How many people don’t have a bank account? And just how difficult has it become to live without one? These questions are becoming increasingly important as more businesses refuse to take cash in cities across the U.S. People without bank accounts are shut out from stores and restaurants that refuse to accept cash. As it […]
Germany’s economy must be fixed – here are three top priorities
The latest figures on German gross domestic product (GDP) are far from reassuring. Output was 0.3% lower in 2023 than the year before, turning Germany into the worst-performing large economy in the world. By comparison, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)‘s latest calculations show the US economy growing 2.1% in 2023 and China 5%. The European […]
Why did Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have a sealed-off emergency exit in the first place? The answer comes down to money
The aviation industry is still in shock from a near disaster on Jan. 5, 2024, in which a 60-pound “door plug” blew out from a nearly new Boeing 737 MAX 9 in flight at 16,000 feet, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all 737 MAX 9 planes […]
War in the Middle East has put Lebanon on the brink of economic disaster
The recent return of violence to Lebanon derails hope that the worst of the crises that have plagued the country over the past four years have been left behind. After a spiral of hyperinflation, debt default and crumbling public services, modest signs of economic recovery from one of the “most severe crisis episodes [seen] globally […]
LGBTQ+ workers want more than just pride flags in June
Every year, more and more companies seem to recognize Pride Month. But a recent analysis shows that LGBTQ+ workers expect more than this once-a-year acknowledgment from their employers. In fact, some employees actually criticize such behavior as mere pinkwashing. So, what do LGBTQ+ workers want? In 2023, the jobs website Indeed conducted a survey of […]
Attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea threaten Australia’s trade – we need a Plan B
Australia is 11,000 kilometres from the Red Sea but it is not immune from the drone and missile attacks on container ships attempting to move through one of the world’s busiest thoroughfares. Since November, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched more than 20 attacks on container ships using drones, ballistic missiles, and in one […]
With higher fees and more ads, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu are cashing in by using the old tactics of cable TV
There’s one thing that television viewers can count on in 2024: higher fees and more commercials. The major streaming services – Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Max – have all announced rate hikes and new advertising policies. As I show in my new book, “24/7 Politics: Cable Television and the Fragmenting of America from Watergate […]
Workers in their teens and early 20s are more likely to get hurt than older employees
Think about your first job. Maybe it was delivering pizza, bagging groceries, busing tables or doing landscaping work. Did you get enough training to avoid potential injuries? Chances are, you didn’t – and your boss or supervisor just told you to get to work. Employing young people helps them in many ways. They can learn […]
As we ring in 2024, can the US economy continue to avoid a recession?
With economic forecasters rewriting their 2024 outlooks following recent moves from the Federal Reserve, The Conversation turned to two financial economists to share their thoughts on the upcoming year. D. Brian Blank and Brandy Hadley are professors who study finance, firm financial decisions and the economy. They explain what they’re watching in 2024. 1. At […]
How Boxing Day evolved from giving Christmas leftovers to servants to a retail frenzy
The Boxing Day sales are an essential part of Australia’s festive season. Every year on December 26 news outlets invariably feature stories about excited shoppers queuing up at the major department stores hoping to score bargains and heavily discounted products. While such reports portray the day’s sales as a time-honoured tradition, they are only a […]