Jun 01 Is trickle-down economics science or scam? By Nick Hanauer In this column, venture capitalist Nick Hanauer critizes the theory that a higher minimum wage will cause increased unemployment. Going further, he suggests that economic theories in general are not science, but merely social and moral constructs. Continue reading
May 29 Why the Freddie Gray riots began at a shopping mall By Paul Solman Editor’s Note: When economic correspondent Paul Solman went to Baltimore earlier this month to report on how the riots there affected the local economy, he spoke with Johns Hopkins historian N.D.B. Connolly. Connolly brought Paul to the mall where the… Continue reading
May 28 Watch 6:07 For this CEO, mindful management means yoga for employees By PBS News Hour For Mark Bertolini, CEO of health insurer Aetna, a near-death experience led him to make big changes in his personal life and at the company. Living with pain from a skiing accident inspired him to take up yoga and meditation,… Continue watching
May 28 Good pay, good worker, good company? Aetna CEO thinks so By Making Sen$e Editor Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini stunned corporate America when he announced that Aetna would raise its minimum wage to $16 an hour. But what motivated such a move? Was it empathy, or was it good for business?… Continue reading
May 27 Does my mother qualify for home health care? By Philip Moeller Journalist Philip Moeller, who writes widely on health and retirement, is here to provide the Medicare answers you need in “Ask Phil, the Medicare Maven.”… Continue reading
May 26 What Social Security has yet to get right: It’s your maximum age of life that matters By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security is an insurance company. It's taking money from us and promising insurance benefits in exchange. But insurance companies don't go out of their way to encourage people to ignore risks and focus on average outcomes. Continue reading
May 21 Watch 7:49 Fishermen and farmers fight over water in California By PBS News Hour Facing a multi-year drought, California's rivers are too shallow and warm for salmon. Meanwhile, record production of thirsty nut crops like almonds and walnuts has diverted water from the river delta. But just as environmentalists blame nut farmers for bleeding… Continue watching
May 21 As they lay dying: Medicare rules rob voiceless ALS patients of the ability to communicate By Philip Moeller In early 2014, Medicare changed some of its rules and effectively took away the ability of many people with ALS to communicate. Despite upcoming changes, the current limitations are still being felt by patients and their families. Continue reading
May 20 Watch 6:09 DOJ gets unprecedented guilty plea by five banks for rigging currency markets By PBS News Hour Five major banking institutions pleaded guilty to rigging currencies and manipulating the foreign exchange market in a case brought by the Department of Justice and other authorities. The banks were accused of manipulating the world's largest and least-regulated trading market,… Continue watching