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Economy

Obama Touts U.S. Economy In His Final State Of The Union

President Obama began his State of the Union Tuesday night with what he called a fact: The United States of America now has the strongest most durable economy in the world, citing 14 million new jobs.

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China Views Untapped Consumer Market As Key To Stimulating Economy

The Chinese are famous savers, putting away large amounts of the money they make. The government sees its untapped, vast consumer market as a way to stimulate growth. But doing so requires some painful tradeoffs between entrenched interests.

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A coal miner stands in the Dotiki mine, operated by Alliance Coal, in Webster County, Ky.

A coal miner stands in the Dotiki mine, operated by Alliance Coal, in Webster County, Ky. Steve Inskeep/NPR hide caption

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Around the Nation

In Kentucky, The Coal Habit Is Hard To Break

The coal region of western Kentucky has managed to keep its mining industry alive through changing energy trends of the past few decades. That is, until now.

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Business

Obama To Highlight Auto Industry Success In State Of The Union

During President Obama's administration, the auto industry hit record sales in 2015. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, says Obama has a right to a "victory lap."

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NPR's Weekend in Washington session at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31, 2015.

NPR's Weekend in Washington session at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31, 2015. Allison Shelley for NPR hide caption

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Hidden Brain

Richard Thaler: Why Most Economists Might As Well Be Studying Unicorns

Shankar Vedantam talks to Richard Thaler — father of behavioral economics and author of Misbehaving -- about why we so often fail to act the way we should and how marshmallows can predict the future.

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President Obama looks over a vehicle on the assembly line with autoworker Jeffrey Cook, during his tour of the Ford Motor Co. Chicago Assembly Plant in 2010.

President Obama looks over a vehicle on the assembly line with autoworker Jeffrey Cook, during his tour of the Ford Motor Co. Chicago Assembly Plant in 2010. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

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Politics

State Of The Obama Economy: Far Better, But Still With Many Troubles

The economy has improved dramatically in the Obama era. But problems still abound because of the soaring national debt, a deformed tax code, shrunken paychecks and a growing skills gap.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg notes that while workers in today's "gig economy" may have more freedom than they had in years past, they also have less security.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg notes that while workers in today's "gig economy" may have more freedom than they had in years past, they also have less security. Hong Li/Getty Images hide caption

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Commentary

Goodbye Jobs, Hello 'Gigs': How One Word Sums Up A New Economic Reality

Fresh Air

Once used by '50s hipsters to connote a no-strings-attached job, "gig" has been co-opted by venture capitalists hyping the new economic order. Linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on the word's resurgence.

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A survey from the Authors Guild reveals a 30 percent decline in author income since 2009.

A survey from the Authors Guild reveals a 30 percent decline in author income since 2009. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

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Book News & Features

As Writers' Wages Wane In Digital Chapter, Authors Pen Demands

Numbers show more authors are finding it hard to make a living income. Fresh off of fighting the Google Books case, the Authors Guild is now taking on author contracts in an open letter to publishers.

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Amid Chinese Uncertainty, U.S. Economy Shows Strength With Jobs Report

After a frightening week for global financial markets, the U.S. economy showed real strength on Friday when the Labor Department released the December jobs report. It showed employers added 292,000 jobs, which is a strong number.

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Harold Pollack's index card of finance tips.

Harold Pollack's index card of finance tips. Harold Pollack hide caption

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All Tech Considered

Can The Best Financial Tips Fit On An Index Card?

Yes, according to an economist who wrote a blog post that went viral in 2013. Now he has expanded the basics in a book, The Index Card.

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Business

World Financial Markets Have A Rough First Week In 2016

U.S. stocks are off to one of the worst starts to any year in memory. David Greene talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution.

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Asia

What Is Behind The Volatility In China's Financial Markets?

It's been an unnerving week for China's economy, the world's second largest. Prices fell so sharply on the Shanghai stock exchange that trading had to be halted for the day — twice.

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Around the Nation

Wages Flat In Otherwise Strong December Jobs Report

The Labor Department on Friday reported the U.S. economy added 292,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate stayed at 5 percent. Wage growth continued to be weak, but 2016 should bring a boost.

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