Dec 01 This is why the middle class can't get ahead By Nick Hanauer Billionaire venture capitalist Nick Hanauer explains why today's middle class is feeling stuck, how that hurts the whole economy and what President Obama can do about it -- with a stroke of his executive pen. Continue reading
Nov 28 Watch Once temples of American commerce, indoor malls lose shoppers to e-stores By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Nov 28 What did the shopping mall look like in 1956? By Tracy Wholf The indoor mall became a ubiquitous symbol of American suburbia in the 20th century. But America's first shopping mall, still landing in Edina, Minnesota, was designed, like every enclosed mall modeled after it, to bring some urbanity to suburbia. NewHour… Continue reading
Nov 27 The economics of Thanksgiving from 1621 to 2014 By Simone Pathe Paul Solman stepped back to 1621 to explore the economics of the very first Thanksgiving, where, he learned, profit wasn't everything. Neither is profit everything in 2014 on a family turkey farm that sells most of its free-range turkeys during… Continue reading
Nov 26 Watch When business is for the birds, small farms strive to survive despite industry pecking order By PBS News Hour How do small farms, competing against factory farms, gobble up their share of business? The family-run Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm in Connecticut relies on Thanksgiving sales for nearly half of their yearly income, selling high-quality birds raised in a free-range… Continue watching
Nov 26 If I'm turning 65 and still working, do I have to file for Medicare? By Philip Moeller People who have group health policies through their employers generally do not have to sign up for Medicare when they turn 65. But there are exceptions. Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller fills you in on the rules and takes… Continue reading
Nov 24 So you thought quantitative easing was over? Think again By Terry Burnham The Federal Reserve ended its bond buying program, known as quantitative easing, at its latest policy meeting in October. But economist Terry Burnham isn't buying that. He sees a form of "stealth QE" continuing where the Fed buys even more… Continue reading
Nov 21 Uber's boys club is what's wrong with Silicon Valley By Vivek Wadhwa Uber is one of the most hated companies in the technology industry, writes Vivek Wadhwa. But its disrepute is largely because of its arrogance and frat-boy behavior—not only its business practices. And this behavior is only slowing the company down. Continue reading
Nov 21 Jonathan Gruber: Success of insurance marketplaces hinges on competition By Simone Pathe The second year of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is now underway. This year, more insurers are participating in health insurance marketplaces, and if evidence from last year is any indication, increased competition should result in lower premiums. Continue reading