Lastest Stories by Alexander E.M. Hess

ThinkstockU.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.5% in 2012 after growing 1.6% in 2011, the most the economy has grown since 2006. Nationally, manufacturing, trade and the finance and insurance...
ThinkstockOne in every five jobs in the United States required a high level of knowledge in science, technology, engineering or math as of 2011. Since the industrial revolution, the share of these...
ThinkstockThe Great Recession left many families in need of greater economic security. Although federal programs provide some safety net, the states supply much of the security. A new report rated...
ThinkstockThe United States is the only developed country in the world without a single legally required paid vacation day or holiday. By law, every country in the European Union has at least four...
ThinkstockMost people know that a mansion costs much more than a farmhouse. What many might not be aware of is that the style of a home can also have a major impact on its price. A...
ThinkstockThe number of poor people in U.S. suburbs rose by 63.6% between 2000 and 2011, from 10 million to well over 16 million people. For the first time, there are now more people living in...
Courtesy Maersk LineOver the past decade, U.S. exports to China have grown at an annual rate of nearly 17% each year. In 2012 alone, the 50 states shipped more than $100 billion worth of goods. After...
ThinkstockThe number of Americans receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) more-than doubled over the past two decades, from 5.2 million to 11.7 million by the end of 2011. The number of...
ThinkstockLast year, more than two-thirds of all people surveyed said they felt safe walking alone at night, according to a Gallup poll conducted in 134 countries. But in 31 countries, less than half...
ThinkstockSick days are estimated to cost the U.S. economy $84 billion each year. According to the latest data released in a joint study by Gallup and Healthways, some professions miss substantially...
courtesy of McDonald'sOne half of Americans went to McDonald’s at least once in March, according to location analytics group Placed Insights. Nearly four in ten Americans visited Walmart, the next...
ThinkstockLast year, the average American driver wasted 38 hours sitting in traffic. While the occasional traffic jam inconveniences most drivers, some unlucky people live in the nation’s most...
There’s no doubt that great strides have been made in air pollution. Awareness, stricter legislation and improved technology have all contributed to improved air, land and water conditions. In...
ThinkstockThe federal government gave out more than $40 billion for research and development (R&D) to universities across the country in fiscal 2011. Universities depend heavily on federal...
IslandAirThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week it would be closing nearly 150 air traffic control towers around the country due to budget cuts required by the sequester. While...