recession (Page 8)

Will there be an end to the current economic recession soon? Most Americans are pretty gloomy, but?surprisingly?economists have a brighter outlook on the future.

Economic historian Robert Whaples takes the long view: he says that he and the “vast, vast majority” of his peers are more optimistic about the future than a recent poll found average Americans to be. Whaples has come to see the field of economics not as the so-called “dismal science” but rather as the “cheerful science”?which is not how the rest of us see it!
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…while their employees are paid so little – Amid the current economic crisis, the debate over CEO pay has intensified. Now more than ever, people are asking, “Are CEOs overpaid?”

Psychologist Jerald Greenberg says, “As resources become scarce, we become increasingly careful about how to spend them, so if a CEO’s salary appears to be wasted, people become concerned about it.”
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…sometimes – Something most of us want to know: Are the homeless people we see on our streets and in our parks violent? Most of them are mentally ill and many of them are also addicted to either alcohol or drugs.

Violence appears to be more common among those with mental illness ONLY when they ALSO report substance abuse or dependence. Researchers Eric B. Elbogen and Sally C. Johnson say, “The highest risk…[is for] subjects with a history of violence, who showed nearly 10 times higher risk of violence compared with subjects with severe mental illness only.”
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Hint: No catsup on the burger – The typical American consumer is accustomed to unwrapping a hamburger from their favorite fast food establishment and finding “the works:” lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a few packets of ketchup on the side. However, according to researcher John Stanton, the “frills” that come with fast food or restaurant meals could become a thing of the past. He says, “In an environment where food companies are reducing the size of packages and charging more for products, consumers can expect to pay for what they used to get for free.”
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