Making Sen$e Nov 14 How these employers are adapting to the needs of an aging workforce As the population ages and older workers are making up more and more of the labor force, some employers are taking notice and adjusting their own practices to retain valuable experience and skills. Economics correspondent Paul Solman has the story.
Making Sen$e Oct 31 For these seniors, entrepreneurial ambition is far from retiring Entrepreneurs are often imagined as twenty-something recent college dropouts. But in fact, people ages 45 to 64 start businesses at higher rates than do their younger peers -- and plenty of seniors are in startup mode, too. Economics correspondent Paul…
Making Sen$e Sep 19 Why extreme climate scenarios no longer seem so unlikely The United Nations has called climate change the “defining issue of our time.” But new analyses suggest the planet’s temperature will rise by even more than the UN had estimated -- and that warming creates ever-increasing energy consumption due to…
Making Sen$e Sep 12 How U.S.-China trade war is pinching profits for Maine’s lobster industry Trade tensions between the U.S. and China are not expected to ease anytime soon, and in New England, tariffs are clawing away at lobster profits. Lobstering is a $1.5 billion industry that helps keep Maine’s economy afloat. But due to…
Making Sen$e Aug 29 Can an infusion of public R&D investment revitalize a lagging economy? The U.S. government spends about 0.7 percent of GDP on scientific research and development, down from 2 percent in the 1960s. Less investment means fewer chances for breakthroughs like the weapon-seeking robots that saved thousands of soldiers in Iraq and…
Making Sen$e Aug 15 An economist’s analysis of data on parenting, from breastfeeding to co-sleeping Raising a child is complicated and potentially confusing, with conflicting advice available everywhere a parent turns. Economist Emily Oster, a mother of two, dug into the data to help other parents make informed choices about managing their little ones --…
Making Sen$e Aug 01 Can reparations help right the wrongs of slavery? The first African slaves arrived in North America 400 years ago this month, landing at Jamestown in what's now Virginia. Recently, the idea of paying reparations for the atrocity of slavery has been earning new attention, even making its way…
Making Sen$e Jul 31 Column: The Fed is lowering interest rates, but so are market forces Is the Fed solely responsible for driving down interest rates? There's plenty of reason to think the answer is no.
Making Sen$e Jul 18 Why small cannabis growers want to produce the Champagne of pot The state government of California is currently developing rules that will define whether a geographic area can be deemed a marijuana growing region. For small farmers, who are threatened by industrial competitors and the cost of regulation, survival may depend…
Making Sen$e Jul 11 Marijuana has become big business. So why are small growers struggling to survive? As marijuana has been legalized in states across the country, investors have identified a major business opportunity. Still, the cannabis market isn’t all easy money. In California, new companies are scaling up operations, but some smaller ones fight to survive,…