Programs that help low-income and minority individuals and families purchase a home may be doing more harm than good, according to a Kansas State University economist.
A new study co-authored by University of Law professor Katherine Porter found that federal bankruptcy reforms that took effect in 2005 have not protected low-income people nor forced well-off people to pay their debts, as the law intended.
University of Alabama retail expert Kristy Reynolds predicts the upcoming holiday season for retailers will be the worst since the recession in the early 1980s when the nation was hit by increased bankruptcies, agricultural exports plummeted, crop prices fell, interest rates increased, and the federal budget deficit jumped.
During tough economic times, no job is safe, however, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, working for the government may be one of the safest careers to have during a recession. Bureau statistics show that the government fires and lays off workers at 25 percent the rate of the private sector.
American University experts are available to discuss the G20 emergency global financial summit in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, November 15. For complete expert profiles, see AU's online Experts Guide.
Ludwig Bstieler, associate professor of marketing at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics, is available to discuss the return of layaway programs, a popular method of purchasing created during the Great Depression.
With more companies struggling during the economic downturn, employees may be more prone to blame someone else for problems they have caused, according to a management professor who studies behavior in the workplace.
Financial problems are often a family problem and parents need to manage stress so they do not transfer their anxiety onto their children, according to experts at Kansas State University.
The business of financial fraud at the corporate level historically spikes as those in desperate need of money manipulate company revenues and assets for personal gain, and the trend is the key reason why a career in forensic accounting and information technology (IT) auditing is not only recession-proof but recession-flourishing, according to Tommie Singleton, Ph.D., associate professor of Accounting at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
As 2008 draws to an end, economists at Indiana University and its Kelley School of Business hope that the nation and Indiana can escape 2009 with only a moderate recession -- similar in severity to those in 1990 and in 2001.
As credit markets have tightened, the issue of credit scores has been in the news. And for many people, credit scores measure more than creditworthiness "“ they represent whether someone is trustworthy and responsible in other aspects of their lives. In essence, a credit score reflects personal morality, according to Josh Lauer, assistant professor of communication at the University of New Hampshire.
"One of the biggest challenges for the new administration is the management of the financial crisis bail-out plan. The money has been approved, but nothing has been paid out yet. There is still no official procedure for implementing the bail-out; we don't know how the money will be distributed.
You couldn't ignore the news if you tried. The economic crisis is all over magazines, newspapers and television news programs. So, it's no wonder people are feeling anxious and stressed out. But this stress may be having more of an impact on women than men.
Jonathan Duchac, Fulbright Distinguished Chair at Vienna University of Business and Economics and Merrill Lynch Professor of Accountancy and director of the Enterprise Risk Management program at Wake Forest University's Calloway School of Business and Accountancy, will address the global financial crisis in a speech at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the United States Embassy in Vienna, Austria.
Expert Tom Simpson, Federal Reserve Board veteran and University of North Carolina Wilmington executive in residence explains why global economic recovery will be slow in 2009, the elements that lead to our declining economic situation and the reasons why our current crisis is not as severe as the depression of the 1930s.
In the midst of an economic crisis that's sparked massive layoffs, new research by a U of T professor shows that even optimists get the blues when facing a pink slip.
Retailers like Kmart and TJ Maxx have experienced a sharp increase in customer demand for their layaway programs, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Holiday consumers see layaway as a payment alternative at a time when credit card companies are reducing purchase limits and access to loans is tightening amid the country's ongoing financial crisis.
In the first study to examine the impact of Federal Home Loan Bank membership and funding on commercial bank risk, a University of Arkansas researcher and colleagues at two Federal Reserve banks found evidence to suggest that member banks have somewhat higher risk profiles than non-member banks.
With the economy in crisis and foreclosures at an all time high, financial anxiety among Americans seems to be soaring to new heights. In a poll distributed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to more than 1,700 U.S. adults, eight out of 10 surveyed said the economy is a significant cause of stress. Menninger clinicians offer seven tips to ease financial anxiety.
In these exciting, hopeful and fearful times the rational quantitative views of one of the nation's leading economic analysts will be expressed when James Hamilton addresses the UC San Diego Social Sciences Supper Club beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Faculty Club on the UCSD Campus. The public is invited to what promises to be a most lively and engaging discussion.
19th Annual Conference on Financial Reporting and Management gathers standard setters, enforcement officials, financial executives, practitioners and academicians to address the critical role and future of financial reporting worldwide.
