Marketplace All-in-One Making university research make money
Dec 3, 2025
William Lee Adams, a journalist covering tech and privacy, discusses India's shift away from a controversial smartphone surveillance app after backlash. Carla Javier, a Marketplace reporter, dives into the mixed feelings of younger consumers, revealing surprising survey data on their economic optimism. The conversation also highlights how universities are pivoting to fund research through startups as government funding wanes. This blend of tech, consumer insights, and academic innovation paints a complex economic landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Small Businesses Pull Back Hiring
- ADP reported a payroll drop driven by smaller businesses pausing hiring while larger firms keep adding workers.
- The decline signals fragility in small-employer hiring amid broader labor resilience.
India Reverses Phone App Mandate
- India paused a plan to force phones to preload a government app after privacy and manufacturer pushback.
- Officials claimed the app would help block stolen phones, but protests raised surveillance fears.
Younger Consumers Show Mixed Signals
- Younger consumers' sentiment is mixed across surveys, raising concern about long-term optimism.
- The Conference Board shows a bump for young adults while Michigan finds age groups converged into pessimism.