Making Sen$e

Why health savings accounts and Medicare don’t mix

By Philip Moeller

Journalist Philip Moeller, who writes widely on health and retirement, is here to provide the Medicare answers you need in “Ask Phil, the Medicare Maven.” Send your questions to Phil.

Column: Widows lose thousands in Social Security benefits due to misinformation

By Laurence Kotlikoff

A Social Security whistleblower claims that widows are losing thousands due to agency mistakes.

Move over turkey. Here comes the Thanksgiving ham

By Vikram Mansharamani

Can you imagine a Christmas ham on your Thanksgiving dinner table in place of the traditional turkey? It’s a scenario some agricultural economists have been worrying about for months.

One startup’s solution to your student loan debt

By Cristina Quinn

A Boston startup wants to help you tackle your student loan debt — by having your boss foot part of the bill.

Column: The case for employee-owned companies

By David Ellerman

If employees are responsible for the consequences of their actions while on the job — committing a crime, say — how can it be that they’re not responsible for the positive things they do, such as making money?…

What’s made the Islamic State one of the richest terrorist armies in history?

By PBS News Hour

How does the Islamic State militant group make money to fund its operations? A key source is oil extraction, which has helped make the group one of the richest terrorist armies in history. Economics correspondent Paul Solman takes a look…

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Is China’s one-child policy to blame for its economic slowdown?

By Vikram Mansharamani

China’s one-child policy created a demographic wave that is beginning to crash on the economy.

Did the nation’s largest housing recovery initiative work?

By Making Sen$e Editor

The nation's largest housing recovery initiative led to more household spending, but impediments to competition kept it from reaching its full potential.