Economics

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

Africa produces around 60 percent of the world's diamonds, but a few of those are mined illegally, with the profits going to fund terror and violence. How can it be stopped?

By Alia Hoyt

While the history of e-commerce is short, e-commerce has changed how we do business online. Learn more about the history of e-commerce.

By Dave Roos

The framers of the U.S. Constitution didn't add any clauses that limited the rights of corporations. But did a Supreme Court reporter set a radical precedent for businesses?

By Josh Clark

Bleak images from the Great Depression strike fear in the hearts of people who believe that a recession in the United States could cause history to repeat itself. But does recession always lead to depression?

By Josh Clark

The Federal Reserve hiked the interest rate by 0.75 percent July 27, 2022 - the second time in less than two months. Will this historic rate hike curb the unprecedented inflation?

By Sarah Gleim

In a free market economy, the law of supply and demand dominates. But if the economy is in a downward spiral, could the government really save it?

By Josh Clark

Most of us have heard that we're not supposed to remove the tags from our mattresses or pillows because it violates some kind of law. But what's the real story?

By Katherine Neer

The American tax system is a huge machine with a tax code that seems more complex than rocket science. Many of us have come to dread April 15th: Tax Day. So what if you just didn't file them?

By Katherine Neer

If you miss a monthly payment to your credit card company, your credit score will drop and your credit report will show it. What else would happen if you stopped paying your bills completely?

By Marshall Brain & Katherine Neer

If squatters have taken over your property, keep your cool: They've got a lot more rights than you may realize. How do squatters operate, and how can you get them off your land?

By Josh Clark