Rupert Murdoch’s American Legacy
Rupert Murdoch was born in Australia, and first made an international impact in Britain. He thrust himself into the U.S. market with his purchase of the New York Post newspaper in 1974.
The Partisan Blame Game That Perpetuates Poverty
A sociological explanation for why the Bay's homelessness epidemic is so intractable.
What the History of Food Stamps Reveals
In the early years of food stamps the goal wasn't necessarily to feed America's poor. The idea was to buttress the price of food after the decline in crop prices had created a crisis in rural America.
The Rise of Shareholder Activism
Is a large publicly-trade company responsible only for making its shareholders the most money possible? Or is it also responsible for making the world a better place?
Why Equality Matters More Than Income
Looking at children’s wellbeing in rich countries like the U.S. in 2007, scholars found that inequality may matter a lot more for kids’ lives than absolute income level.
Stocks Hate Inflation–Here’s Why
While many blame the threat of inflation for the stock market crash, the real culprit may be concerns that the economy is about to slow.
Why Are Diamonds More Expensive Than Water?
Water is simultaneously one of the few things we absolutely cannot live without, and one of the things we value least. There's an economic rationale behind that.
The Cautionary Tale of India’s Private Hospitals
In 1985, a writer in Economic and Political Weekly saw the beginning of private hospitals in India and warned of the dangers of their mismanagement.
The Feminist Evolution of the Iowa Porkettes
In Iowa, between 1964 and 1991, groups of women—the wives of pork farmers—boosted the supposed benefits of pork-heavy diets. They were the Iowa Porkettes.
Why Economists Make Terrible Fortunetellers
Even the (presumably rational) economists of the world love to try to predict the future. They often get it wrong, suggesting that all the rational data in the world is rendered useless by the irrationality of human behavior.