Oct 28 Watch This Halloween, are the cocoa markets spooked by Ebola? By PBS News Hour The devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa has also had an economic toll for the region, which is home to most of the world's cocoa production. In the U.S., chocolate prices are rising. But is it because there has been… Continue watching
Oct 28 How cocoa traders make money on the Ebola scare By David Martin Days before Halloween, the price of cocoa, and therefore chocolate bars, is up. But Ebola isn't actually threatening the cocoa supply in West Africa, says commodities trader David Martin. Instead, the market is reacting to human fears, and for traders… Continue reading
Oct 27 Expecting a public pension? Don’t hold your breath for Social Security too By Laurence Kotlikoff In some states, the earnings of government employees, like teachers, do not count toward Social Security. Any Social Security benefits they've earned, even those from a spouse, may be reduced by half of the public employee's non-covered pension. Continue reading
Oct 27 When refinancing helps the poor, and everyone else By Simone Pathe Economists know that lower income households most commonly refinance their mortgages and tap that equity when home values rise. But a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that when those households have extra cash on hand,… Continue reading
Oct 24 This is why the recession still hurts By Simone Pathe The American economy is still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzes the largest components of America's declined output -- from lost investment to lower labor force participation… Continue reading
Oct 23 Earning more? Thank immigrant STEM workers By Simone Pathe Even opponents of open immigration often support temporary guest workers entering the U.S. on the H1-B visa program. But do immigrants skilled in science and technology undercut wages for U.S. workers? Quite the contrary, according to a new paper from… Continue reading
Oct 22 How to find a Medicare Part D drug plan online By Philip Moeller Medicare's prescription drug plans change what drugs they offer and how much they charge every year, with plans differing by geographic region. But just looking at premiums, which some drug-plan guides do, is not going to tell you much about… Continue reading
Oct 22 How are Medicare Part D drug plans changing in 2015? By Philip Moeller Upwards of 40 million people have Medicare Part D drug plans, and while reviewing your plan is less than fun, Making Sen$e's Medicare Maven, journalist Philip Moeller, explains how taking the time to review your plan during open enrollment could… Continue reading
Oct 20 After medical legalization, what are the costs of getting high? By Simone Pathe The legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes has increased its abuse and dependence, as well as binge drinking, in Americans over 21, according to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Why do economists care? Productivity loss. Continue reading
Oct 17 Americans consider inequality world’s greatest danger By Simone Pathe What's the biggest global threat these days? If you ask Americans and Europeans, it's economic inequality. In the Middle East, religious and ethnic hatred is of most concern. The Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project surveyed 48,643 people around the… Continue reading