Rise in middle-aged white ‘deaths of despair’ may be fueled by loss of religion, new research paper argues
So-called deaths of despair such as from suicide or alcohol abuse have been skyrocketing for middle-aged white Americans. It’s been blamed on various phenomenon, including opioid abuse. But a new research paper finds a different culprit — declining religious practice. The working paper, from Tyler Giles of Wellesley College, Daniel Hungerman of the University of […]
World’s 1% captured almost two-thirds of new wealth created in two years: report
For every dollar of new global wealth earned by a person in the bottom 90% during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a billionaire got $1.7 million, according to a new analysis from the anti-poverty group Oxfam.That means that even in an era marked by the pandemic, nearly 15 million excess deaths and […]
‘She never has enough money’: I was adopted by a wealthy family, but my biological grandma says I need to financially support her — and buy her a condo
My biological mom died when I was a toddler, and the state felt that my grandmother wasn’t appropriate as a placement given that they found she had mental-health issues at that time. I was adopted by an upper-class family, and all communication with my biological grandma was prohibited after the adoption. Fast forward to when […]
The housing market is showing signs of ‘normalizing’ and IRS says ‘Tax Day’ will be different this year — put these important tax dates on your calendar
Hi, MarketWatchers. Don’t miss these top stories.IRS says ‘Tax Day’ will be different this year — put these important tax dates on your calendar Two thirds of households received income-tax refunds last year, IRS statistics show. Read More U.S. mortgage rates slip, giving some relief to homebuyers The 30-year mortgage rate is averaging at 6.33%, […]
Reparations for Black Americans ‘could finally lead to closure’: Sandy Darity
Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved have been excluded from full citizenship in the United States for the last 247 years — and granting them full citizenship will cost between $13 trillion and $14 trillion, economist William “Sandy” Darity told a conference of fellow U.S. economists last week. To see the impact of second-class citizenship […]
‘I can no longer be an executive at a high level’: Workers with disabilities, including long COVID, are finding their place as companies become more flexible
Dana Pollard started a new job at the end of 2022, after spending three years recovering from a 2019 stroke.Pollard, 56, lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife. After the stroke, he could not recognize her. He couldn’t remember things, and one side of his body was partially paralyzed. After months of physical and […]
Your boss will no longer be able to make you sign noncompete agreements — if federal regulators have their way
Employers would be banned from making staff sign noncompete clauses, according to proposed rules that federal regulators say would boost worker pay and end a major drag on people who wish to change jobs, and stay in the same industry.The Federal Trade Commission released the proposed rules on Thursday designed to end worker noncompete clauses, […]
How a California cannabis company’s founder is tapping his deep roots in the business to navigate the legal market
Herbl Inc. CEO Mike Beaudry certainly knows the cannabis business as founder of the California-based distributor that provides marijuana to more than a thousand legal businesses in the state. While California supports the largest adult-use cannabis market in the U.S., it continues to face off against legacy — or illicit market — sellers as […]