Although the founders of the United States didn’t exactly represent a clean break with the past, they did bring several new aspects to the economy. One was the role of individual philanthropy, which is unique in this country. Historical perspective For much of human history, religious organizations or feudal lords handled charitable works. Most of… [Read More]
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Mexico: My upcoming trip, women and philanthropy, and other fun stuff
In March, I received word that I would be representing the University of Illinois at Chicago as the Fulbright-García Robles US Studies chair at the Universidad de Guadalajara for the winter semester. Along with escaping a Chicago winter, I will be teaching a course on business and American culture (FIN 435 in the UIC catalogue),… [Read More]
FAQ: Should I take up day trading?
A lot of people buy Day Trading For Dummies and ask themselves, “Should I take up day trading?” In most cases, the answer is no. Day trading is not a steady investment program. It is an activity that makes money for some people and loses ridiculous amounts for others. That’s all there is to it. Day trading… [Read More]
Cutting Inequality by Cutting (Some) College Giving
Harvard got a new president, Lawrence Bacow, on July 1, arriving as we are grapple with inequality as a nation. In the June issue of The Atlantic, Matthew Stewart wrote about the new aristocracy. They aren’t the plutocrats who control 0.1% of American wealth, but rather the aristocrats who control the next 9.9%. That would… [Read More]
Recapping Velvet: Season 1, Episode 4, “Nothing Is That Easy”
Warning: there are plenty of spoilers about the Spanish drama Velvet ahead. Fashion Insight: Wedding dresses are the ultimate design and dressmaking challenge Ross and Rachel of the Week: Clara and Pedro Spanish Culture Clue: The wedding preparations seem very similar to wedding preparations in the US. Language Point: Devastatingly Handsome Maximiliano has tortilla española for dinner. When… [Read More]