Economics

With Jeremy Lin's standout performances bringing a sudden shine to the otherwise lackluster New York Knicks, a number of companies have hitched their wagons to his star to buff up their brands. And with the value of such an association easy to see, why wouldn't they?

Online retailer Overstock.com ended its last fiscal year on a strong note, and now it's gearing up for an international expansion. Outspoken CEO Patrick Byrne discusses the company, as well as his views on sales tax, short selling and the economy.

The economy appears to be heading into a rare, but oft-predicted, scenario of strong growth and low inflation called "Goldilocks." While it's been called before, experts might be right this time around.

Economic theories have long helped investors improve their portfolios, but can they also help improve your marriage? A new book called Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage and Dirty Dishes, argues the answer is yes.

Recent market sell-offs may have been more about paranoia than about real risk. JPMorgan calculations indicate that the potential impact of rising oil prices on the economy may be less than most investors think. But the fear factor itself also can't be overlooked.

Worried about the meaning of existence? You might want to check out Raj Patel's best-selling book The Value of Nothing. Its message about how we value -- and misvalue -- the world and ourselves charts a middle path toward a society in which our economic choices aren't dominated by Big Brother or big corporations.

Oil prices fell Friday in Asia after the U.S. Labor Department reported that more unemployed workers applied for aid last week. Fears that the U.S. economic recovery could be slow is keeping oil investors wary.

The U.S. economy has strengthened, but not enough for the government to pare down its bond-buying program, according to the latest Fed minutes. In late 2010, investments rose and the job market improved -- but the housing market remained depressed.

Just as the euro has begun recovering from Ireland's meltdown, another financial crisis is brewing in Spain. The country could be headed for a bailout or reorganization, experts say. How low could the euro go?

The deficit grew to a higher-than-expected $150.4 billion in November as government spending increased for the month. But November brought some bright spots as well: Federal revenue also grew at a higher rate in November, which confirms that the economy is expanding.