Mar 05 America can be a full-employment economy once again By John Komlos How close will February's unemployment rate come to "full employment"? Not close enough, argues economist John Komlos, who believes the right to life implies a right to a job. Komlos is the author of “What Every Economics Student Needs to… Continue reading
Mar 04 Why this is only the beginning of the fight over the Fed By Simone Pathe Observers on both sides of the aisle agree that partisan bickering, especially over the Federal Reserve, is at an all-time high. Look for the debate over the Fed to play a key role in upcoming presidential nominating contests, says former… Continue reading
Mar 04 Why are my health insurance premiums going up and up? By Philip Moeller A reader's insurance agent says that everyone's premiums are going up. But the reader wonders if he could be spending less. Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller tells him what to look for. Continue reading
Feb 27 How a hashtag turned into an international adjunct movement By Simone Pathe Adjunct college and university faculty staged a National Adjunct Walkout Day this week to draw attention to their contingent status. While discontent among the adjunct community has been brewing for decades, in recent years and months, grassroots efforts have sparked… Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch 7:00 Tricks and tips for getting the most from Social Security By PBS News Hour The longer you wait before cashing in on Social Security benefits, the greater the financial reward. But many don’t wait until age 70. There’s a range of loopholes and “secrets” that can improve your benefits, a fact economics correspondent Paul… Continue watching
Feb 25 These college majors will get you a well-paying job By Simone Pathe On the whole, economic conditions are looking up for college graduates. But a lot depends on what you study and the level of degree you obtain. Continue reading
Feb 25 When your doctor is in-network one year and out the next By Philip Moeller Insurers are often under competitive pressure to change network providers from year-to-year. But those changes can catch customers, especially of Medicare Advantage plans, off guard. Continue reading
Feb 20 Will your job exist in the future, or will a robot have replaced you? By Simone Pathe In the long view of history, technological advancement unleashed by the Industrial Revolution has come to be seen as a net positive for economic development and everyone’s well-being, even those workers who initially lost their jobs. There’s reason to wonder,… Continue reading
Feb 20 Why is there more violence for violence’s sake today? By Paul Solman Despite the rise of ISIS, terrorism doesn't look like it used to, says University of Texas at Dallas economist Todd Sandler. In his opinion, violence for violence's sake is now much more prevalent. But why?… Continue reading
Feb 19 Watch 6:27 What’s the price of paying for hostages? The economics behind funding and fighting terrorism By PBS News Hour Hostage-taking has become an important moneymaker for terror groups including the Islamic State. Economics correspondent Paul Solman looks at the larger price of paying ransom and cost-effective ways of fighting terror. Continue watching