Economics

The design of the U.S. $1 bill is full of symbolism. We'll tell you what it all means.

By Sarah Gleim

Hedge funds might seem like something only the very rich have to think about but actually they are actually part of everyday life. What are they and why are they so risky?

By Danielle Douez

This economic policy has been embraced by free-market capitalists and demonized by progressive reformers. But what does it really mean?

By Dave Roos

Penny stocks may seem like a good deal because they're so cheap and who knows, they could make money! But penny stocks can also be places for scam artists, so how do you protect yourself?

By Dave Roos

Who takes the hit when the U.S. president levies tariffs on our trading partners?

By Patrick J. Kiger

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is built on an alliance between 30 North American and European countries. But it's much more than that.

By Marshall Brain & Sarah Gleim

The gender pay gap is usually expressed something like this: Women make 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. Where did this figure come from and is it still true?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Many Midwestern and New England states are hoping to attract more residents by offering cash, student loan forgiveness and other incentives. But surprisingly, no one has studied whether these programs are effective.

By Dave Roos

Worried there might be a warrant out for your arrest? How can you find out for sure?

By Nathan Chandler

Two gas stations might face each other on a street in Anytown, USA. Yet their gas prices might be different. Why is that?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Congress passed the new farm bill with a provision that will legalize hemp farming on an industrial scale. Could this be America's next gold rush?

By John Donovan

An inversion of the U.S. Treasury bond yield curve has predicted the last seven U.S. recessions. Is the U.S. in for another one soon?

By Dave Roos

How can you tell if a charity is actually effective? Is it better to give one big donation or several small ones? We look at five of the most-asked questions about charity giving.

By Dave Roos

Four million veterans living in the United States are disabled, and many of those men and women need help in one way or another. So what can you do to donate your services to those in need?

By Elizabeth Abbess

Would you like to round up your purchase for charity? Those small donations are big money for nonprofits and the businesses that do the soliciting. But not every shopper likes being asked. So, what's the right way to run these campaigns?

By Dave Roos

Razors. Shampoo. Even dry cleaning. Women pay more for these things every day. Simply because, well, they're women.

By Cherise Threewitt

Think "all you can eat" means you get more than you paid for? As one restaurant expert put it, "The house always wins."

By Dave Roos

Cryptocurrencies are likely here to stay. But who's really behind their creation and should we trust this new form of digital cash?

By Diana Brown

Cryptocurrencies have been in the news a lot lately. How much do you know about the legitimacy of these 'invisible' currencies?

By Diana Brown

Most bank notes and coins made in the U.S. feature famous people from American history. But we often use these bills without registering whose faces are actually on the notes. Can you guess without opening your wallet?

By Nathan Chandler

Diamonds weren't even very popular before the 1930s. And it wasn't until a savvy copywriter created an ad slogan that the stones became synonymous with love.

By Diana Brown

Some U.S. restaurants' experiments with dropping tipping in favor of higher menu prices did not catch on with consumers. Is there a profit point when it would make sense to drop tipping?

By Dave Roos

President Donald Trump wants countries exporting steel and aluminum to the U.S. to pay steep tariffs. Could these tariffs spark a global trade war?

By John Donovan

The tiny house movement is providing homes for people who need shelter.

By Carrie Tatro

The U.S.'s long-standing cash bail system produces two very different outcomes depending on how much money the defendant can scrape together.

By Dave Roos