Economy

The Employer-Surveillance State

The more bosses try to keep track of their workers, the more precious time employees waste trying to evade them.

The Cow-Milking Robots Keeping Small Farms in Business

Around the country, dairy farms are struggling to stay open, embracing technology may be one way to make them more efficient.

Brands Like Nike and PepsiCo Are the New Art Patrons

Major companies are now fulfilling the role that wealthy individuals once did. And it’s causing some tension in the art community.

The Death of the IPO

The number of IPOs is declining, and that could mean that small investors are getting shut out of the most lucrative deals.

Employers Are Looking for ‘Influencers’ Within Their Own Ranks

Some businesses, concerned about unreliable social-media personalities, are turning to their own employees and customers to serve as brand ambassadors.

Schools are competing to bring international STEM students to the U.S., but shifting policies mean that many students are prevented from taking open jobs that could allow them to stay in the country.

Wages Are Low and Workers Are Scarce. Wait, What?

The low unemployment rate and stagnant pay point to a depressed economy underneath.

Driving for Uber When You Can’t Afford a Car

In South Africa, extreme inequality means that drivers have a much more difficult time turning a profit with the ride-share service.

A Shocking Number of Killers Murder Their Co-workers

Homicide is the third-most-prevalent cause of workplace death.

Brands Are Not Our Friends

Comcast sent me 10 pizzas. This isn’t nice; it’s manipulative.

The Swiss Secret to Jump-Starting Your Career

A first-of-its-kind youth-apprenticeship program in Colorado aims to prepare students for the industries of the future by mirroring a successful model in Europe.

Colin Kaepernick, Nike, and the Myth of Good and Bad Companies

The brand’s alignment with the embattled NFL star is nothing more than smart business.

The Viral Success of a Strike No One Can See

Inmates around the country have managed to engage the public in their ongoing prison protest through a targeted media strategy.

Tiffany’s Sparkly Surge Reflects a Divided Moment in America

The jewelry company credits a hip-hop–inflected ad campaign for its success. It should credit the wealth gap as well.

Trump’s NAFTA Strategy: Bluff, Rebrand, Declare Victory

The president’s announcement that he was “terminating” a free-trade agreement means less than he said.

The Speedy Rise and Fall of Robot Babysitters

Automation has given rise to new jobs in robot minding—but the flurry of opportunities may be short lived.

How Does This Bull Market End?

Probably the same way it began.

There’s a Shortage of Welders. Will More Women Fill the Gap?

Past efforts to attract women to welding have had underwhelming results. New programs aim to change that.

A Woman’s Paycheck Is Influenced by Her Hometown—Even If She Doesn’t Live There Anymore

In a new study, economists find women from places where sexist attitudes prevail end up earning less later in life.

Teaching Kids to Code During the Summer—for $1,000 a Week

Are private summer camps exacerbating tech's diversity problem?