Economy & Policy
12 articles
The Panic of 1907 was a major American financial crisis that occurred in the fall of 1907. Also known as the Bankers’ Panic or Knickerbocker Panic, it nearly ruined the New York Stock Exchange. In its aftermath, Congress created the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States.
Cryptocurrencies, or virtual currencies, are digital means of exchange created and used by private individuals or groups. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a host of alternative coins exist today. Learn what cryptocurrency is, how it works, the history of the technology, and examples of cryptocurrencies today.
Some call it the gig economy. Others call it the peer economy. Others, the collaborative economy, or “collaborative consumption.” Still others, the sharing economy. Tomayto, tomahto. More important than what it’s called is what it is. As Fast Company contributor Rachael Botsman pointed out in a now-classic article on the topic, the sharing economy has
During the 2020 presidential primary, multiple candidates drew attention to the concept of a wealth tax. While wealth taxes can come in many forms, there’s a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about them. Find out how they work and who they really impact.
Some are proposing a new type of benefit program called universal basic income, which would give every American adult a monthly cash payment with no strings attached. But what are the pros and cons?
Sometimes it appears that everything just keeps getting more and more expensive. That’s certainly the impression you’d get from reading the news – every time you open the paper, it seems, there’s another story about how to cope with the rising costs of food, education, or healthcare. But if you dig deeper, you can actually
It’s official: Our planet is hotter than humans have ever seen it before. In August 2019, The New York Times reported the previous July was the hottest month on record, and the hottest five years in history had all occurred since 2014. And this growing heat is bringing a host of other extreme weather along with
Medicare for All was a proposal that featured prominently in the 2020 campaign, with strong and conflicting opinions being voiced. Learn the basics of Medicare for All, how it compares to health care systems in other nations, and the pros and cons of implementing such a program in the United States.
The housing choice voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, is the federal government’s biggest housing assistance program. It aims to make decent, safe, and sanitary housing available to those who can’t afford to pay market prices. Here’s a look at how it works and how you can apply.
Politicians disagree on whether strong labor unions help or hurt America’s working class. It’s worth considering the role labor unions have played in America’s past and what role they could play in its future. Learn about labor unions in the United States, how they work, and their pros and cons.
Internet searches for “recession” are trending as people wonder whether a slowdown is coming and what it could mean for them. Learn what a recession really is, what it does to the economy, and how you can prepare.
Is a recession coming? Some classic warning signs of a slowdown include high inflation and low consumer confidence. Learn the other possible signs of a recession around the corner and find out how to protect yourself.