All Economy
The ExplainerIt鈥檚 a wide world of charity out there. Do you know how to navigate it?As聽鈥楪iving Tuesday鈥櫬燼rrives, it鈥檚 a good time to think about charitable donations. Increasingly, average givers are focusing on the effectiveness of organizations they might support.
First LookPreparing for tech shift, GM cuts thousands of jobs across US, CanadaThe largest automaker in the US, General Motors, announced Nov. 26 that it would cut as many as 14,000 workers in North America. The cuts affect both white- and blue-collar workers, and underscore a major restructuring for the automaker as it prepares for the future.
Instead of amplifying human biases, can algorithms help fix them?The rising use of artificial intelligence has become one of the dominant trends in business. On the heels of that trend come questions about fairness and a quest for ethical algorithms.
First LookAhead of Black Friday, market sees redThe Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 600 points on Nov. 20 as tech companies and retailers face losses and an oil surplus pushed barrel prices lower. The global economy shows signs of weakening, with the US, China, and Europe facing potential slowdowns.聽
Hard times in farm country coincide with a trade war 鈥� echoing 1980sFarmers are resourceful by necessity. But many face a test as a US-China rift undercuts their exports 鈥� a challenge familiar to those who weathered the US wheat embargo against the Soviet Union.
First LookAfter CEO arrest, Renault-Nissan alliance faces fissuresCarlos Ghosn, who serves as chairman for both Renault and Nissan, was arrested in Japan on Nov. 19 for alleged financial improprieties.聽Analysts say this could strain the nearly 20-year-old Renault-Nissan alliance, which collectively represents one of the world's largest automakers.聽
First LookFAO Schwarz is back: bigger, better, with a focus on 'experience'After its Central Park store closed in 2015, legendary toy company FAO Schwarz will reopen at Rockefeller Center on Nov. 16 with a rocket ship stuffed with teddy bears, a toy grocery store, and other delights. Pop-up stores for the holidays will appear around the globe, too.聽
Amazon and the troubling rise of superstar citiesBy picking New York and Washington as its new HQ cities, is the retail giant missing an opportunity to help the parts of America that are left behind?
Dangling a college offer, one rural town tries to hang on to its work forceA tight job market always forces employers to get creative in hiring. But a worker shortage is especially challenging in places that are often overlooked: small rural towns.
First LookAmazon could split East Coast location between New York and VirginiaWhen Amazon began hunting for a second headquarters in September 2017, it received more than 200 proposals from cities all over the United States. Now, the tech giant is reportedly considering two, not one, locations for its 50,000 workers.聽
The ExplainerNAFTA 2.0: what the Trump-brokered deal may meanMore steps remain before the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement takes effect. And in the post-deal landscape, separate trade tensions between the US and China still need to be resolved.
In election run up, voters eye health care as top concernDemocrats have turned health care into their top theme, attacking Republican positions on Americans with preexisting conditions.聽The partisan back-and-forth belies a deeper battle over the future of health care.
Trailer parks face rising rents. This one's residents found a way out.鈥淢anufactured homes鈥� are inexpensive, but increasingly the land where they sit is subject to big rent hikes. The residents of one New England mobile home park see cooperative ownership as an answer.
An oil threat, but Saudi Arabia less fearsome than it used to beAmid furor over the disappearance and alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia gave a verbal reminder of its power over oil markets. But using that weapon could hurt the kingdom itself the most.聽
First LookFor many African-Americans, buying a home does not build wealthMany believe that buying a home is a step toward wealth creation, but this is not always so for many African-Americans. Statistics show that in nearly 20 percent of ZIP codes where most homeowners are black, home values have decreased since 2000.
First LookAs affordable housing crisis deepens, states begin to take actionIn 2017, nearly half of all renters across the country were rent-burdened, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In response, states from California to Louisiana are beginning to pass legislation aimed at solving the problem.聽
Labor-union militancy revives, from hotels to schools and steel millsA strong US economy hasn't resulted in rapid wage growth. Now the labor movement is regaining momentum through bargaining and nontraditional tactics, like union members running for office.
First LookHow rising interest rates are shaking up the economyIn late September, the Federal Reserve announced another increase in its benchmark interest rate, marking the the third time it has done so in 2018. This explainer goes into why that happened and how it will impact stocks, bonds, and market volatility.聽
Cover StoryFaces of a new capitalism: How Millennials are embracing socialist valuesMany Millennials are rebelling at an economic system that they believe puts profits over fairness and equality. Is capitalism too harsh? 聽
Business case for climate action grows as IPCC intensifies warningsThe聽Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's聽sobering new climate report reiterates in dire terms the need for a full-court press of climate action. Corporations are starting to heed those calls.
