Nov 04 How Social Security Keeps Divorcées and Widows in the Dark About Their Benefits By Laurence Kotlikoff By Larry Kotlikoff Social Security cites misguided "privacy" restrictions, Larry Kotlikoff argues, for not sharing information about former spouses' earnings records with surviving and ex-spouses. Photo courtesy of Flickr user João Ferreira. Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security original 34… Continue reading
Nov 04 U.S. public investment in schools, highways and other infrastructure at lowest level since 1947 Photo by Flickr user Todd Lappin The Great Recession, public opposition to spending, and reduced taxes have pushed gross public captial investment down to its lowest levels since the end of World War II, according to the… Continue reading
Nov 01 Financial immunization against poverty in old age By Paul Solman The key for older people managing money, whether or not their kids are involved, is to make sure they don't outlive their savings. Image courtesy of Flickr user 401(K) 2013. Continue reading
Nov 01 Financial Immunization Against Poverty in Old Age By Paul Solman By Paul Solman The key for older people managing money, whether or not their kids are involved, is to make sure they don't outlive their savings. Image courtesy of Flickr user 401(K) 2013. Paul Solman frequently answers questions from… Continue reading
Oct 31 The Three Reasons Countries Get Rich: Location, Location and Location By Simone Pathe It's an age-old question: why are some countries richer than others? And why are some countries still mired in poverty while the United States and Europe struggle with "first-world problems"? For decades, economists have pointed to the impact of political… Continue reading
Oct 30 Why does the first child get the gold? An economics answer By Simone Pathe First-born children, on average, do better in school, are less likely to have substance abuse problems and accumulate more wealth. But why? The answer may have a lot to do with a common complaint of eldest siblings. Photo courtesy of… Continue reading
Oct 30 Why Does the First Child Get the Gold? An Economics Answer By Simone Pathe First-born children, on average, do better in school, are less likely to have substance abuse problems and accumulate more wealth. But why? The answer may have a lot to do with a common complaint of eldest siblings. Photo courtesy of… Continue reading
Oct 30 Watch News Wrap: Fed to hold interest rates steady, keep up stimulus efforts In our news wrap Wednesday, the Federal Reserve announced it's keeping short-term interest rates at a record low and continuing its stimulus efforts. Also, The Washington Post reported the NSA is routinely intercepting email traffic between Yahoo and Google data… Continue watching
Oct 28 $5B food stamp cut hits Friday One-year-old Jaeliece Ortiz enjoys juice her mother bought with her SNAP card in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images. Poor families across… Continue reading
Oct 28 When Social Security's advisers get it wrong By Laurence Kotlikoff You can't always trust advice over the phone from Social Security's advisers. Ask to speak to a technical expert, advises Larry Kotlikoff, to be sure you're getting the correct information. Photo courtesy of JC Kole. Continue reading