Through 26 years of inflation, fluctuating poverty rates, and even a pandemic, America’s federal minimum wage has remained a consistent $7.25 per hour since 2009. While the federal government stays steady, wage standards across the country have become increasingly diverse as state governments have made their own legislative pushes in wake of economic changes. In […]
Higher minimum-wage states report less fast-food eating Read More »
A shared upward trend Housing markets are often assumed to reflect local conditions. Cities that attract residents should experience stronger price growth, while those losing population should fall behind. Across Ohio, however, the evidence points to a more unified pattern. Cities are divided into three groups based on population change between 2010 and 2024. Fast-growing
Ohio home prices have risen in growing and shrinking cities Read More »
Introduction “Today we’re making one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company,” Block CEO Jack Dorsey wrote, as he announced that the company would cut its workforce from more than 10,000 employees to about 6,000. Normally, companies cutting jobs would worry investors, not excite them. But Block’s announcement, and other recent workforce
AI makes layoffs look good Read More »
On February 28th, 2026, the United States launched military strikes against Iran. War in the Middle East can have a significant effect on oil prices, but Iran is unique in its relationship to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that 20% of the world’s oil must pass through. Iran officially declared the Strait closed
The Iran oil shock showed up quickly at the pump Read More »
When the U.S. government announced plans for student-loan forgiveness in August 2022, many expected spending to rise, consistent with evidence that increases in liquidity can boost household consumption . The intuition was simply if households expect lower future payments, they may feel more comfortable spending. In practice, though, it seems there is little evidence of
Recessions, bull markets, and rising unemployment seem to leave almost no trace on the audio features of chart-topping songs
Do hit songs move with the economy? Read More »
