A Michigan woman is being charged with a misdemeanor offense and is facing up to 93 days in jail. Her crime? Planting a vegetable garden—in her own yard. Her front yard, that is.
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 …
Why is the Government Accountability Office Recommending Annuities?
The Government Accountability Office is supposed to be a government watchdog: keeping an eye on public funds and looking out for self-dealing, all while making sure that the taxpayers are getting a fair shake.
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 reported on Friday that employers added just 18,000 workers in June. That was the slowest rate of job …
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 …
It’s a Deal: Dress Like a Cow, Get Free Chicken at Chick-fil-A
Friday, July 8, is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A, when customers who dress like cows are entitled to free food at all of the restaurant chain’s locations. A partial cow costume earns a free entrée, while a full-on “head-to-hoof” cow get-up gets customers a full meal. A printable costume is available to download for those without …
A Weak Argument: Why Some Jeans Cost $300
Why do some jeans retail for hundreds of dollars more than, well, what a typical pair of jeans should cost? The consumer opting for the “premium” product is paying extra for American materials and labor, fancy embroidery on the …
9 Tips and Tricks for Saving on Travel This Summer
After years of scrimping and saving and digging out of debt, I can at last afford to let loose a little and enjoy myself. For me, that means travel. Like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, I want to shake the dust of this …
The 4% Myth: Where the Wisdom on Retirement Goes Wrong
The conventional thinking on spending money in retirement isn't really true.
How Banks Are Aiding and Abetting Identity Theft
Why in the world are banks still using SSNs as a major form of customer identification?
Is America facing a Japanese future?
The word “Japan” has become synonymous with economic malaise. Any time an economist wants to describe how bad things could get for an industrialized economy, he or she inevitably says something like the place “could end up like Japan.” And there is good reason why Japan has become a four-letter word in the world of economics. …