Downsizing the American Black Middle Class By Bryce Covert Feature Government jobs helped thousands of Black families move into the middle class. Now, increasing calls for government privatization are pushing them back out.
Big Problems and Big Paychecks in West Texas Oil Country By Aaron Gilbreath Highlight As the current oil boom attests. West Texas’ oil deposits come with high social and environmental costs.
The American Worth Ethic By Bryce Covert Feature Like so many of our lofty ideals, the “American Work Ethic” is actually two different standards — one for the wealthy and one for the poor — with two different interpretations of what work looks like.
“The Glitter-scurfed Frappuccinos” Is Totally the Name of My New Band By Michelle Weber Highlight Don’t disrespect the fish. Or do! It’s your dinner.
Maybe What We Need Is … More Politics? By Aaron Timms Feature Recent books by economists who hope to “save capitalism” dismiss popular ideas as “just politics.” But why assume the popular is the enemy of the good?
Longreads Best of 2018: Business Writing By Longreads Reading List We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in business writing.
You Have to Make Money to Make Money By Michelle Weber Highlight Is that not how the saying goes? Someone tell Amazon.
Monopoly vs. the Magic Cape By Will Meyer Feature Trust busting is a great idea. But would it be enough?
How Offshore Banking Destroyed Everything By Aaron Gilbreath Highlight This is the story of how a handfull of mega-rich ended up hoarding most of the world’s wealth.
Happy, Healthy Economy By Livia Gershon Feature Growth is only worth something if it makes people feel good.
I Paid $710 to Sneak Into This Club By Michelle Weber Highlight We wear slogan tees to signal our politics and identify ourselves to like-minded thinkers — but maybe they mask more than they reveal.
The Difference Between Being Broke and Being Poor By Erynn Brook Feature It’s a recognition that comes in the aisle of a grocery store.
Man vs. Gig: Doug Schifter’s Last Stand By Michelle Weber Highlight An important look at a dysfunctional industry, and a master class in profile writing.
It Turns Out No One’s in Kansas Anymore By Michelle Weber Highlight Kansas is great at growing wheat, but growing wheat hasn’t been great for Kansas.
This Essay is the Very Pineapple of Writing By Michelle Weber Highlight This is the most important pineapple-themed essay you’ll read today.
One Consequence of Cannabis Legalization is Market Saturation By Aaron Gilbreath Highlight Supply side economics is clogging the overstuffed bowl of Oregon’s booming cannabis market, and there are not enough lighters in Oregon to smoke all the product.
Steve Bannon’s New Scheme By Aaron Gilbreath Highlight Exactly what has Steve Bannon been up to since leaving the White House in August?
The Dead Man Fund By Longreads Feature How the world’s worst investor fleeced clients who couldn’t complain.
What We’re Not Talking About When We Talk About Tiny House Hunters By Michelle Weber Highlight Big economic anxieties, writ small.
TFW You’re Training the Worker That Will Take Your Job Away By Krista Stevens Highlight What do you do when you’ve only got a G.E.D and your high-paying union job goes to Mexico?
Multi-Level Marketing’s Feminine Mystique: A Reading List By Erin Blakemore Reading List The commodification of female friendship began in the suburban living room. Today, it’s booming online.
The Arsonist Was Like a Ghost By Longreads Feature It was the thirtieth fire in less than two months. Who was trying to burn down Accomack County?
Percy Ross Wants to Give You Money! By Jacqui Shine Feature He was was a self-made, blue-collar millionaire in Reagan’s America. But when Percy Ross decided to give away his fortune, he made things simple: all you had to do was ask for it.
Tell Me What Donut You Prefer, and I’ll Tell You Who You Are By Michelle Weber Highlight Have you ever thought really hard about donuts? Like, 7,000 words hard? Keaton Lamle did.
You Just Can’t Find a Good Deal in Kreuzlingen These Days By Michelle Weber Highlight In Roads & Kingdoms, Milan Gagnon tells the stories of Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, and Konstanz, Germany — one city full of empty storefronts, and the other full of empty souls.
I’d Gladly Pay You Tomorrow For a Hamburger Today, If Only My Debit Card Weren’t Frozen By Michelle Weber Highlight Ubiquitous digital payments: harbinger of a glorious future, or smokescreen for powerful interests that want to control (and undermine) choice and capitalism?
Mill? We Don’t Need No Stinking Mill. We’ve Got a Marathon! By Michelle Weber Highlight In Down East magazine, Kathryn Miles profiles marathon runner Gary Allen, founder of the Millinocket Marathon — an engine of revitalization in a downtrodden town.
