The iEconomy

As Boom Lures App Creators, Tough Part Is Making a Living

By DAVID STREITFELD

App developers have turned cellphones and tablets into powerful tools, spawning a multibillion-dollar industry but making huge sacrifices in the process.

Previous Articles in This Series

Béatrice de Géa for The New York Times

Ethan Nicholas has made more than $1 million on an artillery game.

Potential privatization hit a wall at Katakolo, a seaside town where Christos Konstantopoulos paused near abandoned beachfront homes.

Privatizing Greece, Slowly but Not Surely

By LIZ ALDERMAN

As Greece redoubles its efforts to cut its debt and stoke its economy, privatization is viewed as a last hope for luring foreign cash. But the effort has been sputtering.

Slide Show: Stumbling Block in Greece

You for Sale

Frank Addante, 36, chief executive of the Rubicon Project, says that 97 percent of American Internet users encounter its electronic ad sales system every month. And most aren’t even aware of it.

Your Online Attention, Bought in an Instant

By NATASHA SINGER

In split-second auctions, companies are jockeying for the chance to buy online ads geared to your specific tastes. But consumer advocates see a risk of a computer-generated class system.

While Lycoming County, Pa., seeks enduring benefits from Marcellus Shale gas drilling, Anne and Eric Nordell worry about the impact on their farm.

Gas Boom County Strives for Economic Afterglow

By JOHN SCHWARTZ

Williamsport, Pa., and its surrounding area have made efforts to keep the benefits of the Marcellus Shale boom from evaporating in the event of a bust.

Bits

Rounding Up Volunteers, via New Apps

By JENNA WORTHAM

After a disaster, it can be hard to sift through the hundreds of ways to donate time, money or supplies. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, new apps and services aim to better organize the options.

Noted

A flock of black Audi A6 sedans with tinted windows parked outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

In China, ‘Audi’ Means ‘Big Shot’

By MICHAEL WINES

As the Chinese have abandoned their bicycles, the black A6 has become the automobile of choice for practically any party official or military officer with enough clout to secure one.

Novelties

Intuitive Surgical’s new system requires only a single incision for its robotic arms and a camera to enter the body.

When Robotic Surgery Leaves Just a Scratch

By ANNE EISENBERG

New robotic systems are allowing surgery with just a single incision, potentially accelerating the recovery time for patients.

The Boss

Michelle V. Stacy is the president of the Keurig unit of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Stepping Back to Lead Better

By MICHELLE V. STACY

The president of Keurig, the single-serve brewing business, says she twice took herself out of the corporate race, and emerged a better leader as a result.

Fraud Trial Begins in Multimillion-Dollar Afghan Bank Scandal

Insight & Analysis

Fair Game

A Change in Carrots, Without a Stick

By GRETCHEN MORGENSON

A Louisiana pension fund is suing the Simon Property Group board, contending that shareholders should have voted on the chief executive’s stock award.

Corner Office

Seth Besmertnik is co-founder and C.E.O. of Conductor.

Spin the Wheel, and Get to Know Your Colleagues

By ADAM BRYANT

Seth Besmertnik of Conductor, a provider of search engine optimization technology, uses impromptu talent shows — and props like gongs and spinning wheels — to encourage employee interaction.

More Corner Office Columns »

Economic View

Applause for the Numbers Machine

By RICHARD H. THALER

In this election cycle, three groups deserve much admiration: people who run political polls, those who analyze the polls and those who figure out how to help campaigns connect with voters.

Career Couch

Ali Levine, a stylist in Los Angeles, says that when you’re preparing your wardrobe for the workplace, a confident attitude is the best accessory.

Mix, Match and Add a Layer of Confidence

By EILENE ZIMMERMAN

Dressing smartly for work doesn’t have to mean spending tons of money on a huge wardrobe.

Slide Show: The Week in Business Pictures, Nov. 16

European leaders debated how to aid Greece while the Continent’s economy continued to struggle, and Hostess Brands announced that it was starting to wind down its operations.