BNPL Traps: Holiday Shopping’s Siren Song of Debt The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the temptation to splurge. This year, “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services are luring consumers with promises of easy, interest-free installments. But…
The Price is…Right Where It Is? Why Trump’s Promise Faces Reality Former President Donald Trump, during his 2024 campaign, made a bold promise: lower prices across the board, starting “on day one.” Now back in office, he touts a booming…
IRS Scraps Direct File: A Blow to Free Tax Filing In a move that could impact millions of taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the discontinuation of its Direct File program, a pilot initiative launched in 2024 that…
Open Banking: A Risky Shortcut to Loan Approval? Facing loan rejection due to a less-than-stellar credit score? Prepare for a new proposition: grant lenders access to your bank account. This emerging trend, known as “open banking,” is rapidly gaining traction…
The Century-Old Tax Game: How the Rich Stay Rich For over a century, the concept of “taxing the rich” has been a cornerstone of modern fiscal policy. The introduction of income and estate taxes in the early 20th century was…
Across America, families are facing unprecedented financial pressures, forcing them to turn to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe for basic necessities. While GoFundMe has become a ubiquitous tool for everything from medical expenses to dream vacations, its increasing use for everyday…
Power Shock: Electricity Bills Soar, Squeezing American Budgets American households are facing an unwelcome jolt: skyrocketing electricity bills. Residential electricity rates across the United States have surged, rising more than 30% on average since 2020, a pace nearly double the…
The French Retirement Paradox: A Lesson for Social Security Reform? The looming crisis surrounding the solvency of the U.S. Social Security system demands immediate attention. While various proposals for reform are circulating, a recent observation by economist Tyler Cowen highlighting…
**Trump’s Embrace of Industrial Policy: A Break from Free-Market Principles?** For decades, the Republican Party platform has been synonymous with staunch free-market capitalism, a philosophy deeply rooted in the laissez-faire principles of Adam Smith. The “invisible hand” of the market,…
