Jul 31 Why the benefits of the EPA’s new carbon rule outweigh the costs for the U.S. — just not by as much as you’ve heard By Robert Stavins The EPA's proposed regulation to cut carbon emissions is the subject of public hearings across the country this week. Environmental economist Robert Stavins weighs in on how the government is calculating the regulation's benefits, concluding that the benefits do outweigh… Continue reading
Jul 31 Obama takes aim at labor violators with new executive order By Josh Lederman, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Some companies that earn billions of dollars as government contractors are among the worst violators of U.S. labor laws, yet year after year they keep winning new contracts. So President Barack Obama is aiming to end impunity for… Continue reading
Jul 30 Watch What the economic rebound looks like around the country By PBS News Hour The American GDP grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the second quarter of the year, surpassing most predictions. But will the upward swing continue? Jeffrey Brown gets a snapshot of economic recovery around the country from Shirley Leung… Continue watching
Jul 30 U.S. economy grows at 4 percent rate By Andrew Troast The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 4 percent this spring, rebounding strongly from the disappointing numbers in winter. Continue reading
Jul 30 Big Mac index: Is the U.S. dollar overvalued? By Paul Solman Everyone knows prices in the U.S. vary regionally, just like certain products are cheaper in China, say, or far cheaper in the Ukraine. But that hardly demonstrates that the renminbi or hyrvnia currencies are overvalued, Paul Solman says, noting that… Continue reading
Jul 30 Watch Falling dollar By PBS News Hour Leaders of the industrial world met in Florida earlier this year to discuss international finances and exchange rates. Paul Solman reports from New York on the effects of the fall of the U.S. dollar against other currencies, the biggest currency… Continue watching
Jul 30 The most cost effective college in America? Not Harvard… By Simone Pathe The latest rankings of four-year colleges and universities come from Money Magazine, but the top schools in this list may catch some college-ranking connoisseurs by surprise. Continue reading
Jul 29 The worker-manager revolt in Massachusetts: Will loyalty trump ‘ownership’? By Thomas Kochan Cashiers and managers have joined in protest for leadership they can trust at New England grocery chain Market Basket. MIT Sloan's Thomas Kochan outlines a path forward for the company that respects their message. Continue reading
Jul 28 Watch Top-down or middle-out? Debating the key to economic growth By PBS News Hour What’s the best engine to drive the economy? More money for the rich, or better wages for the working class? Economics correspondent Paul Solman explores the debate between those two lines of thought with billionaire venture capitalist Nick Hanauer and… Continue watching
Jul 28 What all Americans and their representatives need to know about Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff Before testifying in front of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, Larry Kotlikoff shares with Making Sen$e readers and their representatives need to know about how benefits are administered and what policy changes should be enacted to… Continue reading