Here it is, folks: The final jobs report before the 2012 Presidential Election. The Labor Department announced this morning that the U.S. economy added 171,000 jobs in October, and that the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth …
Post-Sandy Price Gouging: Economically Sound, Ethically Dubious
“Price gouging” may make sense to economists. But there’s more to life than the laws of supply and demand.
Why Holiday Season ‘Self-Gifting’ Is Such a Huge Retail Trend
We’ve all heard that it is better to give than receive. During the holiday shopping period, there’s a new twist to this old adage: With the rise of “self-gifting,” many consumers are clearly big fans of the idea of “giving” — …
Girl Scouts Use Social Media, Mobile Tech to Break Cookie Sales Records
For the 2012 centennial celebration of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Olivia Ottenfeld had a pretty straightforward goal: sell 2,012 boxes of the organization’s iconic cookies. At 14, she was at a disadvantage compared to the …
Brand Names Just Don’t Mean as Much Anymore
No matter if we’re talking about cereal, cough syrup or batteries, products featuring nationally recognized name brands tend to cost more than their generic store-brand counterparts. But the assumption that higher price means …
Reward Yourself for Doing the Tasks You Hate
Crossing something off your to-do list can be satisfying. But you may need extra motivation to get through the more dreaded tasks. Here’s how to motivate yourself to accomplish those difficult projects:
You Don’t Have To Be Outgoing To Be a Great Leader
Not all entrepreneurs are born leaders. Some may just be people with great ideas who were thrust into leadership positions when they launched their own company.
CFPB Takes on Debt Collectors With New Oversight
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is instituting new regulations on debt collection companies.
What Should Be Done About Growing Inequality?
Many factors contribute to increasing inequality. Public policy should focus on eliminating only the bad ones
‘Hurricane Deductible’: Technicality Could Cost (or Save) Homeowners Thousands
Homeowners whose properties were damaged by Hurricane Sandy probably don’t care much about exactly how fast the storm’s winds blew. All they know is that it was strong enough to knock a tree down on the roof. But due to the fine print of insurance policies, the precise speed of the wind could mean a difference of tens of thousands of …
What Good Is a Gas Station (Or a Generator) If Gas Can’t Be Pumped?
Thankfully, Hurricane Sandy isn’t expected to bring about spiking prices at gas stations. In hard-hit areas, though, the Frankenstorm brought about an even more aggravating situation: It’s made it nearly impossible to buy gasoline period.
The Hidden Economic Victims of Superstorm Sandy
In New York and New Jersey, much of the cost of Superstorm Sandy will depend on how long electricity — and the subway — remain out.