DeepSummary
The episode begins by discussing Harvard's decision to reinstate its standardized testing requirements for college admissions, following the lead of other Ivy League schools like Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown. Harvard cites research claiming that standardized tests help identify talented students from underprivileged backgrounds and schools with fewer resources.
The conversation then shifts to upcoming Senate hearings on Boeing's safety lapses, where experts are set to testify about the company's manufacturing practices. A whistleblower is also expected to testify about alleged safety issues on the production lines of Boeing's widebody jets like the 787 and 777.
The episode concludes with a segment featuring Valerie Wilson from the Economic Policy Institute, discussing the persistent unemployment gap between Black and white workers. Wilson explains that the gap has remained around 2 to 1 for decades, even during periods of economic expansion, and suggests policies like promoting unions and enforcing anti-discrimination laws to address the issue.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Harvard and other Ivy League schools are reinstating standardized testing requirements, citing their usefulness in identifying talented students from diverse backgrounds.
- The Senate is holding hearings to investigate Boeing's safety lapses and manufacturing practices, with a whistleblower expected to testify about issues on the production lines of widebody jets.
- The unemployment gap between Black and white workers has persisted for decades at around 2 to 1, and addressing this disparity may require policies promoting full employment, unions, and anti-discrimination enforcement.
- Providing adequate funding and staffing for agencies responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, as well as promoting transparency, could help tackle the unemployment gap.
- Boeing has faced significant turmoil and production slowdowns due to safety lapses, leading to capacity constraints for airlines.
- Standardized testing requirements for college admissions continue to be a controversial and debated issue, with concerns about their impact on diversity and equal opportunity.
- The reasons behind the persistent unemployment gap between Black and white workers are complex and deeply rooted in structural racism and institutional factors.
- Promoting policies that lead to sustained periods of low unemployment, particularly for Black workers, could help address the unemployment gap.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The resumption of Harvard's testing requirement, quote, strikes at the very heart of the progress made toward achieving true equal opportunity.“ by Nancy Marshall Genzer
- “The stability of that relationship between black and white unemployment is actually documented for almost seven decades in national statistics.“ by Valerie Wilson
- “We really need full employment, essentially, extended periods of low unemployment, reduced unemployment, much more among black workers.“ by Valerie Wilson
- “Beyond that, I think it's important that we have adequate funding and staffing for the agencies responsible for enforcement of our anti discrimination laws. And transparency again, plays a major role in their ability to carry out enforcement.“ by Valerie Wilson
- “A series of crises, starting with two deadly Max crashes nearly four years ago has left Boeing in turmoil. Production has slowed to address safety lapses, leaving some airlines short of planes and capacity.“ by Novosafo
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Episode Information
Marketplace Morning Report
Marketplace
4/12/24
The unemployment gap between Black and white workers has consistently been around 2 to 1 ever since the government started disaggregating the data more than five decades ago. While the Black unemployment rate is relatively low historically, the gap remains. We’ll discuss the institutional reasons why and how best to tackle the issue. Also on today’s program: the return of standardized testing and a preview of Senate hearings centered on Boeing’s manufacturing and safety practices.