Why Summer Jobs Don't Pay
The minimum wage is flat, college tuition is up and students are broke: Summer jobs just don't have the purchasing power they used to, especially when you look at the cost of college.
Economy
Can Cuban Charcoal Turn Up The Heat On U.S.-Cuba Relations?
Only 2 Cuban exports are allowed to be sold in the U.S. One is coffee, the other is an artisanal charcoal, coveted for its long burning properties. It's also a weed taking over areas of the island.
Commercial Real Estate Demand Softens, Investors Fret Trump Tax Cuts Won't Pass
Revenue from President Trump's office buildings is falling. The problem: commercial real estate prices are declining. In New York, buildings are rising and older properties have to compete harder.
Affordable Housing Market Hurt By Tax Overhaul Uncertainty
The prospect of Trump's tax overhaul has cut the value of low-income housing tax credits 10 to 15 percent. Funding for units across the U.S. is in question, and less housing will be built as a result.
New Jersey, Maine Reach Budget Deals, Ending Government Shutdowns
State beaches and parks will be open in New Jersey — just in time for July 4 — after a $34.7 billion budget deal was reached Monday night. In Maine, a $7.1 billion deal was struck early Tuesday.
Why Isn't The Housing Market Booming The Way Experts Expected?
Interest rates are near historic lows and consumer confidence is high, but the market isn't booming. One reason may be mobility: people moving from state to state is half what it was two decades ago.
For Job Retraining Programs To Work, People Need To Show Up
Retraining workers who've lost jobs is tough. If the program isn't good, workers may get trained for jobs that no longer exist. And even when the training is good, it's hard to get people to show up.
In Russia's Tech Center, Scientists Face Rewarding But Unpredictable Life
Research institutes in Novosibirsk were built as innovation centers in the USSR. Despite the brain drain, scientists and techies remain, but life for successful entrepreneurs can be unpredictable.
Why Weak Productivity Growth Matters To The Economy
Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center at the Brookings Institution, about productivity. Productivity growth is a reason living standards go up. Lately, it's been weak.
New Jersey Starts Holiday Weekend With A Government Shutdown
Eleven states failed to pass a new fiscal year budget by last Friday's deadline. In New Jersey, that led to a government shutdown. The legislature will meet on Monday to try to work out a compromise.