Business

Christmas Dies Hard

The middle of a global pandemic might seem like a good time to cut back on holiday excess. But we live in America.

What My Dad Gave His Shop

“I’m more than just my store,” my father told me. And yet, for nearly his entire adult life, all of his decisions had argued the opposite.

How to Get Rich By Losing Lots of Money

Adam Neumann is out of his WeWork job, but entrepreneurs will surely imitate him.

The Difference Between First-Degree Racism and Third-Degree Racism

Only when people align on what racist behavior looks like will we be able to take practical steps to make those behaviors costly.

The Pandemic Shows Us the Genius of Supermarkets

A short history of the stores that—even now—keep us supplied with an abundance of choices

The Looming Bank Collapse

The U.S. financial system could be on the cusp of calamity. This time, we might not be able to save it.

I Got Fired Over Zoom

It’s as unpleasant and awkward as you’d imagine.

Something We Can All Agree On? Corporate Buzzwords Are the Worst.

After publishing an article on office jargon, we asked you for your most loathed examples.

How to Think About the Plummeting Stock Market

No one knows exactly how much damage the coronavirus will do to the global economy, but investors have to guess.

Why the Restoration Hardware Catalog Won’t Die

The surprising persistence of the mail-order business

There’s No Fun Like Mandatory Office Holiday Fun

Secret Santa gift exchanges at work make many people grinchy—for good reason.

Stop Believing in Free Shipping

How retailers hide the costs of delivery—and why we’re such suckers for their ploys

How Baseball Cards Got Weird

A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age.

Disney’s CEO Gets Why Employees Want Their Bosses to Be More Political

People expect companies to step up because other institutions are failing them, Bob Iger said at The Atlantic Festival.

Medicaid’s Dark Secret

For many participants, the program that provides health care to millions of low-income Americans isn’t free. It’s a loan. And the government expects to be repaid.

The Two Most Mysterious Words in Modern Shopping

I investigated the origins of my face wash and stumbled into the peculiar world of private-label products.

The Professional Triumph of the Firstborns

Why oldest and only children have better odds of running a company

Why Washing Machines Are Learning to Play the Harp

Appliance makers believe more and better chimes, alerts, and jingles make for happier customers. Are they right?

The Great Land Robbery

The shameful story of how 1 million black families have been ripped from their farms

How Economists’ Faith in Markets Broke America

And what it means for our future