Monetary incentives can influence a decision and distort the information we access for our cost and benefit research.
This week's economic news summary included looking at human capital from a health care and college perspective and at area codes as conspicuous consumption.
Called the middle class, the middle income population is actually the group that is shrinking when it moves up or down the income ladder.
With some unintended consequences, a large self-insured employer cut health care spending by switching from free employee health care to a high deductible.
With higher college tuition and less wage growth for college grads, still, the college wage premium and its opportunity cost make college worth it.
Shown by a project in rural India, building a sanitation network that includes toilets can eliminate open defecation and the disease it creates.
If Finland replaces benefits with a monthly check, the tradeoffs for its safety net programs will be domestic and international.
Conveying a message about its place of origin, an area code becomes a status symbol that displays conspicuous consumption.
Our economic news summary included climate talks and externalities, "missing women" and Asian marriage markets, seniors' spending and manufacturing supply.