The Surprising Ways Bankrupt Cities Make Money
When American cities are deep in debt, they get creative to crawl out of the red.
When 'Good Enough' Holds Back New Inventions
Credit cards, banner ads, and fossil fuels are all simply passable business solutions that should be scrapped and replaced.
The Not-So-Good News About Friday's Jobs Report
Private-sector job growth is finally improving. Government jobs are another story.
A Different Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
Two-generation programs focus on improving education for children and job opportunities for parents at the same time.
Can Immigrants Save the Housing Market?
While some remain cynical about homeownership, the U.S.'s foreign-born population still regards it as a symbol of attaining the American Dream.
Why the Media Started Caring About the American Worker Again
Labor reporters might be among the first to go as news outlets continue downsizing, but coverage now is a lot more thorough than before the recession.
What Ruth Bader Ginsburg Taught Me About Being a Stay-at-Home Dad
A young lawyer puts his former boss’s ideals into practice.
Judging a Big Mac by Its Cover
As McDonald's tries to rebrand and streamline its sagging empire, it's starting with its takeout bags.
Fight Poverty by Sending Dad and Daughter to School Together
One D.C. charter school offers free English, computer, and parenting classes for adults and early education for their kids.
Homeless and Hoarding
For those in poverty, excessively stockpiling possessions can act as a link to a more prosperous past or insurance for a difficult future.
Why Are So Few Black People Using Bitcoin?
The digital currency—popular among a mostly white, mostly libertarian contingent—might prove useful in communities where it's relatively difficult to secure a loan or transfer money.
Suburbs and the New American Poverty
More people with low incomes now live outside of cities, and some areas are ill-equipped to deal with the influx of the poor.
What the Recession Did to American Fathers
The number of men without jobs is larger than in previous downturns, especially for dads who don't live with their kids.
The Shameful Triumph of Football
It's not simply that America's favorite sport is both shameful and popular. In fact, it's actually becoming more shameful and more popular at the same time.
What's Wrong With Georgia?
While many other states are recovering, Georgia's unemployment rate has risen. Some blame the state's laissez-faire approach to policy.
How White Flight Ravaged the Mississippi Delta
For generations, plantation owners strove to keep black laborers on the farm and competing businesses out of town. Today, the towns faring best are the ones whose white residents stayed to reckon with their own history.
It's Here: ESPN Without Cable
The TV bundle continues to molt: A new product from Dish makes ESPN and a handful of other channels available over the Internet for $20.
Twentysomethings: Barely Saving, but Surprisingly Confident
As people age and get paid more, they actually become less optimistic about their preparedness for the future.
Does Immigration Harm Working Americans?
Many economists say no—but they may be too glib.
The 'Case Against Credentialism,' Then and Now
One axiom about journalism is that it should try to "see life steady and see it whole." A look at one of The Atlantic's steady themes over the years