In the past, the study of international trade often focused on differences in labor, land and capital, as well as the distance between trading partners. But economists are increasingly looking at the role played by institutions, specifically those that enforce contracts and curb corruption.

Official poverty rates are on the rise in the United States. But does this necessarily mean that more people can’t meet their basic needs? This article examines how poverty is calculated and looks at the criticisms of these measures.

It is not uncommon to observe negative interest rates during uncertain times, when investors flee to safety. But the existence of negative market yields provides no support for policies in which central banks set negative interest rates on deposits held at a central bank.

Has the competitive balance tilted away from banks and toward credit unions, given the latter’s tax exemption and more-recent ability to draw members from wider pools? Whether it has or not, both industries have seen similar trend growth over the past 15 years—and, in fact, have come to...