May 15 Racism, riots and economics: If history is the guide, why Baltimore won’t recover soon By Paul Solman What do the race riots of the 1960s suggest for the economic recovery of places like Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri, today? Boston University economics professor Robert Margo has studied the long-term effects, and says that even where the physical damage… Continue reading
May 14 Watch 6:55 Do better-paid workers equal better business? By PBS News Hour Recently, insurance company Aetna voluntarily upped its minimum wage to $16 per hour, giving roughly 6,000 of its lowest-paid employees an average raise of 11 percent. Next year, the company also plans to offer lower-cost benefits to some workers. What’s… Continue watching
May 13 Don’t make this Medicare mistake: COBRA is not like employer health insurance By Philip Moeller COBRA can provide continuation of health insurance for 18 months up to 36 months and can be a literal lifesaver for people who lose their jobs and health coverage. What it does not do, however, is take the place of… Continue reading
May 08 April job growth blooms after harsh March By Making Sen$e Editor A bleak March labor report gave way to a brighter April, adding 223,000 jobs and dropping unemployment to a seven-year low. Continue reading
May 07 Watch 8:38 How does Baltimore’s economy recover after the riots? By PBS News Hour Business owners, investors and even churches have seen their livelihoods crippled by the riots that plagued Baltimore this past week, following news of the death of a black man while in police custody. Now they are trying to piece back… Continue watching
May 06 Here’s what you need to know about the serious backlog of Medicare appeals By Philip Moeller There is a serious issue here, but its direct impact on Medicare beneficiaries is perhaps not so great. Continue reading
May 04 Income inequality begins at birth and these are the stats that prove it By John Komlos We need to look beyond the ugly surface manifestations of young black men being shot in the back and consider the deeper socioeconomic plight of this demographic in this country in 2015. The truth of the matter is that people… Continue reading
May 01 Here’s how recession may help us live longer By Simone Pathe Recessions hurt. People lose their homes, their jobs and their livelihoods. But could recessions also help?… Continue reading
May 01 7 ideas to help you build a great retirement By Jonathan D. Pond Everything you do in your financial life throughout your working years is geared toward one goal: Being able to retire comfortably. Here are 7 ideas that could help you achieve that goal. Continue reading
Apr 30 Watch 7:53 Is it nuts to grow almonds during a drought? By PBS News Hour The almond, America’s most popular nut and California's most lucrative agriculture export, is also a water guzzler. It takes approximately a gallon of water to grow a single almond. While prices are at record highs due to global demand, the… Continue watching