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Economics Articles

  1. Why The Consumer Price Index Is Controversial

    Find out why economists are torn about how to calculate inflation.
  2. Predict Inflation With The Producer Price Index

    Find out how the PPI can be used to gauge the overall health of the economy.
  3. Consumer Spending As A Market Indicator

    What people buy and where they shop can provide valuable information about the economy.
  4. Activities You Can Take Advantage Of In The Pre-Market And After-Hours Trading Sessions

    A great deal can happen in between the New York close of the market and the open the following morning. Learn how you can access opportunities and hedge against risk outside regular trading hours.
  5. Leading Economic Indicators Predict Market Trends

    Leading indicators help investors to predict and react to where the market is headed.
  6. How The 2014 Obama Budget Could Affect Your Finances

    Depending on which estimate you believe, Obama's proposed budget would raise the tax bill of a household with a yearly income of $50,000 to $75,000 between $63 and $100 per year. However, that’s not all you should know.
  7. Austerity: When The Government Tightens Its Belt

    When a government tightens its belt in tough economic times the entire nation feels the squeeze.
  8. Will Quantitative Easing Be Japan's Savior?

    The quantitative easing program, recently announced by the new governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, is for a cash infusion of $1.4 trillion by the end of 2014. Will it help the Japanese economy recover?
  9. Will Obama’s Chained CPI Help Keep Inflation From Eating Into Your Savings?

    Learn the ways in which inflation nibbles away at your retirement income, especially in light of the President’s proposal for Chained CPI adjustments to Social Security.
  10. Trading The Non-Farm Payroll Report

    Discover how to trade the NFP report without getting knocked out by the irrational volatility it can create.
  11. Hetty Green: The Witch Of Wall Street

    Hetty Green was the richest woman of her time and possibly the first value investor, yet she's not remembered kindly.
  12. Inspecting A Country's Debt

    Tensions over just how to handle debt are pitting the rich world against the developing world like never before.
  13. U.S. Vs. China: Battle To Be The Largest Economy In The World

    America's lengthy title reign as "World's Largest Economy" is fast under threat by China's surging economic growth. Find out what the global rankings are forecasted to be for these economic powerhouses.
  14. Economic Indicators That Affect The U.S. Stock Market

    Macroeconomic factors like GDP, Inflation, and Retail Sales affect the value of your portfolio. Understanding these economic indicators is vital for every investor in the marketplace.
  15. Muriel Siebert: Female Finance Pioneer

    Muriel Siebert has blazed many paths for investors, but is especially relevant as the first woman to sit on the NYSE.
  16. Great Company Or Growing Industry?

    Look at the big picture when choosing a company - what you see may really be a stage in its industry's growth.
  17. All The Cliffs You Need To Know About

    In addition to the oft-cited fiscal cliff, there are economic, tax, political, geopolitical and earnings pitfalls to avoid.
  18. Revenue Projections Show Profit Potential

    Examining how a company makes money can offer clues about its earnings potential.
  19. Countries With The Fastest And Slowest GDP Growth

    Discover which countries have shown the most growth since 1980, and which have shown the more ignominious fizzle and pop.
  20. A Primer On Reserve Currencies

    For nearly a century, the U.S. dollar has served as the world's premier reserve currency, but the future is uncertain.
  21. Is Growth Always A Good Thing?

    Getting big quickly looks good, but companies can get into trouble when they do it too fast. Find out how to spot this trouble.
  22. What Is "Chained CPI?"

    Chained CPI is one of many ways to approximate the impact of rising or falling prices to consumers' pocketbooks.
  23. Derivatives 101

    Learn how to use this type of investment as an alternative way to participate in the market.
  24. Natural Disasters: Issues Relating To Leaves Of Absence

    Small businesses are more likely to fail in the aftermath of devastation. How can you as an employee handle issues after a disaster?
  25. Economic Factors That Affected The U.S. Dollar In 2012

    The factors that influence the U.S. dollar and currencies in general.
  26. China Is Set To Continue Growing

    China's economy has plenty of long-term fight left in it, offering one of the best bets on developing world growth.
  27. The Truth Behind The $1 Trillion Coin

    Is a $1 trillion coin really a feasible way to pay off the nation's debt?
  28. Mitigating Downside With The Sortino Ratio

    Differentiate between good and bad volatility with the Sortino Ratio.
  29. Pros And Cons Of NAFTA

    These gains and losses have been attributed to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
  30. How Inflation Affects Your Net Worth

    When calculating your net worth, don't forget to take inflation into account.
  31. The Impact Unpaid Internships Have On The Labor Market

    The dramatic increase in unpaid internships has given rise to favorable and unfavorable arguments based on their impact on the students/interns, the labor force and the economy as a whole.
  32. Okun's Law: Economic Growth And Unemployment

