Inequality Between America's Rich and Poor Is at a 30-Year High
The economic distance between the nation's wealthiest and everyone else has been growing.
Why the Gender-Pay Gap Is Largest for the Highest-Paying Jobs
Seeing the male-female earnings gap in all its dimensions
Do Americans Actually Enjoy Giving Gifts?
It's an expensive, stressful, and socially-enforced tradition—but most people in the U.S. still love buying presents.
A Cultural History of the Baseball Card
Over 100 years, small images of athletes went from tobacco companies' marketing materials to overhyped investments favored by nostalgic grown men. Now, they're worth virtually nothing.
In the Search for Affordable Childcare, Location Is Everything
The cost of center-based services for children varies widely throughout the U.S., and so can the availability of financial assistance for low-income families.
How Much Sleep Do Americans Trade for Work?
Some Americans forgo a significant amount of sleep in order to make more time for commuting, socializing, and grooming—but most of all, working.
Millennials Are Closing the Pay Gap Between Men and Women
But the divide still widens as they move up the ladder.
The Mysterious Rise of the Non-Working Man
The economy is not leaving men behind. But it is perhaps leaving manliness behind.
The Recession Led to More Domestic Violence—but Fewer Divorces
How the dynamics of the American family are shaped by the nation's unemployment rate
Meeting Ayn Rand on the Las Vegas Strip
For eight days last summer, a new generation of Randians was indoctrinated in the auditoriums of The Venetian. Where better to absorb Atlas Shrugged 's teachings than in a city of extremes?
How Common Is Child Labor in the U.S.?
Budgets for agencies that monitor workplaces are shrinking as some states roll back laws meant to limit the hours and jobs kids can work.
Why Most Financial Whistle-Blowers Go Unheard
The most effective whistle-blowers aren't the ones with the most compelling revelations—they're the ones whose messages happen to reverberate at any given cultural moment.
Empire of Cotton
Cotton is so ubiquitous as to be almost invisible, yet understanding its history is key to understanding the origins of modern capitalism.
Why Wall Street Likes the Current Version of Congress's Spending Bill
For one thing, part of it was essentially written by Citigroup's lobbyists.
How the Arts Drove Pittsburgh's Revitalization
The role of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, founded by a wealthy band of visionaries 30 years ago, is central—but hard to replicate.
The Quiet Struggle of College Students With Kids
More than one-quarter of American undergraduates have dependent children, but affordable, on-campus childcare is still hard to find.
Why Lefties Make Less
They've been subtly discriminated against since biblical times, but modern data suggests a significant gap in earnings.
The Rise of Daddy Daycare
Fathers now spend almost five more hours on childcare each week than they did in 1965, but moms still battle cultural expectations.
Lowering the Cost of Crime and Punishment: An Economist's Vision
The U.S. spends billions on incarcerating criminals. Is there a way to pay less while keeping the crime rate down?
Do You Know Where Your Federal Tax Dollars Go?
Congressional leaders have reached a deal to fund the government, but polls show most Americans don't understand what the U.S. budget includes.