Nov 10 Column: Why closing Social Security loopholes is good policy By Alicia H. Munnell Social Security is not supposed to be a complicated program where those “in the know” get a much better deal than the average guy. Continue reading
Nov 09 Column: Why the cure for a sluggish economy is actually longer vacations By Dean Baker What if we could boost the economy with longer vacations? Or with paid family leave? With shorter workweeks?… Continue reading
Nov 06 Watch 4:51 News Wrap: October hiring surge pushes down unemployment to seven-year low By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, employers added 271,000 jobs in the month of October, according to the Labor Department. The strong jobs report leaves the door open to a possible interest rate hike next month. Also, the Supreme Court agreed… Continue watching
Nov 06 Do October's job numbers signal good times (and an interest rate hike) to come? By Kristen Doerer The U.S. economy added 271,000 jobs in October, nudging the unemployment rate down to 5 percent. Continue reading
Nov 05 Watch 8:49 Selling office space and happy hour to a rising economy of freelancers By PBS News Hour As the ranks of the self-employed swell, why not set up shared office space with amenities and camaraderie to attract contingent workers? That's the idea behind WeWork, a company offering cool and convenient places for the outsourced to set up… Continue watching
Nov 05 Watch 54:19 PBS NewsHour full episode Nov. 5, 2015 By PBS News Hour Thursday on the NewsHour, Egypt and Russia dispute the suggestion that a bomb caused a Russian jetliner crash. Also: Defense Secretary Ash Carter visits the South China Sea as tensions rise, the U.S. upgrades their nuclear arsenal, the mysterious disease… Continue watching
Nov 05 What does the future hold for workers in a freelance economy? By Paul Solman More independent contractors put large corporations into a very powerful position. Continue reading
Nov 05 Everything you need to know about the Obama administration's new retirement plan By Richard Eisenberg Two years in the making, will the Obama program help?… Continue reading
Nov 05 Column: Recent Social Security reform doesn't fix unfair spousal benefits By Eugene Steuerle The budget compromise forged by Congress and the Obama administration at the end of last month makes two fundamental changes in Social Security. Continue reading
Nov 04 Big hikes in drug prices make Medicare open enrollment shopping a must By Philip Moeller Rising drug prices have led many Medicare drug plans to raise premiums, deductibles and other costs by large amounts. They are free to do this, and you are free to take your business elsewhere. Continue reading