A carbon tax will be among the topics discussed at the upcoming COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. While more than 20 other jurisdictions around the world have implemented carbon taxes, a new tax is a hard sell to the U.S. public — and then there&#8217;s the powerful fossil fuel lobby. Also on today&#8217;s show: Why some economists are anxious about increasing prices and wages; rural Americans brace for higher propane prices as winter approaches; and a new delivery fee for Whole Foods groceries.

A carbon tax will be among the topics discussed at the upcoming COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. While more than 20 other jurisdictions around the world have implemented carbon taxes, a new tax is a hard sell to the U.S. public — and then there&#8217;s the powerful fossil fuel lobby. Also on today&#8217;s show: Why some economists are anxious about increasing prices and wages; rural Americans brace for higher propane prices as winter approaches; and a new delivery fee for Whole Foods groceries.

Marketplace

Why the U.S. doesn’t have a carbon tax

Despite a decreasing number of layoffs, employees are quitting their jobs at record rates. Many are leaving essential jobs in favor of ones in information technology, communications and administration that offer higher pay, better benefits and predictable schedules. That&#8217;s boosting competition so much that, statistically, it&#8217;s now more difficult to become a receptionist than it is to get into Harvard, per data from ZipRecruiter. Later in the show: Two small business owners discuss how they&#8217;re faring amid supply chain headaches; the climate crisis ups insurance bills; and in the search for zero-emission travels, hydrogen-powered passenger planes are likely to stay grounded for a while.

Despite a decreasing number of layoffs, employees are quitting their jobs at record rates. Many are leaving essential jobs in favor of ones in information technology, communications and administration that offer higher pay, better benefits and predictable schedules. That&#8217;s boosting competition so much that, statistically, it&#8217;s now more difficult to become a receptionist than it is to get into Harvard, per data from ZipRecruiter. Later in the show: Two small business owners discuss how they&#8217;re faring amid supply chain headaches; the climate crisis ups insurance bills; and in the search for zero-emission travels, hydrogen-powered passenger planes are likely to stay grounded for a while.

In this Great Resignation, good jobs are getting more competitive

We&#8217;ve said it before and we&#8217;ll say it again: There are issues in the global supply chain. One hiccup in the supply chain is a lack of truck drivers in the United States. Despite hiring bonuses of up to $10,000, fewer truck drivers are finding the stressful work and long hours worth it. And one of their biggest complaints? Difficulty finding a place to park and rest. We&#8217;ll also look at why the most iconic brand in the U.S. doubled its marketing budget this year, hear from San Francisco taxi drivers shouldering mountains of debt, and take a trip to a shipping container storage depot.

We&#8217;ve said it before and we&#8217;ll say it again: There are issues in the global supply chain. One hiccup in the supply chain is a lack of truck drivers in the United States. Despite hiring bonuses of up to $10,000, fewer truck drivers are finding the stressful work and long hours worth it. And one of their biggest complaints? Difficulty finding a place to park and rest. We&#8217;ll also look at why the most iconic brand in the U.S. doubled its marketing budget this year, hear from San Francisco taxi drivers shouldering mountains of debt, and take a trip to a shipping container storage depot.

One kink in the supply chain: not enough parking

As congressional Democrats trim down the social-spending bill, a proposal for paid family leave may be cut from 12 to four weeks. The U.S. is one of only a handful of countries that don’t guarantee some paid family leave, and even at four weeks, would still be behind nearly every other country in the world. While such a policy could be vital to working parents, American reluctance to take time off could get in the way. We&#8217;ll also discuss corporations&#8217; green pledges, why some companies are hiring leaders to manage remote and hybrid work, and hear about a horror author&#8217;s scary house hunt.

