May 16 I am about to get divorced. What do I need to know about Social Security benefits? By Philip Moeller To be entitled to this large a benefit, you must wait until your own full retirement age to claim it. If you are strapped for funds and simply cannot wait, do this. Continue reading
May 15 Analysis: If you’re rich, you’re more lucky than smart. And there’s math to prove it By Paul Solman A study that claims the predominance of luck over talent in the distribution of wealth has been mathematically confirmed. Continue reading
May 11 Why housing values in New York’s flood zones have stayed down after Hurricane Sandy By Francesc Ortega, Suleyman Taspinar Five years after Hurricane Sandy, housing prices in New York City's flood zone have seen an 8 percent reduction when compared to similar properties with lower flooding risks. Continue reading
May 11 Analysis: How poverty can drive down intelligence By Paul Solman Poverty lowers your IQ — in one study, by something like 13 points. Continue reading
May 10 Watch 7:26 How American populism is reshaping economic policy By Paul Solman If President Trump has had one consistent message since the beginning of his campaign, it's that America is getting a raw deal in the global economy. Policy changes like import tariffs and reworking NAFTA, and the people who support them,… Continue watching
May 04 The unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent. Here’s what that means By Daniel Bush The numbers in April's jobs report paint a positive economic picture overall, though economists said there were reasons to worry as the job market continues to tighten. Continue reading
May 02 I work and collect Social Security. Can I boost my benefits? Social Security bases your benefits on your highest 35 years of wage earnings. The effect of any single year’s higher earnings will be modest. Continue reading
May 02 Our cheat sheet to U.S. tariffs By Lisa Desjardins The average U.S. tariff for all imported goods is 1.4 to 1.6 percent. Continue reading
Apr 27 Why workers make less in company towns By Ioana Marinescu When a few firms dominate hiring in a labor market, workers may be paid lower wages. Continue reading
Apr 26 Watch 7:09 The bubble dynamics of bitcoin By Paul Solman Can bitcoin be a currency if you never know its value? Living outside the traditional banking network by design, its fluctuating value makes it too cumbersome for petty transactions. Yet despite the hurdles, bitcoin and its underlying technology is seen… Continue watching