Jan 12 The chances of winning Powerball are 1 in 292 million. So why play? By Vikram Mansharamani I don’t gamble in Las Vegas to win money — I expect to lose money, viewing it as the cost of entertainment. Continue reading
Jan 12 Senate rejects Rand Paul’s ‘Audit the Fed’ legislation By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The Senate on Tuesday blocked legislation calling for tougher audits of the Federal Reserve. Continue reading
Jan 12 Move over Big Mac, the Mini Mac Index is here to stay By Benn Steil, Emma Smith The “law of one price” holds that identical goods should trade for the same price in an efficient market. But to what extent does it actually hold internationally?… Continue reading
Jan 11 Watch What a teachers’ challenge to union fees could mean for organized labor By PBS News Hour Can teachers who are not union members be required to pay some union dues? That question is being weighed at the Supreme Court, which heard arguments in a case that could have wide ramifications for organized labor. Judy Woodruff learns… Continue watching
Jan 11 Medicare expands major experiment to coordinate medical care By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Medicare is expanding a major experiment that strives to keep seniors healthier by coordinating basic medical care to prevent common problems that often lead to hospitalization. Continue reading
Jan 11 What you should know about Social Security childhood disability benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Boston University economist Larry Kotlikoff answers your Social Security questions. Continue reading
Jan 10 Trump shifts stance on Chinese tariff By Michael D. Regan and Associated Press Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said in interviews last week he would impose significant tariff's on China. But on Sunday appeared to step back from that statement. Continue reading
Jan 09 Watch 3:39 How will China’s volatile stock market affect the U.S. economy? By PBS News Hour The crash in the Chinese stock market this week unnerved investors around the globe, as the world's second largest economy suffered from volatile trading and falling currency. NPR Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the country's… Continue watching
Jan 09 GOP hopefuls lay out conservative visions for tackling poverty By Michael D. Regan and Bill Barrow, Associated Press Several Republican presidential candidates met this week to discuss how conservatism could fight poverty at economic forum moderated by Speaker Paul Ryan. But many disagreed on how the goal could be accomplished. Continue reading
Jan 09 Some personal finance advice on winning Powerball (or what would Voltaire do?) By Paul Solman As the Powerball pot creeps past $800 million, Making Sen$e asks, what would Voltaire do?… Continue reading