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Sovereign debt crises: it’s all Greek to me
Greek's current sovereign debt has reached crisis levels. Should the United States expect something similar? Probably not. Read the August 2010 Newsletter to learn why (or why not).
Newsletter
Executive compensation and market risks
Some U.S. taxpayers were angry and felt betrayed when financial company executives received large bonuses in the midst of the 2008-09 financial crisis. These executives headed some of the same firms whose risky practices contributed to the crisis?and then later received billions of dollars in government bailouts. Who makes the changes in executive compensation policies and regulations to avoid such risks in the future? Read the February 2010 Newsletter for answers and interesting insights.
Newsletter
Is a college cap and gown a financial ball and chain?
The cost of a college education continues to rise.The Project on Student Debt estimates that a typical 2009 college graduate accumulated $24,000 in student loan debt. Is a college degree worth the cost? Read the August 2011 Newsletter for the latest data on college versus high school graduates' earnings and employment prospects.
Newsletter
Patents: protecting inventors and the public good
Patent rights are becoming increasingly controversial in areas such as pharmaceuticals and genetics. Should the public good come before the private gain of new product inventors or developers? The May 2010 Newsletter tackles this issue.
Newsletter
What does foreclosure entail?
The FDIC estimates that an additional 4 to 5 million mortgages could enter foreclosure over the next two years. How did this happen, and what can be done to improve the situation? The April 2009 Newsletter offers some insights and further resources on the foreclosure situation.
Newsletter
Early childhood education
Which public investment offers greater returns?a subsidy for a sports stadium or early childhood education? It might surprise some, but the answer is an investment in early childhood education. A research study from the Federal Reserve found a 16 percent return on such an investment, with 80 percent of the return going to the general public. The October 2009 Newsletter explains the lifelong benefits of early childhood education.
Newsletter
Retraining displaced U.S. workers
When the current U.S. recession ends and recovery begins, many pre-recession jobs, such as some in financial services and the automobile industry, will not return. So what are the options if jobs in your chosen industry no longer exist? The September 2009 Newsletter focuses on job retraining programs and lists some areas of projected job growth for the near future.
Newsletter
Time inconsistency: today’s actions = tomorrow’s regrets
Have you ever bought something you really couldn?t afford? You simply swipe your credit card and leave the store with something shiny and new. That instant gratification overpowers any thought of the regret you?ll have when you must start paying off your accumulated debt. Economists call this phenomenon time inconsistency. Read the September 2011 newsletter for some ideas on how to prevent time inconsistency for yourself and your government.
Newsletter
School vouchers: the right choice or wrong policy for improving our schools?
August is back-to-school time, but for many families that means a return to poor-performing schools. The perennial question is how to improve performance. The use of school vouchers is one proposed but highly debated solution. This article examines the history of school vouchers and the major arguments for and against them.
Newsletter
How would modern macroeconomic schools of thought respond to the recent economic crisis?
What would some of the most famous economists, such as John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Adam Smith, and their followers say about the current financial and economic crisis? The November 2009 newsletter essay by Michelle Armesto outlines their probable responses.