National efforts to curb union rights – overdue or dangerous? Christchurch earthquake is another wake up call. Funding medical and scientific research - too many strings attached? Renting vs buying – is homeownership all it’s cracked up to be? Marriage the Spousonomics way – do more dishes, have more sex & go to bed angry.
National efforts to curb union rights – overdue or dangerous?
The Domino effect: it's not just for the Middle East anymore. What began in Wisconsin as a walk-out by Democrat lawmakers, in protest against a GOP attempt to curb union rights in the state, has spread to Ohio and Indiana. There, as in Wisconsin, the GOP is attempting to curb, cut back, or eliminate union rights; an effort that union members and Democrats are not taking lightly. In Ohio thousands have gathered to protest what Republican Gov. John Kasich has called an "effort to restore balance." In Indiana, Democrat members of the state House followed in Wisconsin footsteps and walked out yesterday on a Republican-supported bill that would reduce private-sector union rights and prevent unions from requiring workers to pay dues. Meanwhile, back in Wisconsin, the walk-out continues and the crowds are growing as thousands are now gathered outside the state Capitol building in Madison chanting, "Kill the bill! Kill the bill!" Many Republican lawmakers argue that these anti-union measures are a necessary effort to bring money to the state in a time of great financial desperation. Others see it as a deeper conflict. Robert Bruno, director of the labor education program at the University of Illinois at Chicago explains, "You're talking about a national conflict between corporate America and its conservative allies and the New Deal coalition." Is there a national war against unions being waged? Or are states just doing what they can to close serious budget gaps?
Guest:
Steven Greenhouse, New York Times Labor and Workplace Reporter
Christchurch earthquake is another wake up call
Tuesday’s destructive earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand was yet another wake-up call for cities in earthquake prone regions around the world. The death toll from the New Zealand quake stands at 75, but that figure is sure to rise as rescue workers sort through the rubble searching for 300 people currently reported missing. Most surprising to geologists was the fact that many newer buildings built to modern codes in order to withstand earthquakes were seriously damaged. Another haunting aspect of this 6.3-magnitude earthquake is that the building codes used by engineers in Christchurch are very similar to current building codes in another earthquake-prone area -- Los Angeles. How prepared can cities be for earthquakes? Is the Christchurch quake a harbinger of things to come for Southern California?
Guest:
Thomas Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC
Funding medical and scientific research - too many strings attached?
As part of a 2-day series on medical and scientific research, today we’ll examine whether there are too many strings attached to funding research. There’s a joke in scientific circles that all researchers need to do to get funding, is incorporate the prefix nano into their proposal. Researchers find that hilarious, so presumably they understand the joke. The point is that while some diseases tend to attract corporate and foundation grants, often serious illnesses that lack the promise of big, pharmaceutical paydays at the end of the research tunnel struggle for funds. 100-million Americans suffer from cancer, diabetes and other diseases for which there are no cures, yet funding difficulties continue, possibly delaying lifesaving developments. Clearly the demand for deliverables and restrictive criteria can hinder pure research and innovation. How do grantees negotiate these demands? Are vital areas under researched and how can this be addressed? Is there a more effective path to scientific progress? Is outcome oriented research the best way to go?
Guests:
Steven Lawrence, Director of Research, The Foundation Center
Dr. Robert Seeger, Chief of Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Renting vs buying – is homeownership all it’s cracked up to be?
Owning a home has long been considered an integral part of the American dream. And despite the spectacular pop of the housing bubble and our still sputtering economy, most Americans still see a home purchase as a safe investment. But that’s down from 83% in 2003, according to a study by Fannie Mae. It seems, a growing number of potential buyers believe that renting is a better choice, especially in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Many economists support this position, arguing that from a financial point of view, owning a home really doesn’t make fiscal sense – regardless of location. Real estate industry advocates say it depends somewhat on context, but most contend that owning is a valuable investment and it’s better to build equity than to “throw money away on rent.” Building equity is good, but what if the vast majority of one’s mortgage payment is going towards interest? Does it still make more sense to buy? What factors should potential buyers consider when trying to decide between buying and renting? What do you think is better?
Guests:
Chris Thornberg, Principal, Beacon Economics
Paul Bishop, Vice President of Research for the National Association of Realtors (NAR)
Marriage the Spousonomics way – do more dishes, have more sex & go to bed angry
The problems that plague your marriage may finally have been solved – not by a relationship expert, not by Oprah, but by…economists. "Spousonomics" written by Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson, posits that a marriage is an economy, a business with two partners (usually) and finite resources (also, usually), all of which need to be managed properly for the business to succeed. Economic principles that have long been used to organize societies, such as division of labor and supply and demand, are here applied to the sacred union between two people. Is your marriage too big to fail? Can couples use economics to improve their sex lives? How does one incentivize their partner to wash the dishes? We'll find out.
Guest:
Paula Szuchman, co-author (with Jenny Anderson) of Spousonomics: Using Economics to master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes (Random House); page-one editor at The Wall Street Journal