Economy & Policy
12 articles
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, has been through many changes over the years. And present-day SNAP has fairly elaborate rules to determine who’s eligible for benefits and how to calculate them. Find out whether you’re eligible and how to sign up.
The housing choice voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, is the federal government’s biggest housing assistance program. It aims to make decent, safe, and sanitary housing available to those who can’t afford to pay market prices. Here’s a look at how it works and how you can apply.
In the early days of the stock market, there wasn’t enough oversight. Since the 1930s, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has had its hands full. FINRA is a private organization that helps to regulate the industry. Read on to learn what FINRA does and how it protects everyday investors.
Bitcoin (BTC) is the most popular and versatile cryptocurrency around. For all its promise and recent value growth, BTC remains a niche digital currency that’s subject to wild value fluctuations. Learn about what Bitcoin is, its history, how it works, how it’s mined, and its security risks.
Credit rating agencies have played a key role in the financial world by providing ratings on the creditworthiness of bonds and other debt instruments. Learn the history of credit rating agencies, how they work, and the pros and cons of credit rating agencies.
The wage gap between women and men is a problem. It contributes to poverty for women and families and holds the entire economy back. And because the roots of the problem are complex, there’s no simple solution to fix it. Read about some ideas for how to close the gender pay gap — and why we should.
The difference between women’s and men’s earnings is called the gender wage gap or gender pay gap — and there’s a lot of disagreement about what causes it and how to think about fixing it. Learn what the gender pay gap is, how it’s measured, and the main reasons women earn less than men on average.
Pennies are so close to worthless that many people argue it’s time to do away with them altogether. Others argue that eliminating the one-cent coin could be harmful. Should we get rid of the penny? Find out the main arguments for keeping it and for eliminating it and decide for yourself.
At the heart of the minimum wage debate is the question of what really amounts to a living wage. The question is how much America’s workers need to feed their families, pay their bills, and keep a roof over their heads. And as it turns out, that’s not at all a simple question to answer.
Should the minimum wage be raised? The question has triggered debates in legislatures and at dinner tables for decades. Read on for a brief history of minimum wage legislation, the factors influencing the wage debate, and the primary arguments for and against raising the minimum wage today.
Medicare for All was a proposal that featured prominently in the 2020 campaign, with strong and conflicting opinions being voiced. Learn the basics of Medicare for All, how it compares to health care systems in other nations, and the pros and cons of implementing such a program in the United States.
Anyone who’s filed a tax return knows the U.S. tax system is complex and difficult to understand. Many say corporations, wealthy individuals, and special interest groups use loopholes to avoid paying their fair share. One idea for fixing the system is called FairTax. But would it really work?