Sep 29 What's the cost of returning to work after taking Social Security early? By Laurence Kotlikoff Benefit reductions from the earnings test can wreak havoc on your budget, explains Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff, because they're not pro-rated. In other words, a retiree who has gone back to work to make ends meet after taking benefits… Continue reading
Sep 29 Why are fewer people going to college? By Simone Pathe In an economy where college graduates earn significantly more than high school grads and enjoy a much lower unemployment rate, why are fewer people enrolling in college? Enrollment has dropped by nearly a million since 2011. Is this an expected… Continue reading
Sep 26 The Ray Rice video last week; today, the ear-opening audio from inside the Fed By Simone Pathe The financial world woke up to an unsettling surprise Friday. Former New York Fed employee Carmen Segarra recorded 46 hours of private meetings inside the Fed, revealing the institution's often too-cozy relationship with the too-big-to-fail banks it's charged with regulating. Continue reading
Sep 26 So you want a job? You'd better be in the right neighborhood By Making Sen$e Editor There's a spatial mismatch between the availability of jobs and the people who need them most. There are various ways to close that physical distance, from the individual to public policy level. A new paper from the National Bureau of… Continue reading
Sep 25 Watch Billionaires influence on politics not just an American phenomenon By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Sep 25 What contemporary capitalism needs to learn from fairy tales By David Bosworth Six years ago, during the fall of 2008, the financial world was unraveling. But the origins of the Great Recession weren't simply monetary; they were moral, argues University of Washington professor David Bosworth. And yet, virtual America continues to miss… Continue reading
Sep 24 Why half of U.S. adults no longer believe in the American dream By Simone Pathe If the economy is the most important issue to voters this fall, how do they feel about their own financial well-being? Half of U.S. adults think they're better off than their kids will be, with even middle class households facing… Continue reading
Sep 22 What all remarried newlyweds need to know about Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff Don't assume your new spouse will automatically be eligible for a spousal benefit based on your Social Security record. Larry Kotlikoff advises a recently married couple, whose previous marriages both ended in divorce, how they can maximize their benefits. Continue reading
Sep 19 Watch Alibaba's stunning American IPO signals confidence in Chinese economy By PBS News Hour Within 10 minutes of its rollout on the New York Stock Exchange, Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba sold 100 million shares and earned $25 billion. Though not a household name in the U.S., it’s extremely popular in China and enjoys close… Continue watching
Sep 19 When will your prescriptions be cheaper? By Making Sen$e Editor We all know generics are cheaper. But how much cheaper? Economists find a 38 to 48 percent decline in the prices of physician-administered drugs after the drugs' patents have expired. The decline is slightly lower for oral drugs. Continue reading