Economics

So, are you finally ready to quit the 9-to-5 corporate grind and save the world? Here's all you need to know about starting your own nonprofit organization.

By Libby Little

The U.S. president rakes in a salary of $400,000 and lives in a 132-room mansion. With a full-time pastry chef and a private cinema at his disposal, the leader of the free world wants for nothing. But which perks are the priciest?

By Jane McGrath & Jacob Clifton

We can't live without food. But sometimes instead of nourishing our bodies, it can actually kill us. And it's no cheap (or easy) task to get that food off the market. These are 10 of the biggest food recalls in history.

By Jane McGrath

When you want sound financial advice, you probably don't think to consult the woman selling $30 tubes of lipstick at the cosmetics counter. But could she have a better handle on the whims of the economy than your CPA does?

By Cristen Conger

Ponzi schemes may not seem so bad. You invest some money, and when more people join, you get your investment back -- plus returns. The problem? For one, these schemes are illegal. And you only win if you're not in the bottom rung.

By Josh Clark & Jane McGrath

How do illegal drugs reach consumers without detection? There are points -- known as narco states -- along the world's drug supply chain where illegal substances are bought and sold with governmental approval.

By Josh Clark

Money scams have been separating people from their cash for hundreds of years. In this gallery, see some of the most ruthless scams of the 20th and 21st centuries, and learn what you can do to protect yourself.

It's a pretty simple idea: Whatever revenue wealthy citizens generate will eventually trickle down to the lower classes. But it's tough to find the logic in the theory of trickle-down economics when mainstream America is going hungry and the upper cr

By Jane McGrath

Sure, the guy or gal in the modest business suit seems as honest as Abe. You think you could trust him or her with your life. But could he or she be skimming the books or dabbling in other forms of white-collar crime?

By Jane McGrath

Want to get a debate going? Ask a group of politicians if trickle-down economics really works. For a few centuries now, theorists have been postulating that giving society's top earners tax breaks will help the lower classes in the long run. Think it

By Jane McGrath

Waiting in endless checkout lines can make Scrooges out of the cheeriest holiday shoppers. Many of us brave the mall mayhem to be part of the Black Friday rush. But to retailers' chagrin, most of us are browsing and not buying on this storied day.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

They range from factory workers to plumbers to professional athletes. Labor scabs -- sometimes under threat of bodily harm -- fill jobs when union workers go on strike.

By Dave Roos

Before most people were even aware there was an economic crisis, investment managers looked for lucrative investments. What they settled on was oil futures, and those futures brought speculation.

By Josh Clark

In the type of free market Adam Smith, father of capitalism, imagined, markets would correct themselves in the face of recession by weeding out weak businesses and individuals. Why bail out bad failing business, then?

By Josh Clark

In the credit default swaps (CDS) market, the health of multinational banks and corporations -- and the portfolios of untold individuals -- are at stake. What's more, the market is entirely unregulated. So how much damage can CDSs really cause?

By Josh Clark

If you've picked up a newspaper lately, then you're aware of the economic troubles raging on Wall Street. But the culprit may very well be in your own neighborhood: Are mortgage-backed securities to blame for the mess?

By Josh Clark

It may not be pretty, but recessions affect us all. So how do they occur? Trace the economy's path in the 21st century from subprime collapse to the mortgage crisis to the credit market crisis.

Here's a great investment opportunity: All you have to do is get five friends to sign up. When they pay to join in, you get paid. Sound too good to be true?

By Dave Roos

Even with fundraising restrictions, in the 2008 United States presidential election it's estimated that candidates will spend more than $3 billion on advertising. Yet many people argue that campaign finance reform restricts free speech.

By Jane McGrath

You just got your tax refund, and you want to do the right thing and eliminate debt. But why doesn't your credit card company want you to pay down your balance?

By Jane McGrath

Imagine a world without cash or credit cards. You'd barter to get what you need and want. Today, people and businesses are still trading goods and services. But can these cash-free transactions be taxed?

By Jane McGrath

In 2007 and 2008, foreclosures became a hot news topic. But is the crisis the fault of the home buyer, or is the lender to blame?

By Dave Roos

Ever wonder why your favorite restaurant from back home offers a completely different menu abroad? This is called glocalization -- global organizations adapting expansive products to fit local markets.

By Robert Lamb

It's pretty trendy to buy and eat organic and sustainable foods, and chances are the swanky coffee shop you frequent proffers some fair trade beans. But what does the label "fair trade" mean?

By Robert Lamb

E-commerce, or shopping online, offers advantages for both consumers and retailers. See how to make the most of online shopping.

By Dave Roos