As congressional Democrats trim down the social-spending bill, a proposal for paid family leave may be cut from 12 to four weeks. The U.S. is one of only a handful of countries that don’t guarantee some paid family leave, and even at four weeks, would still be behind nearly every other country in the world. While such a policy could be vital to working parents, American reluctance to take time off could get in the way. We&#8217;ll also discuss corporations&#8217; green pledges, why some companies are hiring leaders to manage remote and hybrid work, and hear about a horror author&#8217;s scary house hunt.

If U.S. workers had 4 weeks of paid family leave, would they use it?

In the early &#8217;90s, New Mexico had 34,000 acres devoted to the production of chiles, the pepper seen on menus across the state. But that number has dwindled, with some 8,000 acres set aside for chile production in recent years, according to the New Mexico Chile Association. The decline in chile production — largely the result of climate change and a labor shortage — may be a threat to businesses and the culture of the region. Also on today&#8217;s show: Housing advocates vie for their slice of the reconciliation pie; examining just how ethical ESG investments are; and a festival sign writer crafts a pandemic side hustle.

In the early &#8217;90s, New Mexico had 34,000 acres devoted to the production of chiles, the pepper seen on menus across the state. But that number has dwindled, with some 8,000 acres set aside for chile production in recent years, according to the New Mexico Chile Association. The decline in chile production — largely the result of climate change and a labor shortage — may be a threat to businesses and the culture of the region. Also on today&#8217;s show: Housing advocates vie for their slice of the reconciliation pie; examining just how ethical ESG investments are; and a festival sign writer crafts a pandemic side hustle.

Will New Mexico chile crop weather labor shortage and climate change?

One in three American adults has a criminal record. Amid a labor shortage and a historically high quit rate among the American workforce, there&#8217;s growing advocacy to pass “clean slate” laws, which call for modernizing court databases and creating algorithms to automatically clear records for minor criminal offenses. While such legislation expands candidate pools for businesses, it also opens the door to higher-quality jobs for those with a criminal record. Also on the show today: The Weekly Wrap; talking turkey about holiday food prices; and why some are calling plastic the &#8220;new coal.&#8221;

One in three American adults has a criminal record. Amid a labor shortage and a historically high quit rate among the American workforce, there&#8217;s growing advocacy to pass “clean slate” laws, which call for modernizing court databases and creating algorithms to automatically clear records for minor criminal offenses. While such legislation expands candidate pools for businesses, it also opens the door to higher-quality jobs for those with a criminal record. Also on the show today: The Weekly Wrap; talking turkey about holiday food prices; and why some are calling plastic the &#8220;new coal.&#8221;

“Clean slate” laws could soften the labor crisis

In March, the American Rescue Plan set aside $20 billion for tribal governments, an unprecedented federal investment in Indian Country. While close to 600 tribal entities got portions of the relief funds, more than half of the money went to just 30. That&#8217;s because the Treasury Department divvied up funds based on population and the number of people each tribe employs — not poverty levels or COVID infection rates. Also on the show today: The Federal Reserve overhauls investing rules for policymakers, why it&#8217;s so hard to determine what makes a &#8220;high-quality&#8221; carbon offset and examining the real-life horrors the film &#8220;Candyman&#8221; spotlights.

In March, the American Rescue Plan set aside $20 billion for tribal governments, an unprecedented federal investment in Indian Country. While close to 600 tribal entities got portions of the relief funds, more than half of the money went to just 30. That&#8217;s because the Treasury Department divvied up funds based on population and the number of people each tribe employs — not poverty levels or COVID infection rates. Also on the show today: The Federal Reserve overhauls investing rules for policymakers, why it&#8217;s so hard to determine what makes a &#8220;high-quality&#8221; carbon offset and examining the real-life horrors the film &#8220;Candyman&#8221; spotlights.

Were COVID relief funds fairly distributed to tribal governments?

When it comes to checkout time at your local grocery store, the total at the bottom of your receipt might just raise your eyebrows. That&#8217;s because prices for essentials have increased by 4.5% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of all price increases have come from just three meats: beef, pork and poultry — meaning you may think twice before adding that steak or pork loin to your shopping cart. Later on in the program, we&#8217;ll hear about some of the career shifts occurring in the Great Resignation, what California&#8217;s drought could mean for the rest of the country and why Citigroup is nixing work lunches.

When it comes to checkout time at your local grocery store, the total at the bottom of your receipt might just raise your eyebrows. That&#8217;s because prices for essentials have increased by 4.5% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of all price increases have come from just three meats: beef, pork and poultry — meaning you may think twice before adding that steak or pork loin to your shopping cart. Later on in the program, we&#8217;ll hear about some of the career shifts occurring in the Great Resignation, what California&#8217;s drought could mean for the rest of the country and why Citigroup is nixing work lunches.

Inflation comes to a freezer aisle near you

Philadelphia&#8217;s Eviction Diversion Program, launched last year, allows landlords and renters late on payments to avoid court through mediation. Since, the program has conducted more than 2,000 mediations, with more than 90% ending in agreement or continued negotiation. The program has also helped distribute millions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance. Plus: A trip to a new government stockpile of medication ingredients; a Bitcoin fund debuts on the New York Stock Exchange; and what actually happens when you return an online order.

Philadelphia&#8217;s Eviction Diversion Program, launched last year, allows landlords and renters late on payments to avoid court through mediation. Since, the program has conducted more than 2,000 mediations, with more than 90% ending in agreement or continued negotiation. The program has also helped distribute millions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance. Plus: A trip to a new government stockpile of medication ingredients; a Bitcoin fund debuts on the New York Stock Exchange; and what actually happens when you return an online order.

Can mediation hold off a wave of evictions?

Zillow has been using algorithms to evaluate, buy, then resell houses — until recently. The company announced that it would pause purchases for the rest of the year, citing a lack of workers for renovations. The decision comes at a time when the real estate market is cooling off and may hint at the future actions of other &#8220;ibuyers.&#8221; Also on today&#8217;s show: China&#8217;s economic growth weakens, an honest conversation about mental health with a macro-social worker and a breezy trip to the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

Zillow has been using algorithms to evaluate, buy, then resell houses — until recently. The company announced that it would pause purchases for the rest of the year, citing a lack of workers for renovations. The decision comes at a time when the real estate market is cooling off and may hint at the future actions of other &#8220;ibuyers.&#8221; Also on today&#8217;s show: China&#8217;s economic growth weakens, an honest conversation about mental health with a macro-social worker and a breezy trip to the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

Zillow puts the brakes on controversial house flipping

Mortgage interest rates have been historically low for the past year — at or below 3%. However, many banks have kept in place Great Recession-era proof of employment requirements. This means that those who lost their jobs during the pandemic and could benefit the most from refinancing are often unable to. Plus: The Weekly Wrap, breaking down what the Fed&#8217;s board of governors does, and foreclosures begin to creep back up.

Mortgage interest rates have been historically low for the past year — at or below 3%. However, many banks have kept in place Great Recession-era proof of employment requirements. This means that those who lost their jobs during the pandemic and could benefit the most from refinancing are often unable to. Plus: The Weekly Wrap, breaking down what the Fed&#8217;s board of governors does, and foreclosures begin to creep back up.

The unemployed are often locked out of low-rate refi market

Historically, barbecue has been a cheap and delicious way to cook meat — principally by Black pitmasters who lived in poverty. Now, &#8216;cue joints win prestigious awards and can charge top dollar. But a lot of media attention has centered on white cooks, who make up a fraction of pitmasters. Marketplace&#8217;s Andy Uhler visited a few Texas barbecue restaurants to look at what some are calling the gentrification of barbecue. We&#8217;ll also tackle last week&#8217;s jobless claims, hear how the John Deere strike is affecting rural America and examine how climate change is likely to reshape migration.

