Mitchell Hartman

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Mitchell’s most important job at Marketplace is to explain the economy in ways that non-expert, non-business people can understand. Michell thinks of his audience as anyone who works, whether for money or not, and lives in the economy . . . which is most people.

Mitchell wants to understand, and help people understand, how the economy works, who it helps, who it hurts and why. Mitchell gets to cover what he thinks are some of the most interesting aspects of the economy: wages and inflation, consumer psychology, wealth inequality, economic theory and how it measures up to economic reality.

Mitchell was a high school newspaper nerd and a college newspaper editor. He has worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, WXPN-FM, WBAI-FM, KPFK-FM, Pacifica Radio, the CBC, the BBC, Monitor Radio, Cairo Today Magazine, The Jordan Times, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, Oregon Business Magazine, the Reed College Alumni Magazine, and Marketplace (twice — 1994-2001 & 2008-present).

Mitchell has gone on strike (Newspaper Guild vs. Knight Ridder, Philadelphia, 1985) and helped organize a union (with SAG-AFTRA at Marketplace, 2021-23). Mitchell once interviewed Marcel Marceau and got him to talk.

Latest Stories (2,010)

Portland realtor deals in tough market

Jan 29, 2009
Home sales continue to plunge, which must be pretty frustrating for real estate agents who depend on commissions from home sales. Mitchell Hartman spends time with one of them in Portland, Ore.

Clean-tech strong in venture capital

Jan 26, 2009
Solar power and "smart-grid" technology are the current winners in the venture capital race, and clean-tech is beating out biotech, which is getting a healthy shake-out. Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman reports.

The mompreneurial spirit

Jan 23, 2009
With the economy in a tailspin, many stay-at-home moms are starting businesses to help support their families. Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman reports on these so-called "mompreneurs."

Mid-tier banks face their own troubles

Jan 22, 2009
Megabanks like JP Morgan and Citigroup make headlines for their losses, but smaller and mid-tier banks are suffering as well. But Mitchell Hartman explains how the troubles of these banks may differ.

Income-tax relief could help business

Jan 21, 2009
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will ask for some mercy for businesses today in the form of income-tax relief. This would help businesses get out of their debt and spend again. Mitchell Hartman explains how it works.

Venture capital funds slimming down

Jan 20, 2009
Venture capital fundraising was down significantly in 2008 from the year before, and the trend is expected to continue into the new year. Part of the problem is money tied up in other start-ups. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Where small business wants stimulus

Jan 16, 2009
Small business advocates have been lobbying to get a piece of Obama's stimulus plan. Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman explores where some of the bailout money could go specifically to directly benefit small businesses.

Will other big banks need more help?

Jan 15, 2009
With Bank of America seeking more TARP money to ease acquisitions of smaller competitors, can we expect banks such as J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo to request more bailout funds as well? Mitchell Hartman reports.

Inventories drop as sales plummet

Jan 14, 2009
The Commerce Department says business inventories were down for a third straight month in November. Businesses put orders on hold as sales continued a downward spiral. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Small business owners still optimistic

Jan 13, 2009
In a survey out by the National Small Business Association, many members expect deteriorating sales and job cuts. Still, there's an undercurrent of tenacious optimism. Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman explores why.