Natural disasters are nothing to be wished for – the costs to individuals and societies can be overwhelming. But experts note that rebuilding can prove a boon, through more jobs and faster innovation. Boston Globe reporter Drake Bennett explores the issue of the unsought benefit of calamity. Plus: Georgia and Russia; China under the lights; Spain's sports edge; and the pound may be trouncing the dollar, but a new study finds New York City beats out London on livability.
Guests:
Drake BennettNot So Peachy
Steven Pifer, Visiting Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, updates the latest on the Russia-Georgia conflict and the broader geo-political implications.
At Least They're Good at Sports
Roger Cohen, columnist for the International Herald Tribune, discusses the relationship between Spain's failing economy and wild athletic success.
China Gets Camera Ready
The Olympic Games are underway in Beijing but only after a lot of primping and pruning. They practiced queuing, curbed public spitting, and shut down factories. They’ve even gone so far as to enlist Dr. David Tool, an American teaching at the Beijing International Studies University, to re-translate Beijing ...
New York Beats London
In the ongoing rivalry between New York City and London, a new report suggests that NYC beats out London on safety and affordability. Rosemary Scanlon, Associate Professor at NYU, and Nik Sindle, London producer for the Takeaway, join us to discuss the new findings.
Burn to Shine
Behind every natural disaster, there is a silver lining -- or at least that's what some experts would have you believe. Boston Globe reporter Drake Bennett makes the case for creative destruction economics.
Open Phones: Edwards and the Media
Did you need to know about the John Edwards affair? Should the media have broken the story earlier, albeit with weaker sources? We take your calls!
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