The most recent state-level employment figures remind us that this economic recovery, like the recession that preceded it, is astonishingly uneven across the United States. more

More than 2 million U.S. college students this fall will be spending a good bit of their time reviewing what they were supposed to learn in high school or even earlier. They are taking “remedial” education courses. more

What do David Brancaccio (journalist, documentary filmmaker and host of American Public Media’s Marketplace), Martin Keen (the creative genius behind Keen Footwear and now Focal Upright Furniture), and Saul Kaplan (author and chief catalyst of the Business Innovation Factory) all have in common? more

In the U.S., “middle class” is not just an income category. It’s a cultural norm. more

Despite economic challenges that persist in many countries around the world, Rhode Island continues to be actively engaged in the global economy. more

Wall Street has pulled off the greatest scam of all-time. I am not talking about the TARP plan, QE 1, 2 and soon 3, or even the transfer of trillions of dollars to the world’s banks through negative real interest rates set by the Fed. Rather, the extraordinary sleight of hand that Wall Street has pulled off is the transfer of risk from virtually all forms of investing to the government. more

In a challenging economy, nothing seems more important for employers than productivity during the workday. The focus is on meeting your goals, serving the needs of your customers, managing major issues and/or creating innovative new products or services. While these are critical priorities, it’s also important to consider how your big picture could be positively impacted by other things, such as serving the community. more

Recently, two reports underscored the potential for improving the value of health care in the United States. more

I have always been somewhat apolitical, never registering with either major party, spreading votes among both, and even others occasionally. And I realize that many people feel strongly about their political positions these days. Still, it seems to me that life goes on regardless of who gets elected. I am more comfortable focused on pragmatism, what will actually work, than any political ideology. more

This is now the standard line from Wall Street lobbyists: Don’t worry about “too big to fail” financial institutions because the Dodd-Frank Act fixed the problem. more