America's First Big-City Bankruptcy of 2013
For the time being at least, Detroit can claim the distinction of having been the biggest U.S. city to ever go completely bust.
insolvency
Social Security Going Bust? That's the Small Problem
The woes Social Security faces have generated plenty of worried talk lately, but even if nothing changes, it'll be solvent until 2036. But Medicare, the other major government program that retirees rely on, is on course for financial disaster years sooner. That program, of course, is Medicare, and the funding situation for the portion of its benefits that retirees receive looks even scarier than Social Security's prospects right now.
What's Really Wrong With Letting Banks Pay Big Dividends
The Federal Reserve is finally admitting that not all the big banks are healthy: Bank of America won't get to pay increased dividends. But none of those financial giants should be allowed to, and a logical look at the reasons they say they want to dole out the cash makes it totally clear why.
Commercial Real Estate's Big Threat to Economy
Losses on commercial property loans are one problem. But a bigger, often-overlooked, risk is the potential for CRE to be a drag on the U.S. economy for years to come, or its potential to trigger a slide back, into a double-dip recession.
