Economics Archives

How to Financially Prepare for a Recession Without Money

Wondering how to financially prepare for a recession? How can you prepare if you’re living paycheck to paycheck? For more than a year, economists have predicted that the U.S. will enter a recession. Many Americans, through no fault of their own, don’t have the financial means to take the steps that many financial experts recommend to navigate a recession. Read on to learn how to financially prepare for a recession without an emergency savings fund.

The Disadvantages of Mutual Funds: Everyone Can’t Win

How to Invest Wisely in the Stock Market

How do mutual funds work? Why do mutual funds underperform index funds? Mutual funds generate profits for their investors by beating the market-average returns. According to John Bogle, the author of The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, doing so is a zero-sum game: For every investor whose returns are above-average, there must be another whose returns are below-average. Keep reading to learn about the disadvantages of mutual funds.

The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Investors & Managers

What is the book The Essays of Warren Buffett about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Compiled from Buffett’s annual reports to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, The Essays of Warren Buffett provides a glimpse into the mind of a man whose ideas contrast with those of the typical Wall Street mogul. His insights on investing are simple yet difficult to put into practice, while his thoughts on the culture of the wider business world shine a light on the values that shape modern finance. Below is a brief overview of The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons

Converting Office to Residential—Can It Save City Centers?

What’s going to happen to all of the empty office buildings in the U.S.? Is converting office to residential space a solution? Thanks to the remote and hybrid work trends, there’s a glut of office space in major metropolitan hubs that, left unaddressed, could turn big cities into wastelands. Converting vacant office space into residential use is one proposed solution. Read on to learn more about the benefits and challenges of converting office to residential space.

Warren Buffett on Derivatives: “Weapons of Mass Destruction”

What exactly are financial derivatives? Why does Warren Buffett scorn derivatives? Derivatives are contracts between two parties in which one pays the other if some other financial instrument (for example, a stock or a bond) reaches a certain price, up or down. On derivatives, Warren Buffett famously said: “Derivatives are financial weapons of mass destruction.” Here’s why Warren Buffett warns against derivatives.

Leveraged Buyouts: What Are They and How Do They Work?

What are leveraged buyouts? How do takeover companies profit from acquisitions financed with leverage? Leveraged buyouts were the hallmark of many notorious “corporate raiders” in the 1980s, who used them to practice so-called “hostile takeovers.” Takeover companies make fortunes with leveraged buyouts, but they carry significant social and financial costs. Keep reading to learn about leveraged buyouts, how they work, and their consequences.

Credit Card Debt in America Exposes a Harsh Reality

What’s causing the record-high credit card debt in America? Why are Americans spending so much yet saving so little? Credit card debt in America rose to $890 billion in 2022, with total household debt hitting a record high of $16.5 trillion. Credit is a survival tool for most Americans—and the debt tied to it is so ubiquitous in the U.S. that it’s become normalized. Read on to learn more about credit card debt in America, including tips for managing debt.

Bjorn Lomborg’s False Alarm: Book Overview & Takeaways

How worried should we be about climate change? What are the most sensible approaches to tackle the problem, whatever its size? The World Health Organization considers climate change the single largest health threat to humanity. However, Bjorn Lomborg’s book False Alarm argues that, while climate change poses a significant threat, it is not a cataclysmic one. Continue reading for an overview of the book to understand this perspective on such an important matter.

Can the Government Regulate Cryptocurrency?

Can the government regulate cryptocurrency? What challenges do regulators face? The cryptocurrency industry has been marked by volatility, bankruptcies, and scandals, and after the recent implosion of crypto exchange FTX, many are calling for long-overdue regulation. However, regulators are struggling to write laws as no one can agree on the fundamentals of the industry. Keep reading to learn if the government can regulate cryptocurrency and why it’s a challenge.

Can Creating New Jobs Actually Be a Bad Thing?

How can creating new jobs cause problems in society? Why does job creation sometimes result in useless jobs? According to anthropology professor David Graeber, useless jobs have become widespread in most modern societies. He claims that creating new jobs, while beneficial when done responsibly, can also cause the proliferation of useless jobs for economic and political reasons. Keep reading to learn how creating new jobs can also produce meaningless jobs, according to Graeber.