From the French Revolution to the rise of the Communist Party in China, inequality has been the primary motivating factor of the great evolutions of society. Many commentators seem to have hit the nail on the head with their observations that human history could best be described as a progression of times when groups which
The current predicaments of Greece and Puerto Rico have been a long time in the making. No single policy or economic agreement is to blame, but the difficulties involved in both situations are likely to negatively impact many people, creditors and debtors alike. Unfortunately, regardless of the resolutions, it is probable that the poor will
A number of people advised me not to write a column involving fraud and charities, especially religious-based charities, because they considered it controversial. As I was deciding whether or not to do so, a good friend advised me that the potential controversy is exactly the reason why I should write such an piece, so here
Globally, approximately 325 million people suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Experts estimate that helping these people comes to a lifetime cost of around $300,000 per person. The cost to society includes more than just dollar cost: it includes the potential isolating impact on entire lives. This isolation can limit professional and educational opportunities
Explore the UN’s SDG website: Act Now
In September 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York, new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) were adopted. These SDG’s address a comprehensive range of issues, from poverty, health and hunger, to gender equality, climate
On July 16, 1969, at 9:32 in the morning, a Saturn V rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission, known as Apollo 11, would prove to be arguably the most successful space mission in history, carrying three astronauts safely to the moon and back. Throughout the mission, news outlets, newspapers, reporters, and other
The philosophy behind an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) has three parts, according to ESOP advisors: broaden ownership of capital, create financial security and incentives, and urge better employee productivity. It is a wonder that ESOPs are not more prevalent with such a philosophy.
ESOPs are not new. The early makings of an ESOP began in
Across the United States, it is not uncommon to see billboards and advertisements for a local lottery. These are often joined by other joint lotteries, some of which cover several states. While the variety is seemingly endless, all the ads and sponsorships of the games share one trait: a warning. Often found in the fine
As 2014 begins, all across the world the rush of New Year’s resolutions has crested. Many of these resolutions involve getting a better job, working harder or simply saving more. One common goal is developing a so-called “Rainy Day Fund”: extra cash available in case of emergency. Yet, for the majority, this fund never materializes and
About The Authors
John Hoffmire, PhD
John Hoffmire is the director of the Center on Business and Poverty at the University of Wisconsin School of Business and faculty associate at the Puelicher Center for Banking Education at UW-Madison. Before starting the Center on Business and Poverty in 2004, John had a 20-year career in equity investing, venture
Small businesses are a very essential component of the economic and financial fabric of emerging market countries such as Mexico.
In order for a company to secure a business loan from a bank in Mexico, the owner(s) will need to put up some form of collateral. The collateral can be in the form of business or
How do college students behave financially and plan for the future? Are college students’ financial planning skills getting better over time?
Those are the questions that Money Matters on Campus has tried to answer.
Money Matters on Campus, a study conducted by EverFi and sponsored by Higher One, details the findings from a three-year survey of 43,000
Financial-wellness plans aim to help employees cut their debt, invest for retirement.
By Rachel Feintzeig , Wall Street Journal
Companies are expanding their wellness programs to focus on workers’ wallets in addition to their waistlines.
Meredith Corp., Staples Inc. and PepsiCo Inc., among others, have begun offering programs aimed at improving employees’ financial security.
Modeled after physical-wellness programs
Wealth inequality is an issue that influences many societies. The top one percent of people own 40 percent of global wealth, whereas the bottom half has only one percent. But what, if anything, to do about this is unclear.
A first step may be to understand relative inequality. One measure is the Gini Index. The higher
The discourse around climate change is often spiced by vested interests, denial, skepticism, exaggeration and inertia. Even in rare constructive moments, the discussions are primarily limited to factual and technical analysis. This overriding focus on supposedly “objective” parameters only serves to blunt the effectiveness of our responses.
The European Science Foundation’s recently completed Responses to Environmental
What do superheroes and mentors, financial calculators and online courses have in common? Each is a financial wellness tool developed by Visa, Staples Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Operation Hope to teach youths financial literacy.
Financial wellness is the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for
Today the world consumes over 12,700 Mtoe (million of tons of oil or equivalent) or 1.47 E12 terawatt hours of energy. The majority of that energy consumption (92 percent) comes in the form of fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas. However, these sources of energy are finite and are fast being exhausted.
With
As more and more American workers reflect on their ability to secure a financially comfortable retirement, the mismatch between when they think they will retire and when they actually do provokes both concern and reflection. Retirement ages have undoubtedly increased over the past decade — a 2015 analysis by the Centre for Retirement Research at
Money makes the world go ’round. And because so much of what we all do revolves around money — making it, spending it, saving it and investing it — understanding how money works and being financially literate is important.
Financial literacy describes an individual’s ability to understand how to manage money. It measures how an individual
The European Union is in the midst of a crisis of conscience. From their headquarters in Brussels, EU leaders have spent years promoting a brand of acceptance, morally driven policies and socially responsible approaches to challenges throughout the world. And yet, in recent months, these policies have been leaving behind thousands of people, often at
