Economics

Western nations often think of the entire African continent as poor, thanks, in large part, to the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade and European colonialism. The truth is, many African countries were wealthy before colonization.

By Sascha Bos

Many Americans donate to charities that help military veterans. Here's how to choose the organizations that provide the most help to those who need it.

By Brian Mittendorf

Economists have historically used GDP per capita to determine the richest country in the world, but that's misleading when you consider the tax havens effect.

By Dave Roos

The largest criminal fines in history have been paid by corporations, not individuals. Which companies have paid the most dearly for their sins?

By Dylan Ris

Ditch the razor for 30 days and let your hair grow for a bro. Just do it with No Shave November and Movember so you can raise money and save a dude's life.

By Madison Palmer

Product shortages on everything from cars to computer chips have us all feeling a bit unbalanced. At the root of most is what economists call the "bullwhip effect." But what is it?

By Michael Okrent

Sizzling temperatures across the globe aren't just bad for humans, they're bad for crops too. Harvests are smaller and that drives up food prices.

By Kate Yoder

Inflation in the U.S. was over 9 percent in June but many countries in Europe have even higher rates. What's causing the global spike?

By Christopher Decker

Changing your name legally can involve a lot of steps. We'll break it down for you.

By Yves Jeffcoat

An economist explains the difference between a true bear market and a correction, and whether a bear market always signals a recession is on the way.

By Vidhura S Tennekoon

Some of the biggest companies in the United States just announced stocks splits. What is a stock split and what does it signal to average investors?

By Dave Roos

Why does the dollar sign have a slash? Did a British pound originally weigh 1 pound? Find out the stories behind these and other currency symbols.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Disconnecting Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), could cripple its ability to trade with most of the world. Here's how SWIFT works.

By Patrick J. Kiger

High food and gas prices blowing your mind? Issues with the supply chain are causing prices to rise on everything from gas to groceries as inflation soars.

By Craig Austin

One of the vital statistics of a company or an individual is called the debt-to-equity ratio. But the key is knowing how to interpret this important metric in relation to future needs and investment plans.

By Dave Roos

Dogecoin started out as a spoof, but is now an actual cryptocurrency with tens of billions of dollars in value. So, should you invest in it?

By Patrick J. Kiger

It's not just people on the top. Even janitors and home health aides are often asked to sign noncompete agreements. Why's that? And will a company really sue you if you break one?

By Dave Roos

Every month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a report that looks at the unemployment rate, among other job-related data in the country. But who counts as "unemployed" can be tricky.

By Dave Roos

The New York Stock Exchange has changed its hours many times since its inception in the late 18th century. Why? And what hours does it keep now?

By Sharise Cunningham

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are a way to turn digital art into an asset that can be stored in a blockchain ledger. They could revolutionize the art business. Still confused? Enter the brave new world of NFTs.

By Patrick J. Kiger

UBI stands for universal basic income, a guaranteed government cash payment. Pilot programs are testing whether having UBI improves lives. What have they learned so far?

By Dave Roos

If you buy anything via a loan, like a house or car, the bank puts a lien on that property until it is paid off. But liens can also be placed on your property by other folks and without your consent, depending on circumstances.

By Francisco Guzman

Alimony is on the decline in the U.S. but can still bring out a highly emotional response during divorce. Here's what you need to know about alimony.

By Dave Roos

Just when America seemed to be getting over the great toilet paper shortage, the next thing in short supply was coins. But why?

By Dave Roos

Most U.S. currency contains a serial number that ends with a letter, but some end or begin with a star instead. What does the letter stand for? What is the significance of the star?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors