Earlier this week, the final set of credit card reform rules went into effect, ending (at least for now) a year-plus-long journey in which the credit card landscape has changed in many ways. Some of the changes were intended by the reformers crafting the new rules, including that consumers now must be given ample time to pay bills and …
Did income inequality help cause the financial crisis? (Part 2)
Justin lives! And he’s guest blogging for Ezra Klein this week. Check it out here. Yesterday he blogged about… whether or not income inequality helped cause the financial crisis. Sound familiar?
In addition to that blog post, Justin recently wrote this HBR piece in which he reviews the growing literature on the topic. He mentions the …
It’s a Deal: $25 Off $75 Order at eBags
Use the coupon code EM25CPN10 (thanks Bargainist) to get $25 off any order of $75 or more worth of backpacks, handbags, diaper bags, messenger bags, luggage, or any other goods from eBags.com. Valid for orders placed by August 30.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
“Rabbis should be thundering from the pulpit that extravagant weddings are not only a betrayal of a sense of personal inadequacy, but are an abrogation of Jewish values. You’re so rich? Then impress your friends by giving the money to charity.”
Cheapskate Wisdom from … an Economist Specializing in Real Estate
“There is no iron law that real estate must appreciate.”
The Reward for Bad Customer Service
In this case, the “reward” is one you must demand in exchange for putting up with awful customer service.
Did income inequality help cause the financial crisis?
Back in May, I did a Q&A with University of Chicago economist Raghu Rajan, who argues that income inequality contributed to the financial crisis. Over the weekend, the NYT dove into that topic, highlighting the work of Harvard Business School’s David Moss:
Mr. Moss said that income inequality might have complicated links to financial
…
It’s a Deal: Up to 70% at Eddie Bauer
New Ways Retailers Will Try to Stifle Online Bargain Hunters
Retailers have a love-hate relationship with the way consumers shop online nowadays. Stores love how easy it is for shoppers to search for and buy stuff 24/7, and love how easy it is to entice shoppers into buying via special coupon codes and promotional discounts, but hate how easy it is for shoppers to avoid paying full price via those …
Consumers Are Angry and Sick of Escalating Monthly Bills, But Just Can’t Quit Pay TV
It has all the makings of an unhealthy relationship. You know TV isn’t good for you. You know your pay TV provider is a bad partner, never asking what you what you want and forcing you to do all sorts of things you’d rather not—such as paying for well over 100 channels when you only watch something like 17. And you know that your pay …
Greek Debt Crisis Finally Over? Maybe Not.
The world’s grown accustomed to bouncing from crisis to crisis, like passengers in a car where the transmission keeps slipping and the vehicle keeps jerking. One day it’s Greece, then Portugal, then US. debt, then the lack of jobs. You know the drill. The weird thing about this jerky ride is that what we face at each lurch is not a new …
Is this a small business recession?
First-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits headed higher last week—not a good sign for the strength of the economic recovery. Or should I say “recovery”? The Department of Labor numbers, out this morning, mark the fourth increase in the past five weeks and the highest rate of claims in nine months.
Another set of government …