Making Sen$e Apr 23 Why the pandemic is making U.S. economic inequality even worse A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds 43 percent of U.S. adults say they or someone in their household has suffered a job loss or pay cut due to COVID-19. With such widespread impact, it will likely take…
Making Sen$e Apr 16 Evaporation of travel sector threatens airlines’ very survival One of the business sectors hit hardest by the novel coronavirus pandemic has been air travel. Passenger volume is down a stunning 96 percent in the U.S., while airline losses have topped $300 billion worldwide. Despite canceled flights, travelers are…
Making Sen$e Apr 09 How missed rent payments spark a ‘cascade’ of financial hardship Many Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic are struggling to pay their rent when they have lost income and haven’t yet been able to secure unemployment money. Missed rent, in turn, adds up to landlords who can’t pay their mortgages…
Making Sen$e Apr 02 Will these shuttered restaurants be able to reopen after pandemic? A sector of the economy that is being hit especially hard amid the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. In normal times, Americans were spending roughly as much money on dining out as they were at grocery stores. With restaurants…
Economy Mar 30 As more people order delivery, workers fear virus exposure More than 250 million Americans in 30 states have been asked or ordered to stay at home. Although some still buy essentials in person at stores, many are ordering online instead. As a result, warehouse and delivery workers and professional…
Nation Mar 24 2 views on balancing medical risk and economic pain The tragedies we see playing out in Italy and around the world are why most public health officials say it’s far too soon to plan when people can return to work. But President Trump says he wants to see much…
Making Sen$e Feb 27 New book explores the schemes and scandals of Deutsche Bank The fallout from the 2008 global financial crisis revealed that some of the world's most powerful banks were involved in reckless financial dealings. Germany’s Deutsche Bank took a particularly aggressive approach -- the consequences of which are still playing out…
Making Sen$e Feb 20 Why more older workers are finding themselves unemployed as retirement approaches Many Americans plan to save for retirement in their 50s. But what happens if you're laid off at that age instead? According to researchers, the situation is common, and older workers have a harder time finding a new job --…
Economy Jan 30 Can peer pressure be harnessed to fight climate change? Economist Robert Frank studies peer pressure and how its power can be leveraged for good. In his new book, “Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work,” Frank explains the idea of “behavioral contagion,” which he says can drive people…
Making Sen$e Jan 09 Is this Las Vegas hospitality workers union the future of American labor? Organized labor in the American workforce has declined since the 1980s, with many unions struggling to attract workers as companies voice opposition to them. But in Las Vegas, one union has broken through to much of the city’s hospitality sector…