Economy – Page 48 – Impact Lab

Owning a Home in the U.S. Loses It’s Luster

February 20, 2011

Economic uncertainty, unstable prices and simple math have given Americans less incentive to buy.

Meredith Carr and Vince Melamed of Brentwood are just the sort of couple real estate agents have always counted on to buy a home. Melamed is a successful keyboardist and songwriter who wrote hits including Trisha Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe,” and Carr is a freelance editor. They owned a home in Nashville, but when they moved to Los Angeles last year they decided they did not want to tie up their money in real estate, or be on the hook for home repairs and upkeep.

Continue reading… “Owning a Home in the U.S. Loses It’s Luster”

Economy, Education, Latest Trend, Money Talk

Tennessee College Bucks the Trend by Lowering Tuition

February 17, 2011

Sewanee, a Tennessee liberal arts college.

For those who wonder how college tuition costs manage to keep rising year after year, apparently defying laws of economic gravity, Sewanee, a liberal arts college in Tennessee, has an answer: they can’t. On Wednesday, Sewanee announced that it will cut its $46,000 annual bill for students by 10 percent in the fall.

Continue reading… “Tennessee College Bucks the Trend by Lowering Tuition”

Analysis, Economy, Money Talk

Survey Finds Recession Can Strengthen a Marriage

February 13, 2011

Recession strengthens marriage vows.

While money problems sometimes strain a marriage, the opposite may also hold true: More than one-quarter of married Americans polled in a recent survey said the current recession has strengthened their union.

Continue reading… “Survey Finds Recession Can Strengthen a Marriage”

Crazy Stuff, Current Events, Economy, Food, Global Warming, Globalism, government, Health & Fitness, Hot Issues, Latest News, Money Talk, New Viewpoints

EPA’s Budget To Be Slashed

February 11, 2011

77% of Americans support the EPA

Okay, okay, we get it. House Republicans don’t like the idea of trying to reign in pollution. I mean really don’t like it. Many of them already claimed that climate change wasn’t real on the campaign trail, and said they’d fight climate legislation. Then, the powerful chairman of the House Energy Committee, Fred Upton (R-MI), has already sponsored a bill designed to prevent the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air Act, claiming it would kill jobs and whatnot. Now, House Republicans have released their vaunted plan for massive federal spending cuts. At the top of the list? The EPA.

Continue reading… “EPA’s Budget To Be Slashed”

Big Problems, Economy, government, Internet, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

British Plan Closure of Over 450 Libraries

February 9, 2011

Under 50-year-old laws, local councils currently have a legal obligation to provide comprehensive library services.

Public libraries across the country could be closed to save money, under plans being considered by ministers. More than 450 libraries are facing closure because of public spending cuts. The Government believes that the spread of the internet and other social changes may mean that councils should be free to close libraries.

Continue reading… “British Plan Closure of Over 450 Libraries”

Analysis, Economy, Education, Latest Trend, Money Talk

For-Profit College Loans Hit a 25% Default Rate for Repayment

February 5, 2011

One quarter of students defaulted within 3 years of starting repayment on their college loans.

About one-quarter of students who took out federal loans to attend for-profit colleges defaulted within three years of starting repayment, according to a new federal analysis.

Continue reading… “For-Profit College Loans Hit a 25% Default Rate for Repayment”

Analysis, Big Problems, Economy, Food, Globalism, Latest Trend

Global Food Prices Hit Record Levels

February 4, 2011

Sugar is among the items in the FAO’s food price index.

Global food prices are moving ever higher, hitting record levels last month as a jittery market reacted to unpredictable weather and tight supplies, according to a United Nations report released Thursday.

Continue reading… “Global Food Prices Hit Record Levels”

Analysis, Big Problems, Economy, Latest Trend

Fresno Has One of the Highest Unemployment Rates in the Nation but Has Thousands of Job Openings

February 2, 2011

Evidence of a skills mismatch became increasingly clear in Fresno after the housing bubble burst, causing joblessness to nearly triple.

This city is grappling with one of the most troubling contradictions of the new economy: Even as it has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, it has thousands of job openings.

Continue reading… “Fresno Has One of the Highest Unemployment Rates in the Nation but Has Thousands of Job Openings”

Business, Economy, Latest Trend, Money Talk

Per Capita Income Grew by 14.5% in India

February 1, 2011

Indians get richer.

Per capita income of Indians grew by 14.5% to Rs 46,492 in 2009-10 from Rs 40,605 in the year-ago period, as per the revised data released by the government today.
Continue reading… “Per Capita Income Grew by 14.5% in India”

Economy, Latest Trend, Money Talk

Home Ownership’s Changing Financial Role

February 1, 2011

American dream of homeownership is not right for everyone.

Homeownership used to be the bedrock of the American dream, but the economic storm and its lasting effects have radically changed how everyone — no matter what stage of life they’re in — looks at their home.

Continue reading… “Home Ownership’s Changing Financial Role”

Big Problems, Economy, Globalism, Latest Trend

20 Million People Live Underground in China

January 31, 2011

Ordinary Chinese people priced out of China’s property market.

To understand how far ordinary Chinese have been priced out of their country’s property market, you need to look not upwards at the Beijing’s shimmering high-rise skyline, but down, far below the bustling streets where nearly 20m people live and work. There, in the city’s vast network of unused air defence bunkers, as many as a million people live in small, windowless rooms that rent for £30 to £50 a month, which is as much as many of the city’s army of migrant labourers can afford. (Pics)

Continue reading… “20 Million People Live Underground in China”

Analysis, Economy, Education, Health & Fitness, Latest Trend

Emotional Health of College Freshman Has Declined to Record Low

January 28, 2011

The economy has added to the stress, not just because of financial pressures
on their parents but also because the students are worried
about their own college debt and job prospects.

The emotional health of college freshmen — who feel buffeted by the recession and stressed by the pressures of high school — has declined to the lowest level since an annual survey of incoming students started collecting data 25 years ago.

Continue reading… “Emotional Health of College Freshman Has Declined to Record Low”