Historically, barbecue has been a cheap and delicious way to cook meat — principally by Black pitmasters who lived in poverty. Now, &#8216;cue joints win prestigious awards and can charge top dollar. But a lot of media attention has centered on white cooks, who make up a fraction of pitmasters. Marketplace&#8217;s Andy Uhler visited a few Texas barbecue restaurants to look at what some are calling the gentrification of barbecue. We&#8217;ll also tackle last week&#8217;s jobless claims, hear how the John Deere strike is affecting rural America and examine how climate change is likely to reshape migration.

Gentrification meets Texas barbecue

The child care industry was struggling even before the pandemic. Costs are high for parents who need the service to enable them to work, yet employee wages rank low among professions. Now, some 80% of day care centers are short-staffed. Experts say the $39 billion in relief outlined in the American Rescue Plan may only be a crutch for the problems that plague the field. Also on the program: Consumers are adapting to inflation, what the bump in Social Security payments means for recipients and we hear from a Black entrepreneur who&#8217;s operating a brewery and building community.

The child care industry was struggling even before the pandemic. Costs are high for parents who need the service to enable them to work, yet employee wages rank low among professions. Now, some 80% of day care centers are short-staffed. Experts say the $39 billion in relief outlined in the American Rescue Plan may only be a crutch for the problems that plague the field. Also on the program: Consumers are adapting to inflation, what the bump in Social Security payments means for recipients and we hear from a Black entrepreneur who&#8217;s operating a brewery and building community.

A look at the child care crisis

Though unemployment levels are dipping, some 4.3 million people left their jobs in August, according to a new Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The &#8220;quits rate&#8221; is up to 2.9% — the highest it&#8217;s been since the BLS started tracking it. This employee exodus is partially fueling the worker shortage in industries like food services, health care, manufacturing and public education. We&#8217;ll also discuss how China&#8217;s tutoring regulations have impacted some Americans who teach English as a second language, how index funds revolutionized investing, and what Wendy&#8217;s and Google&#8217;s partnership could mean for a drive-thru near you.

Though unemployment levels are dipping, some 4.3 million people left their jobs in August, according to a new Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The &#8220;quits rate&#8221; is up to 2.9% — the highest it&#8217;s been since the BLS started tracking it. This employee exodus is partially fueling the worker shortage in industries like food services, health care, manufacturing and public education. We&#8217;ll also discuss how China&#8217;s tutoring regulations have impacted some Americans who teach English as a second language, how index funds revolutionized investing, and what Wendy&#8217;s and Google&#8217;s partnership could mean for a drive-thru near you.

Americans are quitting their jobs in record numbers

If you&#8217;ve tried to buy much of anything lately, there&#8217;s a decent chance some of the products you&#8217;ve been scouring aisles for have been out of stock. On today&#8217;s show, we air the first segment in our new collection, &#8220;Temporarily Unavailable,&#8221; which explores how stuff moves around the world &#8230; or doesn&#8217;t. Host Kai Ryssdal gives us an inside look at the Marine Exchange of Southern California in the largest port complex in the U.S. And later: how former &#8220;Survivor&#8221; contestants are profiting from their reality-star status; companies eye tariff relief under Biden; and new merch is coming your way, courtesy of a new Walmart and Netflix partnership.

If you&#8217;ve tried to buy much of anything lately, there&#8217;s a decent chance some of the products you&#8217;ve been scouring aisles for have been out of stock. On today&#8217;s show, we air the first segment in our new collection, &#8220;Temporarily Unavailable,&#8221; which explores how stuff moves around the world &#8230; or doesn&#8217;t. Host Kai Ryssdal gives us an inside look at the Marine Exchange of Southern California in the largest port complex in the U.S. And later: how former &#8220;Survivor&#8221; contestants are profiting from their reality-star status; companies eye tariff relief under Biden; and new merch is coming your way, courtesy of a new Walmart and Netflix partnership.

Why so many products are “temporarily unavailable”

Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.

Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.

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