited Kent County, Michigan, to hear how voters there feel about the economy. Here's what she learned.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images