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The Regional Economist

April 2012

College Degrees: Why Aren't More People Making the Investment?

The benefits of a college diploma are many, including higher pay, lower unemployment, maybe even better health. Yet many high school graduates still do not pursue a college degree. This article examines several key reasons why more people aren’t making this investment in themselves.

A Look at Credit Default Swaps and Their Impact on the European Debt Crisis

Did you know that buying a credit default swap can be like buying insurance on your neighbor’s car—and then getting paid when that neighbor has an accident? Learn the ABCs of CDS, and find out why they are so important to any discussion of the European debt crisis.

When Oil Prices Jump, Is Speculation To Blame?

Whenever the price at the pump climbs week after week, people start pointing fingers at investment banks, hedge funds and other speculators. This article quantifies the role that speculation played in the rise of oil prices during the past decade.

President's Message: Recent Actions Increase the Fed's Transparency

New Technology May Cause Stock Volatility

Community Profile: Burned by Loss of Manufacturing, Rural County Vows To Diversify

District Overview: Reallocation of Credit, a Measure of Financial Activity, Has Yet To Bounce Back

National Overview: The U.S. Economy Should Strengthen As Year Goes By

Reader Exchange: Ask an Economist, and Letters to the Editor

The Regional Economist Online-only Content

Earnings Growth Over a Lifetime: Not What It Used To Be

A typical worker's earnings grow over his lifetime. The generation of workers born in the 1910s experienced more growth than the generation born in the 1940s.