    Learn about Okun's Law, why it is important and how it stood the test of time since first being published.
  33. Canada And Australia Dollars To Be Reserve Currencies

    The IMF upgrading the Canadian and Australian dollars to "official" reserve currency status is a recognition of reality.
  34. America's Decreasing Economic Mobility

    Though it increased for decades following World War II, real median family income has dropped since the 1970s.
  35. How Debt Limits A Country's Options

    While debt is fundamentally necessary to the operation of a national government, it can also be limiting and dangerous.
  36. The Link Between The Fed, Money, Debt And Taxes

    Assets on the Fed's balance sheet, money supply level, national debt level and economic production should be maintained in equilibrium.
  37. Why Germany Is The Economic Powerhouse Of The Eurozone

    There's little denying that Germany is the boss of the eurozone. Discover what sets it apart from the rest of Europe.
  38. The 5 Most Economically-Free Countries In The World

    Here are the top five from the Heritage Foundation's influential 2012 ranking of the most economically-free countries.
  39. Plain English: The Fiscal Cliff Explained

    The fiscal cliff is all over the news. Find out what it means and how it could affect you.
  40. 6 Ways The Fiscal Cliff Could Affect You

    From taxes to unemployment rates, there are many ways the average American could be affected by the possible fiscal cliff.
  41. Employability, The Labor Force And The Economy

    Individuals do not have absolute control of their employability since employability is also affected by market and economic conditions.
  42. Quantitative Analysis Of Hedge Funds

    Hedge fund analysis requires more than just the metrics used to analyze mutual funds.
  43. The Relationship Between Japanese And Chinese Economies

    China counts on Japan for its manufacturing savvy, while Japan needs China's market to help it grow out of an economic funk.
  44. Why Insourcing Is Appealing To Businesses In 2012

    With insourcing the latest trend in the employment market, we look at whether it is sustainable in such a stark economic climate.
  45. How Divorce Can Adversely Affect The Economy

    Divorce not only affects the people involved, it also affects the nation's economy.
  46. A Primer On Inflation

    Inflation has a negative connotation, but is it all bad or does it offer some tangible benefits?
  47. How Monopoly Antitrust Laws Affect Consumers

    Monopolies often receive a negative reception, but sometimes they can benefit consumers.
  48. Is Your Stock Headed South?

    Don't let your portfolio go with it! Find out which signs to watch out for.
  49. 3 Industry-Impacting Innovations On The Horizon

    Here are some industry-impacting innovations that could potentially belong in the famed Carousel of Progress.
  50. How Interest Rates Affect The Stock Market

    Whether you're buying lunch, a home or a stock, you're influenced by interest rates.
  51. How To Use Facebook As A Marketing Tool

    Facebook can be a viable marketing platform for your business. It can even earn you revenue.
  52. Why The Same Goods Have Different Prices Around The World

    Some items like electronics and automobiles have vastly different prices in different countries. Here's a look at why.
  53. What Does QE3 Mean For The Market?

    What does the Fed's recent announcement mean for the U.S. economy? Read on to learn more.
  54. Is Minimum Wage Fair?

    Lower-wage jobs have increased because of the recession, but the minimum wage is lower than in 1967 when adjusting for inflation.
  55. How The Federal Reserve Fights Recession

    Discover the steps that the Federal Reserve has taken to help save the economy.
  56. 3 Industries That Lost Focus

    The auto, technology and retail industries in the U.S. were once known for dominance and innovation. Recently, these industries have lost their way.
  57. The Uncertainty Of Economics: Exploring The Dismal Science

    Learning about the study of economics can help you understand why you face contradictions in the market.
  58. Understanding Capital And Financial Accounts In The Balance Of Payments

    The current, capital and financial accounts compose a nation's balance of payments.
  59. Find The Right Fit With Probability Distributions

    Discover a few of the most popular probability distributions and how to calculate them.
  60. Understanding Interest Rates, Inflation And The Bond Market

    Get to know the relationships that determine a bond's price and its payout.
  61. How To Borrow For Free

    People will do anything to get a little extra money. If you need some cash, here are some ways you can borrow without much hassle.
  62. How To Recognize Sunk Costs

    Find out about sunk costs and why "getting your money's worth" can cost you more than you think.
  63. The LIBOR Scandal

    Barclays and other banks are alleged to have submitted artificially low LIBOR rates between 2007 and 2009.
  64. 5 Economic Reports You Should Watch

    Most economic reports are noise, but there are a some that are market movers.
  65. Jobs That Can't Be Outsourced

