Economy & Policy
12 articles
In an inflationary environment, your money loses purchasing power. Investors often look for assets that act as inflation hedges, which retain their value or even increase when inflation runs hot. Learn about the best inflation hedges to consider today and how to buy each type of asset.
Almost 2 million Americans live on minimum wage, which despite inflation hasn’t increased since 2009. But is that a living wage? Explore the ins and outs of living on just $7.25 per hour through both a fictional American named Kai and the stories of real-life Americans who do it every day.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, has been through many changes over the years. And present-day SNAP has fairly elaborate rules to determine who’s eligible for benefits and how to calculate them. Find out whether you’re eligible and how to sign up.
The wage gap between women and men is a problem. It contributes to poverty for women and families and holds the entire economy back. And because the roots of the problem are complex, there’s no simple solution to fix it. Read about some ideas for how to close the gender pay gap — and why we should.
There have been all kinds of proposals to deal with the problem of global poverty. But lately, more people are looking at a much simpler approach: Just give people money. But what is universal basic income?
Credit rating agencies have played a key role in the financial world by providing ratings on the creditworthiness of bonds and other debt instruments. Learn the history of credit rating agencies, how they work, and the pros and cons of credit rating agencies.
Bitcoin (BTC) is the most popular and versatile cryptocurrency around. For all its promise and recent value growth, BTC remains a niche digital currency that’s subject to wild value fluctuations. Learn about what Bitcoin is, its history, how it works, how it’s mined, and its security risks.
Anyone who’s filed a tax return knows the U.S. tax system is complex and difficult to understand. Many say corporations, wealthy individuals, and special interest groups use loopholes to avoid paying their fair share. One idea for fixing the system is called FairTax. But would it really work?
Contrary to popular belief, offshore banking isn’t limited to the rich and unethical. It’s sometimes necessary for people — even ordinary Americans — to have offshore accounts for legitimate financial reasons. Curious what offshore banking can do for you?
Pennies are so close to worthless that many people argue it’s time to do away with them altogether. Others argue that eliminating the one-cent coin could be harmful. Should we get rid of the penny? Find out the main arguments for keeping it and for eliminating it and decide for yourself.
You put your money in the bank because it’s safer there than under your mattress. But what happens when recession looms and depositors get anxious? Is your money safe in the bank during a recession, and will you be able to get your money out when you need it? Learn why the short answer is yes.
Quick Look The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve hiked the closely watched federal funds rate by 25 basis points, or one-quarter of a percent, at its meeting in July 2023. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced the move at 2pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 26. The FOMC’s July 2023 rate hike