In many countries, banks act like the nervous system of the economy. If they misbehave, the whole country can feel pain. Researchers wanted to see what makes banks act well or poorly, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. They looked at ten commercial banks from 2015 to 2020, all of whi
Taxes shape how much people keep from each paycheck, but those amounts vary wildly depending on where they live. A fresh look at state tax burdens shows Hawaii tops the list, where residents give up 13. 3 percent of their income to state and local taxes—more than double what Alaskans pay. The breakd
A Florida‑based corporation recently secured a refund of corporate net income tax from Pennsylvania’s Board of Finance and Revenue. The company had paid taxes for the 2022 year, claiming that its business in Pennsylvania was minimal—just taking orders for physical goods. According to the law, if a c
The study looked at how everyday habits linked to weight gain in South Korea before and during the pandemic. Researchers compared data from 2019, a year before COVID‑19 hit South Korea, with 2020, when lockdowns and social restrictions were in place. They focused on two types of obesity: overall bod
Utah has updated how it handles taxes for certain businesses and rentals. One big change makes a special tax rule for pass-through entities permanent. These are businesses where profits go to owners instead of being taxed at the company level. Now, those owners can keep using this tax setup without
The idea of a “K‑shaped” economy shows that the richest people are growing faster than everyone else, but many of them are actually walking on shaky ground. The top 20 % of households earn between $160, 000 and $700, 000. About half of them are close to financial trouble because they have a lot o
In the last winter, Maryland’s residents faced unusually cold temperatures while their electricity bills climbed. The state’s utility company is set to raise rates three more times in the next months, which will hit low‑income families hard. Many homes in the Mid‑Atlantic are old and drafty, relying
The state has just rolled out a new tax credit that could give almost one million Pennsylvanians up to $805 each, totaling about $193 million in savings. The credit is called the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and works exactly like the federal Earned Income Tax Credit: if a taxpayer qualifies fo
Washington state has approved a new tax that will target people who make more than one million dollars each year. The bill was passed by the Senate with a 27‑to‑21 vote and will now go to Governor Bob Ferguson for his signature. The measure is not as controversial in the Senate as it was earlier in
Business Development Companies, or BDCs, often promise big dividends that can tempt investors looking for steady income. The allure is strong: many BDCs offer returns that beat traditional bonds and some stocks, which makes them seem like a gold mine for retirees or anyone needing cash flow. But
