This is the inaugral edition of New & Noteworthy: United States. This week's installment includes new research on breadwinner moms, a report on the installment loan industry and a story about bulk buying as an investment technique and alternative to savings.
- ProPublica recently published an investigative report on the practices of the installment loan industry, specifically highlighting the effect of the loans on low-income borrowers and the regulatory issues facing lenders.
- Breadwinner Moms, a new report from Pew Research shows the percentage of married and single breadwinner mothers, and single, have grown in size in the past five decades. Of all households with children younger than 18, the share of married mothers who out-earn their husbands has gone up from 4% in 1960 to 15% in 2011 while the share of families led by single mothers tripled (from 7% to 25% during the same time period).
- Economist Russ Roberts joins NPR’s Uri Berliner in a trip through the wholesale market to explain the theory behind using bulk buying as an investment technique and alternative to savings. According to Roberts, low inflation rates of 1.7% still outpace the average savings account and if inflation rises in the near future, goods bought today could be worth more in the future often generating higher rates of returns than current investment options.
Editor's Note:
If you were hoping that the faiV would be a pleasant distraction from the overwhelming flow of AI-related content, sorry. For the record, the faiV had “ai” built in before Anthropic existed. And a housekeeping note: we’ve finally jumped ship from Mailchimp to NYU’s mailing platform—I guess if you’re reading this it’s been a seamless transition and if you’re not, well, you’re not. Feedback on the faiV’s content and format and delivery methods is always welcome, just drop me an email.
- Tim Ogden