Shop Yourself Happy
Buy lots of little gifts, don't buy a warranty, and other tricks to squeeze the most pleasure out of your holiday purchases.
Black Friday, Through the Eyes of Smith and Marx
The mega shopping day became a nationwide phenomenon in the 1980s, but what would the early theorists of capitalism make of it?
How Turkeys Got Supersized
While the number of individual turkeys raised and slaughtered in the U.S. each year is declining, total production of turkey meat has remained stable—pound-wise.
A New Business Strategy: Treating Employees Well
While some companies squeeze staff to make more money, a growing number are testing the theory that they can have both profits and happy workers.
There's a Better Way to Board Planes
Back-to-front remains an industry standard even though there's an alternative that's nearly twice as fast.
When Raising the Minimum Wage Isn't Enough
Vermont has some of the most progressive wage-and-hour laws in the country, but low-income workers are still struggling.
How Budweiser Lost Millennials
The mass-market brewer wants to regain popularity with younger people. But will a new ad campaign be enough?
When to Book Your Plane Ticket: A Guide
Two economists share what they've learned from tracking airfare's seemingly inscrutable fluctuations.
Behavioral Economics Conquered Books—Can It Be a Hit on TV?
An interview with Daniel Pink, the bestselling author of Drive and the host of Crowd Control, a new show on human behavior on the National Geographic Channel
Can Your Job Help Your Brain Age More Gracefully?
A new study looks at whether retired surgeons have better memory skills than retired painters.
Is This the Ultimate Flexible Workplace?
Employers that have a "results-only work environment" hold workers responsible only for defined outcomes, not hours in the office or on the job.
When Is the Best Time of Day for a Company to Dump Bad News?
Underwhelming earnings reports are often released with little fanfare on Friday afternoons, when no one is thought to be watching—but a new paper questions that logic.
The Murky Boundaries of the Modern Work Day
Americans don't seem to mind long hours that blur the lines between professional and personal life, but they do mind the inability to control their schedules.
Rent-an-M.B.A. Breathes New Life Into Freelance World
Harvard M.B.A.s use startup philosophies from Silicon Valley to create a new market--themselves.
Millennials Like 'Organic'—Even if They Have No Idea What It Means
Some labels magically make food appear more nutritious.
The New Security Robot Watching Over Silicon Valley Is Less RoboCop and More R2-D2
This bot will not insist you have 20 seconds to comply.
Happiness at Work: What Matters Most?
In a recent poll, two-thirds of adults said they would take a job with less pay if it offered shorter hours and more flexibility.
The Economics of Thanksgiving Dinner
Turkey is cheaper this year, but your holiday dinner will be more expensive.
Is Cheating a Part of Banking Culture?
Some people perceive workers in the finance industry to be less trustworthy than prison inmates. A new study tests that suspicion.
Does Social Media Sharing Count as Community Service?
When it comes to being charitable, most Americans agree: In-person action trumps monetary donations and online engagement.