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The fast food conglomerate Yum! Brands is one of the largest private employers in the United States, with nearly some half million workers, most of whom make near poverty-level wages. Which is why some workers at Yum! restaurants -- which include Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut -- joined a strike this
Blog
David Callahan
The interaction of economics research and ideological politics has once again brought to the forefront the blurring of advocacy and academic integrity that has become so prevalent since the financial crisis. Harvard economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff published research in 2010 that has
Blog
Wallace C. Turbeville
I watched the disturbing Frontline documentary on PBS, The Retirement Gamble, and not surprisingly, I got to thinking about the fees I pay for investing in my retirement accounts.
In the media
Kerry Hannon
ALBANY, N.Y.—With the recent indictment of New York politicians like Senator Malcolm Smith and Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, many wonder, can they trust state lawmakers? "We do a random sample of more than 800 registered voters and our sample looks like the New York electorate both in terms of
In the media
Amy Cutler
Think of predatory lending and you probably think of pawn shops and check cashing stores in run down strip malls in poor neighborhoods. Time to expand your thinking—like, say, to include the fancy office tower in downtown San Francisco that houses Wells Fargo's headquarters. Wells Fargo is one of a
Blog
David Callahan
Representative Martha Roby has an op-ed in Politico today making the case for her “Working Families Flexibility Act.” The bill would allow businesses to pay their workers in comp time, rather than higher wages, for the overtime hours they work. Roby has argued that her bill would make it easier for
Blog
Brenden Timpe
On a normal day, Sonia Acuña, a petite 41-year old mother of four, puts on her bright red McDonald’s cap and reports to work at a branch of the giant hamburger chain in Chicago’s main rail terminal, Union Station. But today, in cold and drizzling early morning weather, Acuña—still wearing her
In the media
David Moberg
Americans owe more than $1 trillion in student loans — a total that surpasses credit card debt — but millions who are past due on payments are not taking advantage of a program designed to make their debt manageable. The federal income-based repayment­ program reduces an eligible borrower’s monthly
In the media
Meagan Pant
“I make $1,000 for the store in 30 minutes. But I don’t make $1,000 in a month working there.” The quote is a paraphrase of a Victoria’s Secret worker. She, like 500 other retail and fast food employees in and around the Chicago Loop, isn’t at work today. They’re all on strike. (Follow #strikefor15
Blog
Amy Traub
Wall Street has made it far more likely that you will spend at least some of your golden years eating Fancy Feast.
In the media
Mark Gongloff