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…
Arts Dec 17 Best-selling children's author Mo Willems on sparking creativity and joy Author and illustrator Mo Willems has sold millions of children’s books and created beloved characters, including the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant and Piggie. Now he’s the Kennedy Center’s first education artist-in-residence, making new kinds of work for both kids…
Making Sen$e Dec 12 Americans are drowning in medical debt, so this nonprofit is buying — and forgiving — it Collectively, Americans owe nearly a trillion dollars of medical debt, and Congress is trying to figure out a policy response. But in the meantime, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an unusual non-profit’s effort to relieve the burden of medical…
Economy Dec 09 Remembering former Fed chair and economic giant Paul Volcker Paul Volcker, who served as chair of the Federal Reserve for two presidents, died Monday. His passing came 40 years after he drove interest rates to record highs in an effort to tame double-digit inflation. Known for his height and…
Making Sen$e Dec 05 The Who's Pete Townshend doesn't enjoy performing. Here's what he'd rather do Fifty-five years after co-founding the rock band The Who, Pete Townshend is still at it. The lead lyricist and guitarist says he actually doesn’t enjoy performing but views it as an “easy” job necessary to finance his lifestyle and support…
Making Sen$e Nov 21 How these 2 economists are using randomized trials to solve global poverty More than 700 million people across the globe live on extremely low wages. This year, a trio of economists won the Nobel Prize for their work on addressing global poverty, using randomized control trials to test and improve social policy.
Making Sen$e Nov 14 How these employers are adapting to the needs of an aging workforce As the population ages and older workers are making up more and more of the labor force, some employers are taking notice and adjusting their own practices to retain valuable experience and skills. Economics correspondent Paul Solman has the story.