According to economists, in the 1980s and 1990s, immigration of low-skilled workers may have increased the labor supply of highly skilled women, and immigration of highly skilled workers may have increased the rate of innovation in the United States.

Before the current recession, soaring stock prices and housing values made many Americans feel well off, and thus many were lax in saving for retirement. The current financial market downturn has erased much of the previous gains, leaving many workers unprepared for retirement.

While many believe that money does buy happiness, research shows that richer people aren't necessarily happier people, especially in the United States.

Businesses have found that it can pay off to engage in social stewardship, such as donating to charity, protecting the environment and nurturing a diverse and safe workplace.

Cities initially more specialized in older technologies may have had more difficulty adapting to newer technologies because skills in initially dominant industries were not useful to new industries.