Business

What If Default Isn't a Disaster?

Since the crisis is purely self-inflicted, the ability of the U.S. to grow fast enough to meet its obligations would not have been altered

The Most Well-Known Fact About U.S. Debt Is Wrong

America has defaulted before. Blame Hamilton.

Does the Government Shutdown Make a Debt Ceiling Crisis More Likely?

Markets don't think the shutdown will get hostage-taking out of the Republicans' system

Here's Exactly What Twitter Earns Each Time You Look at Your Feed

An average of $0.0008!

Which of Congress's Richest Members are Giving Up Their Pay During the Shutdown?

So far, many of Capitol Hill's wealthiest seem to be collecting their salaries, even while the federal workforce sits home.

What Happens If We Approach the Debt Ceiling? Here's What Happened in 2011

The stock market freaked out. Mortgage rates rose. And it cost taxpayers $19 billion over the next decade.

'Drones Might Be the Future of Food'

Former Wired editor Chris Anderson on why data will revolutionize agriculture

The Economic Consequences of the Government Shutdown

A shutdown isn't as bad as a debt default. But what is?

Apple Has 10 Percent of All Corporate Cash and More Profits Than the Three (Other) Biggest Brands Combined

It's rich.

Austin's Weird Festival-Based Economy

How does the home of SXSW deal with the challenges of loud music venues and constantly exploding tourist populations? By recognizing these are good problems to have.

The Saddest Paragraph You'll Read About the Government Shutdown Today

With NIH furloughs, children with cancer are being turned away from clinical trials.

Student-Loan Defaults Are Still Soaring Thanks to Washington's Neglect

Yes, it's a bit obvious to talk about Washington dysfunction today. But millions of financial lives have been scarred thanks to Capitol Hill's inaction. 

It's Official: Republicans Don't Care About Uncertainty At All

Old GOP economic theory: Uncertainty is holding back the recovery. New GOP economic theory: We will destroy the economy with uncertainty if we don't get our way.

The GOP Might Lose the Shutdown Battle, but It's Already Won the Spending War

Don't say Democrats aren't compromising. Their bill last night (rejected by the House GOP) would have funded government at Paul Ryan-levels.

How America's Marriage Crisis Makes Income Inequality So Much Worse

The rich and educated are more likely to marry, to marry each other, and to produce rich and educated children. But this virtual cycle turns vicious for the poor.

Bobbi Brown: What I Read

The founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics walks us through her media consumption on her proliferating Apple devices. "I wish they all had the same plug."

America's Wasteful Higher Education Spending, In a Chart

We spend more of our economy on higher education than almost any other developed country, and achieve some of the worst results. 

Canada Is Launching a Free Market for Pot

Canada's medical marijuana industry is about to grow from a small-scale industry into a huge $1.3 billion corporate behemoth.