Lastest Stories by Alexander E.M. Hess

ThinkstockIs the American Dream dead? The vast majority of Americans born into poverty are unable to make much more than their parents. According to data released earlier this week from a study...
ThinkstockOn Thursday, the city of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. The total value of the city’s outstanding obligations are estimated at more than $18 billion. This makes the...
For the second year in a row, 24/7 Wall St. has identified America’s worst companies to work for. While company management can improve employee satisfaction, most of the companies on our list...
ThinkstockU.S. gasoline prices have fluctuated between $3.40 and $3.60 for the past few months. As of Tuesday, the average fuel price nationwide was $3.63 per gallon, up from $3.48 per gallon a week...
24/7 Wall St. identified the worst car dealerships in the country based on Pied Piper’s Prospect Satisfaction Index. The index considered the dealership experience of 5,200 mystery shoppers who...
ThinkstockMore than half of the world’s population believes corruption in the public sector is a very serious problem. Liberia and Mongolia are the two most corrupt countries in the world,...
ThinkstockAfter falling for three straight years, U.S. beer consumption finally leveled off last year. In 2012, the country consumed 28.2 gallons of beer for every adult of legal age. Annual beer...
courtesy of The Car Spy, via Wikimedia CommonsFor some automakers, building a base of new customers is very important. These are often new brands with smaller market shares. For other automakers,...
courtesy of Leonid Mamchenkov, via WikimediaJust over a decade ago, Sony Ericsson was one of the hottest cell phone makers in the world. Similarly, Cingular was one of the most popular wireless...
ThinkstockHistorically, health care spending among developed nations has grown considerably each year. However, beginning in 2010, spending has flattened. Based on figures published last week by the...
ThinkstockFrom rural covered passes to modern engineering marvels, bridges overcome natural obstacles and expedite transportation. Yet many of the bridges that people drive on every day are in rough...
courtesy of Ford Motor CompanyWhen Americans want to buy a car, nearly one in six will consider buying a Ford. While not all buyers drive off with one, consumer consideration is a good measure of...
courtesy Deere & Co.Few things are more tied to a company’s identity than its logo. Who isn’t familiar with Nike’s swoosh or McDonald’s golden arches? A good logo helps consumers...
ThinkstockLess than a third of the nation’s workers were actively engaged in their jobs last year, according to a Gallup report released this week. Gallup’s State of the American Workplace showed...
ThinkstockAfter falling for five consecutive years, the number of violent crimes across the United States rose by 1.2% in 2012. Based on data published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),...