While the United States economy has yet to hit the official benchmark of a recession, two Iowa State University economists agree that it appears headed there fast, particularly in the wake of the financial crisis. And they warn that businesses and consumers should make plans for tougher economic times ahead.
Sam Webb, Ph.D., a UAB associate professor of history, says the Great Depression caused southern voters in the 1930s to choose more liberal political candidates, and the same could happen again today as a result of the current economic crisis.
For centuries, autumn has been the season for financial disaster. Modern practices of managing our credit system were supposed to have changed all that. But the panic of 2008 and the market crash of 1987 are possible signs that autumn may still be the weakest link in the financial chain.
Political leaders, economic analysts and journalists are comparing the current financial meltdown to the Great Depression. "Worst Crisis Since the '30s, With No End Yet in Sight" was a recent baleful headline from The Wall Street Journal. But while many senior citizens who lived during that time have personal memories of the Depression, for most Americans, the events that occurred between 1929 and the early 40s seem long ago and far away, and they are difficult to imagine as a likely eventuality for the near future.
Members of the Erivan K. Haub School of Business faculty at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia are available to speak about the financial crisis: consumer psychology as it relates to personal finance; impact on business education; mechanics of what's happening on Wall Street; ethical mistakes made at every stage of the subprime-mortgage debacle; taxpayer reaction to the "bailout"; and the job market for graduates.
TV and radio use will likely increase during a prolonged recession, predicts University of Maryland media economist Douglas Gomery. He bases his comments of current audience behavior as well as Great Depression era trends.
In the first three days of the country's economic meltdown that began Sept. 29, 81 percent of Americans surveyed in a national poll agreed or strongly agreed that the financial crisis "poses a greater threat to the quality of my life than does the threat of terrorism." And researchers found little trust in the government and even less in business leaders.
Bryant Simon, professor of history and director of American studies at Temple University, says that there are some obvious similarities and differences between today's crisis and the Great Depression. But one key difference, said Simon, is that society in the 1930s was better organized, and social groups -- such as labor and even small business groups -- were better able to push back against Congress.
With questions over the economy's future becoming more numerous by the day, the business, management and finance experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business are able to provide answers on a range of issues. Six UAB experts offer expert commentary on six topics connected to the country's economic crisis. All are available for print and broadcast interview.
We are not entering another Great Depression, says finance professor Dr. Robert Pritchard of Rowan University. The current fiscal crisis we are facing, he believes, should be close to bottoming out.
The recent collapse of several major financial institutions"”A.I.G., Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Wachovia, and Washington Mutual"”has left the world's financial markets reeling, with no one knowing when the dust will settle.
Rising unemployment rates, the worst Wall Street crises since the end of World War II, record home foreclosures. There is plenty of stress to go around. What effect is stress having on our health and what can we do about it?
Jessica Lepler, assistant professor of history at the University of New Hampshire, is available to discuss the history and culture of economic panics, in particular, the Panic of 1837.
Economic turmoil can lead to couples' arguments. The key is to make those discussions productive, not destructive, said a psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Josh Klapow, Ph.D. offers five tips for a productive financial dialogue.
Uncertainty in a widening global financial crisis is impacting the already fragile psyche of investors and consumers who are worried about their jobs, their homes and their savings/retirement funds. But a Temple University psychologist says the public should remain calm, be cautious and careful, and have confidence.
The election year is in full swing, complete with allegations of class warfare and claims about which candidates cater to the rich. But a new study shows that it would be impossible to cater solely to any socioeconomic group, because people's preferences tend to be overwhelmingly similar when it comes to how the federal government should spend its money.
The latest book from FINANCIAL TIMES columnist Martin Wolf explains why global imbalances cause financial crises--including the one ravaging the United States right now--and outlines the steps for ending this destructive cycle. Sharply and clearly argued, Wolf makes the case that the current financial crisis is a result of a dysfunctional system of global finance.
American University experts are available to provide analysis of the financial crisis, the rescue plan, the impact of both on the economy, small businesses, and U.S. taxpayers.
Average taxpayers are likely to suffer most if Congress cannot find a palatable compromise to the $700 billion bailout that died on the House floor this week.
Wake Forest University will host a panel discussion, "Exploring Today's Financial Crisis: Business, Politics, Ethics and You," at 4 p.m. Oct. 3, at Scales Fine Arts Center's Brendle Recital Hall.
The current economic crisis is having a significant impact in areas far from Wall Street. North Carolina State University has experts who can provide key insights into the crisis' impacts on everything from farmers and agriculture to this year's elections.