Jun 18 How America can overcome the challenges of an aging population By Milton Ezrati America has always projected virtues of youth, overwhelming the world with its brute force. But demographic challenges, namely an aging workforce and low birth rates, mean the American economy has some adjusting to do. That's a good thing, says economist… Continue reading
Jun 16 Watch Budding recreational pot industry sparks innovation and investment By PBS News Hour Recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado and Washington state, and though it’s still illegal under federal law, more states are considering the move, setting the stage for a potential gold rush that could conceivably rival the repeal of prohibition. Economics… Continue watching
Jun 16 What’re they smoking in the next high-finance industry? By Simone Pathe Attending a conference for cannabis entrepreneurs and potential investors, Paul Solman heard the latest product pitches and saw the newest paraphernalia. But what about the people behind this growth industry -- what's their relationship to the substance? For some, it's… Continue reading
Jun 16 What Social Security’s Survivors Planner won’t tell you about taking widows benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff Thanks to one of Social Security's nasty "gotchas," the survivor benefits that a widow(er) collects depend on when the late spouse took retirement benefits. Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff shows how the collection strategy of one deceased husband makes all… Continue reading
Jun 13 Why not all American youth should go to college By Robert Lerman Traveling to BMW's only American plant, where they've imported the German tradition of apprenticeships, Paul Solman speaks with long-time apprenticeship advocate and American University economist Bob Lerman about how pushing everyone onto the same path of a four-year college degree… Continue reading
Jun 12 Watch How to combat the tightening grip of inequality around the globe By PBS News Hour Income inequality has been rising over the past three decades, in the United States most of all, but also in the United Kingdom, Canada and France, according to new findings by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Judy Woodruff… Continue watching
Jun 12 House approves permanent tax break for small businesses By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to make permanent a generous tax break that makes it easier for small businesses to buy new equipment and improve their property, part of an election-year showdown over a series of expired tax breaks… Continue reading
Jun 12 A BMW engineer: the U.S. has fallen out of touch with the job market By Moritz Kippenberger At BMW's only American production plant, they've imported the German tradition of apprenticeships. Paul Solman speaks with a BMW engineer now based in South Carolina about the differences between the working cultures of the two countries, and what the U.S. Continue reading
Jun 11 What Congress can learn from the general store owner who crafted U.S. borrowing limits By Bill White Former deputy energy secretary and mayor of Houston Bill White details how America's borrowing used to be manageable and how it can be once more -- if only the federal government would divide spending bills into parts financed by taxes… Continue reading
Jun 09 Will the European Central Bank’s negative interest rate be an economic positive? By Simone Pathe After the European Central Bank announced the largest ever use of a negative interest rate, Making Sen$e caught up with two central bank watchers for a closer look at how the ECB differs from the Fed and how both central… Continue reading