Sep 25 What contemporary capitalism needs to learn from fairy tales By David Bosworth Six years ago, during the fall of 2008, the financial world was unraveling. But the origins of the Great Recession weren't simply monetary; they were moral, argues University of Washington professor David Bosworth. And yet, virtual America continues to miss… Continue reading
Sep 24 Why half of U.S. adults no longer believe in the American dream By Simone Pathe If the economy is the most important issue to voters this fall, how do they feel about their own financial well-being? Half of U.S. adults think they're better off than their kids will be, with even middle class households facing… Continue reading
Sep 19 When will your prescriptions be cheaper? By Making Sen$e Editor We all know generics are cheaper. But how much cheaper? Economists find a 38 to 48 percent decline in the prices of physician-administered drugs after the drugs' patents have expired. The decline is slightly lower for oral drugs. Continue reading
Sep 19 Benefit hikes hike spending — but not for long By Making Sen$e Editor Washington is forever arguing over benefit increases versus tax cuts to stimulate the economy. In a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, former Obama economic adviser Christina Romer and her husband show that tax cuts deliver a more… Continue reading
Sep 18 Why sell your mansion for less than $1M? By Making Sen$e Editor Mansions, especially in New York City and New Jersey, are often worth more than $1 million. But they're not always being sold for that much. Economists from the National Bureau of Economic Research explain why. Continue reading
Sep 17 Is the Federal Reserve printing a free lunch? By Terry Burnham The Federal Reserve is nearing the final drawdown of its quantitative easing program, which, in several ways, has helped reduce the budget deficit. But has that really been such a free lunch, asks economist Terry Burnham?… Continue reading
Sep 15 Watch How engaging diversity made Xerox a company to copy By PBS News Hour Xerox, a $22 billion company, is the first Fortune-500 corporation to have a female CEO. Its commitment to a diverse workforce began in the 1960s, when the founder pledged job opportunities for the African-American community. Economics correspondent Paul Solman explores… Continue watching
Sep 15 How Xerox became a leader in diversity — and why that’s good for business By Paul Solman In the early 1990s, Xerox wasn’t just a company. “To Xerox” was a verb, reflecting the company’s singular focus on producing copying machines. But faced with competition from digital imaging, Xerox has had to change their focus; they’re now in… Continue reading
Sep 15 Stop pretending you know what the Export-Import Bank is By Simone Pathe You've heard of it. It has something to do with jobs, and maybe Boeing. But what exactly is the Export-Import Bank, and what are its prospects for survival beyond its Sept. 30 expiration date?… Continue reading