If Things Are Getting Better, Why Are We So Miserable?
September 22, 2010You have heard by now that the recession is officially over. Do you feel like celebrating? Probably not. This week’s announcement from the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed what we already knew, which is that the Great Recession has been over for quite a while — officially, now, since June 2009. The downturn that began in November 2007 therefore lasted 18 months, making it the longest U.S. economic contraction …
A Fairer Share Of Nothing
August 4, 2010This toasty summer, ideal for hanging out at the nearest beach or swimming pool, has been anything but idyllic for young people who need money and work experience rather than a long stretch of idle days. Too bad for them if they do. Low-skilled, inexperienced young workers, those who have the greatest difficulty reaching the first rung of a career ladder, are roadkill on our country’s misguided route to what …
Americans Back On The Move
May 17, 2010In 2008, most Americans stayed put. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a smaller percentage of the population moved to a new residence during 2008 than during any other year since the agency began collecting comparable data in 1948. But in 2009, the “For Sale” signs returned, went up, and came down. Moving trucks once again lumbered through city streets and along highways as 12.5 percent of Americans found a …
Taxing The Other Guy In Oregon
January 28, 2010Oregon residents don’t like taxes much. Except when someone else is paying. On Tuesday, voters in the state approved two ballot measures increasing taxes on high-income individuals and businesses. Oregon residents in the top tax bracket will now face an 11 percent state income tax rate, the highest in the United States. The new increase will affect individuals earning at least $125,000 and couples earning at least $250,000. The corporate …
Dissatisfied Workers? Not Here
January 13, 2010According to a new study that has been getting a lot of attention, only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs. The job satisfaction survey commissioned by the Conference Board research group was first conducted in 1987 and has been conducted every year since 2005. Never before have so few people said they were happy with their jobs. Back in 1987 nearly 70 percent of those surveyed ranked …
How About A ‘Sin Tax’ For Employers
October 13, 2009If you want less of something, tax it. We want people to smoke and drink less, so we have heavy taxes on tobacco and alcohol products. In the midst of the Great Recession, New York state leaders apparently want to cut down on jobs, at least in the New York City area. In August, unemployment in the country’s biggest city hit 10.3 percent, well above the national average of 9.7 …
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