Dec 19, 2023

Sending money home

Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images

Remittances can make up major portions of a country's GDP. Plus, new home starts were up in November.

Segments From this episode

Housing construction was expected to fall in November. Instead, it surged.

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Dec 19, 2023

Housing starts surged nearly 15%, blowing expectations out of the water. What does that mean for the future of the housing market?

In November, 1.56 million single-family homes began construction, up nearly 15% from October.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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As the U.S. courts EV battery manufacturers, Canada follows suit

by Henry Epp

Dec 19, 2023

Canada's federal government teamed up with Quebec's provincial government to offer a Swedish company $2 billion in subsidies.

Swedish company Northvolt plans to build a massive battery plant outside Montreal, Quebec, seen here in a digital rendering.

Courtesy Northvolt

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Remittances grew again in 2023

by Samantha Fields

Dec 19, 2023

Migrants around the world sent nearly $670 billion back to family members in their home countries. For some countries, remittances make up a quarter to a half of GDP.

A major reason remittances have grown in the past few years is that the U.S. economy has fared better since the onset of the pandemic compared to other countries.

Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images

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A Warmer World

Georgia program offers solar panels to lower-income households

by Emily Jones

Dec 19, 2023

A Georgia program is seeking to alleviate the financial burden of solar installation to promote green energy.

Solar installer Nicole Lee takes a photo of a house she says is “solar-ready” thanks to its sturdy roof and up-to-date electrical system.

Emily Jones/WABE

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Alternative investments went on a wild ride during the pandemic

by Justin Ho

Dec 19, 2023

Many investors dabble in collectibles, wine and art. The pandemic caused some to re-think that strategy.

Alternative investment opportunities, like rare trading cards or art, can be unstable in value. Magic the Gathering card collector Seth Robertson says card values skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic and have since fallen.

Ollie Millington/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Running Around Goth Babe

STYLE Tatsuya Maruyama

Running Up That Hill Kate Bush

She Is Whimsical Arthur Beacon

Conduction Mocky

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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