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NPR's Weekend in Washington session at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31, 2015.

Economy

Richard Thaler: Why Most Economists Might As Well Be Studying Unicorns

12:01am January 12, 2016

by NPR Staff

Shankar Vedantam talks to Richard Thaler — father of behavioral economics and author of Misbehaving -- about why we so often fail to act the way we should and how marshmallows can predict the future.

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State Of The Obama Economy: Far Better, But Still With Many Troubles

6:48pm January 11, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

The economy has improved dramatically in the Obama era. But problems still abound because of the soaring national debt, a deformed tax code, shrunken paychecks and a growing skills gap.

How $220M Changed A Lottery Winner

8:15am January 10, 2016

NPR's Rachel Martin spoke with Brad Duke a few years ago about his $220 million lottery win in 2005. We called him back this week because numbers for the biggest Powerball jackpot were drawn Saturday.

The Employment Outlook For 2016 Is Looking Much Brighter

6:13pm January 08, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

The Labor Department's latest jobs report provided reassurance that the domestic economy is on track for 2016. That was welcome news, given all of the gloomy reports coming out of China.

Lottery Pitfalls: What Not To Do If You Win

4:31pm January 08, 2016

The Powerball jackpot has reached a record $800 million. Jon Ogg of "24/7 Wall Street" tells us what not to do if you're the winner.

Harold Pollack's index card of finance tips.

Can The Best Financial Tips Fit On An Index Card?

2:01pm January 08, 2016

by Chris Arnold

Yes, according to an economist who wrote a blog post that went viral in 2013. Now he has expanded the basics in a book, The Index Card.

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A sign promotes a real estate project last month in Kunming, China. Construction of residential and commercial properties has outpaced demand in China, a factor that some analysts cite in forecasting another global economic downturn.

China's Woes Are Growing, Along With A Debate: Is It 2008 Again?

6:10pm January 07, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

China's economy and stock market are taking hits. Billionaire George Soros says it's setting the stage for another global meltdown. But others argue China's troubles will not trigger a crisis.

Do These Jeans Make Me Look Unethical?

8:34am January 07, 2016

by Nurith Aizenman

In theory we do not want to buy products made by child labor or polluting factories. But in practice, we don't want to know about a company's practices.

Several States Poised To Offer Savings Accounts For Disabled Americans

7:09pm January 06, 2016

by Pam Fessler

New laws in 35 states will allow more than 5 million Americans with disabilities to begin setting aside money for disability-related expenses without being penalized. Right now, many lose health and other public benefits if they save too much money, which is one of the main reasons for the high poverty rate among those with disabilities.

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A woman fills her car with gas in Woodbridge, Va., on Tuesday. Supplies of crude oil and refined gasoline have driven prices at the pump down, and they're expected to go even lower.

If You Like Cheap Gasoline, January May Be Your Lucky Month

6:21pm January 06, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

Prices already are averaging less than $2 a gallon nationwide, and a new report shows gasoline inventories are surging. Experts say that sets the stage for more price drops in coming days.