All Economy
Disclosure in the Caymans: Global walls of financial secrecy are fallingA new British law could have big ripple effects as part of a global trend toward financial transparency. Disclosure of who really owns offshore companies can counter crime and reduce the inequality that arises from聽corruption or tax evasion.
First LookCalifornia ruling will cause 'seismic shift' in gig economyA California Supreme Court ruling will limit businesses from designating workers as independent contractors who are not able to attain certain benefits and employment protections. The ruling will likely increase the number of workers eligible for benefits under state wage laws.聽
After a long lull, inflation rises from gas-pumps to retail storesEnergy prices are rising, Amazon is raising Prime member fees, and broader price indexes are accelerating. Consumers and financial markets are taking note, and so are Federal Reserve policymakers.聽
First LookWomen's sports leagues unite in SheIS initiativeWomen's sports leagues are banding聽together for the first聽time to tackle the pay gap between men and women in sports and help each other increase resources, viewership, and attendance.聽
First LookTechnology's influence reshapes how employers assess job applicantsCompanies are challenging the notion that students who specialize in STEM courses and academia will be more likely to succeed in the job market. Instead, many employers are using computer programs to assess the qualitative skills of their candidates.聽
First LookTrump trade policies cause deep ripples in agriculture countryDespite largely supporting President Trump in 2016, farmers and ranchers in Montana and other agricultural states are now feeling the effects of his unpredictable approach to trade policy. The growing trade conflict with China is an especially strong source of concern.
Even in Trump era, green energy innovation is sparking, not sputteringCongress has kept in place federal funds that support the key period when inventors have to build prototypes to show potential investors. Some corporations and states also help maintain momentum on clean energy.
First LookTo withstand tariffs, farmers rebrand pecans to US consumersThe pecan may be the only native nut to the United States, but for the past decade, China has been its biggest consumer. Now, with the possibility of Chinese tariffs on a number of agricultural products looming, farmers are rethinking how to market pecans in the US.
First LookAmid US woes, Chinese telecom giant turns to Europe, AsiaHuawei,聽the No. 3 smartphone brand, has repeatedly聽been stymied trying to enter the American market. The US has cited national security concerns.聽
The tax that binds? For many, Tax Day symbolizes civic duty.Plenty of Americans have concerns about taxes, but overall, most view their returns through a lens of communal responsibility. It's a view that underpins democracy, some experts say.
US versus China: How a tussle for advantage fuels risk of a trade warChina's tactics include using industrial policies and state support in a bid for rapid modernization. The Trump administration wants to use American market power to get better deals from trading partners. At risk in the shuffle is a hard-won system of global trade rules.
Zuckerberg testimony: a tipping point for new privacy regs?Even Facebook's founder says regulation of social media platforms is 'inevitable.' A new EU privacy law may also push corporations to adopt similar practices universally.聽
The ExplainerWhat's behind the plunge in bitcoin?Cryptocurrency 鈥� that hip computer-software money that was supposed to sweep cash into the dustbin of history 鈥� is having its comeuppance in 2018. Its price is plunging, and governments are beginning to rein it in.
In US-China trade spat, soybeans symbolize two economies intertwinedA trade dispute escalated this week, as China pledged to respond in kind to proposed US tariffs. One target, soybeans, would hit US farmers particularly hard. But it also hurts Chinese consumers. Both sides have incentives to cut a deal.
First LookHawaii's low unemployment presents unique challengesIn a state famous for its bustling tourism industry, many hospitality companies are struggling to fill open positions. Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate in the US and is now strategizing how to attract a young labor force and foster a higher demand for jobs.
Trump鈥檚 challenge to fuel-efficient car standards: an uphill battleCarmakers haven't issued a unified call to roll back regulation to improve fuel economy, yet the EPA appears headed in that direction. With high stakes surrounding climate change, the courts could have the final say.
Facebook under fire, but it鈥檚 just part of 鈥榮urveillance economy鈥�Google, Amazon, and social media platforms track and analyze people's personal data so they can predict what they'll buy and even how they'll vote. Privacy advocates want Congress to set limits on the practice.聽
In good times, safety net for the jobless fraysSince the Great Recession, nine states have cut unemployment benefits below the longtime norm of 26 weeks. Some say it's a way to rebuild reserves ahead of the next recession. But it carries risk for both the unemployed and the overall economy.
Yes, a trade war could hurt everyone. But we're not there yet.President Trump announced sizable trade sanctions against China Thursday, and retaliatory moves by Beijing are expected. But it may lead toward negotiation and some resetting of rules, not a full-blown trade war that imposes severe hardship on the world economy.聽
Facebook uproar: Should personal data drive political ads?Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data on 50 million Americans for the Trump campaign. The revelation offers a glimpse into how 'big data' is eroding privacy and reshaping politics.