    Here are careers that are too vital to everyday American life to be replaced with outsourced labor.
  66. How Inflation Has Affected Transportation Prices

    Getting around today is less expensive than it was 10 years ago, and this downtrend shows no signs of stopping.
  67. Educating About Poverty Through Frugal Living

    Live Below the Line is a challenge that hopes to raise awareness about poverty in the U.S. These tips can help you cut your budget so that you can take part in the challenge.
  68. A Silver Primer

    Find out what affects the price of silver, the types of investments that can be made and the methods in which it is traded.
  69. Why Global Unemployment Is Rising

    The ILO is reporting that there are now 50 million fewer jobs in the global economy than before 2008. Find out why.
  70. The Rise And Fall Of Rare Earth Metals

    Rare earth metals were the hot thing last year and now, nobody speaks of them. Find out what happened.
  71. How Inflation Has Affected The Price Of Cars

    As time has passed, have car prices gotten reasonably more expensive or gone above inflation?
  72. The Greatest Currency Trades Ever Made

    These speculators took big positions - and scored huge profits - in the currency market.
  73. Do Deflationary Shocks Help Or Hurt The Economy?

    Find out how deflationary shocks can both benefit and hurt consumers and businesses.
  74. 5 Biggest Risks Faced By Oil And Gas Companies

    Before investing in gas and oil stocks, consider such factors as political and geological risks.
  75. How Globalization Affects Developed Countries

    The increase in communications technology has companies competing in a global market.
  76. Translating "Fed Speak" Into Plain English

    Confused by the Fed's lingo? Find out what it can tell you and learn how to decipher it.
  77. Tax Terms You Should Know

    If you don't understand tax terms like bracket, marginal and capital gains, then read on and find out what they mean.
  78. How To Survive The Trading Game

    Gain insight into how a trader/programmer approaches the task of designing a trading system.
  79. Canada To Remove The Penny From Circulation

    Canada expects to see a significant cost savings by forcing people to round up or down to the nearest five cents.
  80. How Inflation Policy Affects You

    The Fed estimates a long-term goal of 2% inflation for the near future. Learn how that'll impact you.
  81. Why U.S. Home Prices Rely On Supply And Demand

    Look for factors that influence supply and demand and you might be able to predict which way housing prices will trend.
  82. A Look At Fiscal And Monetary Policy

    There's a debate over which policy is better for the economy. Find out which side of the fence you're on.
  83. Combat Low Interest Rates With Dividend Stocks

    Dividend stocks tend to outperform the overall market during low interest rate environments.
  84. Why America's Taxes Are Too Low

    The solution to America's economic woes may not be in lowering taxes further, but may, in fact, lie in increasing them.
  85. Inflation And Economic Recovery

    Inflation impacts the costs of every facet of the economy. Discover how it can help or hinder the economic recovery.
  86. What Is International Trade?

    Everyone's talking about globalization, so we explain what is it and why some oppose it.
  87. How Education And Training Affect The Economy

    Education and training benefit not only the worker, but also the employer and the country as a whole.
  88. Highest-Paid CEOs

    John Hammergren of McKesson topped the list of the best-earning CEOs for 2011. Find out how much he made and who else was on the list.
  89. States With Demand For Workers

    If you can brave the cold weather, we'll tell you why these places are great for employment.
  90. Globalization: Progress Or Profiteering?

    Proponents of globalization argue that it helps the economies of developing nations and makes goods cheaper, while critics say that globalization reduces domestic jobs and exploits foreign workers.
  91. Tackling The Super Bowl Indicator

    Find out what a win or loss by your favorite team means for the markets.
  92. 3 Tips For Using Payday Loans

    With payday loans now operating across 41 states, we tell you how to use them wisely and responsibly.
  93. The Pros And Cons Of Sports Investing

    Consider these advantages and disadvantages before investing in businesses related to your favorite teams.
  94. How Much It Costs To Become President

    Using real figures from 2008, we tell you what the price is to have Pennsylvania Ave. as your address.
  95. 5 States Where You Can Stretch Your Dollar The Furthest

    If you're thinking of moving to save a few dollars here and there, we've got a list of states for you to consider.
  96. Minimum Wage: Good Cause Or Economic Pariah?

    Here are some positives and negatives to help you decide where you stand on the minimum wage debate.
  97. A Bullish Start To 2012

    2012 kicked off with a great first day, but does that mean the rest of the year will follow that trend?
  98. An Evaluation Of Emerging Markets

    Get the full story on this asset class before you write it off as too risky.
  99. Trading Around Key Options Indicators

    Learn the key economic indicators to help predict market movement.
  100. Effects Of The New Canada-U.S. Border Deal

    Find out how a new deal concerning the longest unprotected border in the world may affect trade.
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