Reprising the debt ceiling follies
The debt limit is an archaic relic of World War I that should have been abolished long ago, but lives on and emerges periodically to threaten the U.S. economy like a zombie from The Living Dead.
Anatomy of a bank failure
Three of the four largest bank failures in U.S. history occurred in the past month.
Burning water to make steel: Green hydrogen closer to reality
The Paris Agreement on climate change, to which the United States is a signatory, sets an ambitious goal of limiting the increase in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Social Security trust fund running on empty
We first covered the looming insolvency of Social Security in this space in 2012. The Trustees of Social Security and Medicare reported at that time that the combined Social Security trust fund was spending more than its income and projected that the funds would be depleted by 2033.
No good deed goes unpunished: The Fed’s balance sheet dilemma
Modulation of interest rates is the primary tool used by central bankers to stimulate the economy during a recession and to retard growth to subdue inflation.
Bank failures highlight the importance of deposit insurance
Two high-profile bank collapses over the past two weeks have rippled through the financial sector and left many savers seeking assurance that their own deposits are secure.
Avoiding the auto loan debt trap
For 85% of Americans, the purchase of a new vehicle means taking on monthly payments.
Starting Social Security: Consider the risk of living too long
Deciding when to begin taking Social Security benefits is anxiety-inducing for many workers.
The death of bond investing has been greatly exaggerated
Noting that 2022 was a bad year for bonds is a little like saying George Santos told a couple of fibs.
Don’t look now, but gas prices are headed higher
It was only last December when it looked like drivers might catch a break at the gas pump.