A compromise between the budget proposals being batted around by President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner will, hopefully, be reached before the federal government defaults on any debt.
But what if the August 2 deadline to …
Economics & Policy
Social Networking Gone Wild: Foreclosure via Facebook
The most distressing content most of us have ever seen on Facebook falls within the realm of the overshare: your boss’s Vegas stag party pics, or your new boyfriend’s status change from single to “it’s complicated.” But …
Even in the Struggling U.S. Economy, It’s Still Only Money
Listening to an interview with an Iranian-American journalist about being detained in jails in Damascus and Tehran, I was struck by the contrast between the extremis of those experiences and the daily drumbeat of high emotions …
Double Dip? Job Market Recovery Looks Further Off
Forget jobs. Where are the workers?
The unemployment rate rose and job growth was nearly non-existent in what was probably the most disappointing piece of economic news since the start of the recovery in mid-2009. The government …
7 Odd Solutions for 7 Common Economic Problems
Could dog poop help communities meet their energy needs? Should the government give signing bonuses to unemployed people who accept job offers? Would a commuter loyalty program similar to the airlines get more workers to use …
Message to Businesses: Uncertainty is Here to Stay
The jobs report was bad enough. But it’s hardly the only indication of continuing trouble for the U.S. economy. Released at the end of June, U.S. Bancorp’s annual survey of nearly 3,000 small businesses confirmed what many …
This Time, Men Are Finding Jobs Faster Than Women
The Great Recession hit men especially hard. But in the long, shaky recovery, they’re now outpacing women in finding employment. That’s surprising because in past recoveries, women have tended to get re-employed faster than men …
Finally, Money Advice That Will Make You Skinnier
One more reason to opt for paper over plastic as often as possible: your health (physical and financial).
Should Medical Debt Hurt Your Credit?
Of all the annoying things about your credit score, the one that turns people’s crank the most is how medical debt can tarnish it. That’s understandable. Nobody plans to get sick, healthcare costs are skyrocketing and a lot of …
Where’d All the Cash Go? U.S. Treasury’s Printing Press Slows
Many economists and investors complain that the federal government has effectively been “printing money” through its loose monetary and fiscal policies. But in a strictly literal sense, the very opposite turns out to be true: In …
“It’s that second paycheck that’s the real killer, demonstrably more deadly than the first.”
What Would the Founding Fathers Say About the National Debt? Don’t Default
One of America’s favorite pastimes is to play the “what would the Founding Fathers say” game. Just pick an issue du jour, and ask the question. Given that today’s world (Google, Twitter, television) is probably way beyond …
