May 09 Why retired teachers struggle to make ends meet By Madeline Will, Education Week In several states, retired teachers and other state workers haven’t gotten a cost-of-living adjustment to their pension checks in years. And with the cost of health care continuing to rise, retirees say they’re reaching a breaking point. Continue reading
May 09 Who pays for Trump’s tariffs on China? By Gretchen Frazee Multiple studies on the effects of tariffs show they can hurt China’s economy, but American consumers and businesses bear much of the cost. Continue reading
May 08 Column: A financial reality check on the push for health care reform By Philip Moeller Congressional Budget Office reports on single-payer health care, drug pricing and broader federal subsidies provide key insights into how much health care reform proposals will cost. Continue reading
May 07 Why Uber and Lyft drivers are going on strike By Gretchen Frazee Drivers planned to log off Uber, Lyft, Juno and Via during morning rush hour in cities across the country to protest what they say are unfair wages. Continue reading
May 02 Watch 8:37 How data drives Uber’s efficient but controversial business model By Paul Solman With a presence in 65 countries, ride-sharing company Uber has conducted about 10 billion trips in its lifetime -- about 15 million per day. Paul Solman looks at how economists are using this treasure trove of data. Continue watching
May 01 Why don’t ‘Medicare for All’ plans include Americans living abroad? By Philip Moeller Columnist Phil Moeller answers your questions about recent 'Medicare for All' proposals and how to choose between Medicare and private insurance plans. Continue reading
Apr 26 U.S. economy grew 3.2 percent in Q1. Could that alleviate recession worries? By Gretchen Frazee GDP outpaced expectations in the first three months of 2019, but lackluster consumer spending has some economists predicting growth will dip later this year. Continue reading
Apr 25 Watch 9:39 In Louisiana, are billions of dollars in corporate tax exemptions paying off? By Paul Solman Louisiana’s abundant natural resources represent enormous wealth, yet the state consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally for many quality-of-life indicators. Like other states, Louisiana grants tax exemptions to businesses it wants to attract, but some are questioning whether… Continue watching
Apr 25 Your tax refund probably wasn’t much different than last year’s. Here’s why. By Gretchen Frazee Americans received on average about $2,725 from their federal tax refund this year--a $55 drop from last year. Continue reading
Apr 24 How will my tax return affect my Medicare premium? By Philip Moeller Medicare’s high-income surcharges apply to an entire calendar year, writes columnist Philip Moeller. Continue reading