economics Archives

Is inflation creating a ‘new normal’ of high food prices?

The cost of groceries is up 12.2% over the past year, an increase that can be especially painful for people with low incomes. Northeastern experts weigh in on the impending crisis.

by Ian Thomsen July 15, 2022

Is gas tax holiday a terrible idea? This economist says yes

Tax cuts are a form of fiscal stimulus that are not currently needed, a Northeastern expert says, especially in the midst of an existential environmental crisis.

by Alena Kuzub June 23, 2022

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. U.S. stocks opened low after rallying to start the week. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Experts not bullish on members of Congress trading stock

Some Northeastern professors well-versed in the economy and Legislature say a ban is warranted for members and other top government officials, but added that it’s a delicate balancing act.

by Jackson Cote - contributor April 21, 2022

now hiring sign on a Sonic Restaurant sign

Here’s why the US labor shortage may not be such a bad thing

The latest jobs reports in the United States present a puzzling fact: Millions of people remain unemployed even as many employers complain of worker shortage. So, what’s going on? Would-be employees are in prime position to bargain for better wages and working conditions, say Northeastern economics scholars.

by Molly Callahan June 22, 2021

Left, Rebecca Leeper, an engineering major who graduated in 2019. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University. Center, Young Alumni Advisory Board member Cory Krzanik. Right, Lisa Randall, a journalism major who graduated in 2016. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Recent grads say giving back, staying connected bring them rewards

Several members of Northeastern’s Young Alumni Advisory Board say Giving Day allows them to express their appreciation to an organization that was pivotal in shaping their lives and careers.

by Hillary Chabot April 7, 2021

Why are women underrepresented in economics? A toxic seminar culture could be partially to blame

Economics professor Alicia Sasser Modestino helped conduct research that shows women in the field face more questions, including hostile or patronizing ones, which may lead them to choose other careers.

by Allie Nicodemo - contributor March 26, 2021

Using a combination of family recipes and those she has developed and refined over the years herself, Zareren Khan churned out meals for weddings, business lunches, and large corporate events before opening her eponymous restaurants in the Northern California cities of Mountain View and Palo Alto. Photos courtesy of Zareen Khan

How one restaurateur is surviving the pandemic

Running a restaurant of her own—much less three—isn’t where Zareen Khan thought she’d end up after graduating from Northeastern with a degree in economics. Now she is relying on her ingenuity and creativity to adapt to the unexpected challenges of the current crisis.

by Khalida Sarwari November 21, 2020

A national coin shortage is the latest consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

An unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic? A national coin shortage.

As people find contactless ways to pay for goods, physical money—particularly coins—have become hard to come by. But the national coin shortage is more than an inconvenience; it has serious consequences for people who routinely pay in cash or don’t have access to a bank account, says William Dickens, university distinguished professor of economics and social policy.

by Molly Callahan July 17, 2020

A man walks past mannequins in the windows of the Macy's store in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston, on April 15, 2020. U.S. retail sales plummeted in March, an unprecedented decline, as the viral outbreak forced an almost complete lockdown of commerce nationwide. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

How will the economy bounce back?

How well, and how quickly, state and federal economies recover from the COVID-19 crisis has everything to do with the choices that officials make now, says economist Alicia Sasser Modestino. “The sky is falling, but we might have some ways to put the pieces back together.”

by Molly Callahan May 1, 2020

Tables are marked off for social distancing at Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries Monday, April 27, 2020, in Nolensville, Tenn. Monday was the first day Tennessee restaurants could reopen, with reduced seating and physical distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

US public is 'firmly opposed' to reopening the economy immediately

A majority of people in the U.S. want to continue physical distancing measures, even as the federal government and some state governors are pushing to re-open the economy, according to a new national survey led by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, and Rutgers.

by Laura Castañón April 30, 2020

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