Stacey Vanek Smith

Companies make mistakes, and it turns out there are expensive and inexpensive ways to apologize for them. NPR's Planet Money's looks a study that finds out how apologies really work.

Turns out nothing says 'I'm sorry' like cold, hard cash

NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator, sets out to solve a market mystery: why has the price of Fritos gone up in the White House press corps vending machine, despite a decrease in the cost of corn?

China is piloting a so-called social credit system, which allots every citizen a certain number of points. If you do the "right thing" you can extra points. If you don't, you can lose points.

In China, if you don't pay back your loans, you could end up on a blacklist. When you're on it, you can't get a credit card or a plane ticket. Today on the show, we talk with someone on the blacklist.

China has a problem: it's economy grew fast and that led to a trust problem. If someone doesn't pay back a loan, there's no real enforcement. But the solution might cause problems of its own.

The reverse stock split is the Iron Lotus of the financial world. It looks complicated and absurd, and it often doesn't end well.

Today on the Indicator: stolen jobs-day trends ... from our clever jobs-day friends!

Companies flush with cash are choosing to use some of that money to buy back their own stock shares, instead of investing in new products or raises for employees. So, is this a good trend?

The US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement keeps in place the basic NAFTA framework, with a few twists.

General Electric used to be a household name — a pillar of the U.S. economy. Now, it's fighting to survive.

Corn prices are falling, but the price of Fritos in the White House press corps break room is up by 20%. What's going on? Team Indicator is on the case!

Ever since the end of the financial crisis, rents have been rising all across America. A recent report could signal a turning point in the housing recovery.

Companies are buying back stock from shareholders more than ever. Not everyone thinks that's a good thing.

The psychological scars wrought by the 2008 financial crisis are taking a long time to heal. We're a lot more cautious, which has serious implications for the economy.

This week in history: Saudi Arabian oil and the creation of Aramco.

Rents in America are leveling off. At last!

The Japanese are eating less rice. But prices are now so high that they are buying imported rice, rather than the home-grown version. It's also a story of tariffs, subsidies and incentives.

Why boom and bust is part and parcel of the emerging economic experience.

The availability of work — the availability of jobs for people who want a job and even for people who didn't know they want a job — continues expanding.