How a California City Wants to Rescue Struggling Homeowners

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The American housing market is growing stronger. Yet many areas are still sufferingfrom the collapse of the market in 2008. Richmond is a small city California. More than half of the homeowners there owe more for their home loans than the properties are currently worth. Such loans are risky for […]

A Way for Some Wealthy Investors to Get US Visas

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. What do these four things have in common: a proposed wind farm in the American state of Washington; a gold mine in Idaho; a new casino in Las Vegas; and ski resortexpansions in Vermont? They are all investments for wealthy foreigners seeking green cards to live in the […]

South Africa Faces Labor Imbalance

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The South African Department of Labor reported last month that the nation has too few jobs for unskilled laborers. The department also said there are not enough workers for highly skilled positions. The sharp differences between jobs and skills were apparent recently when officials advertised a job opening in the government. […]

Reopening of Kaesong Industrial Complex

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. North and South Korea reopened their joint factory zone recently. Lines of trucks and cars crossed South Korea’s northern border on the way to Kaesong, North Korea. About 800 South Korean workers and their supervisors entered the jointly operated Kaesong Industrial Complex. They brought materials and parts to restart production for […]

How Stress Affects Mental Bandwidth

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. New research shows how a lack of money, food or even time can affect decision making and the ability to act. In the book, “Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much,” Professors Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir examine the mental stress of dealing with a lack […]

What the US ‘Debt Ceiling’ Means

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. There has been a lot of talk about the “debt ceiling” in the United States. The debt ceiling is a legal limit on how much the federal government can borrow. Political disputes over that amount have concerned investors in recent weeks. American lawmakers must negotiate a new debt ceiling […]

Calls for Reform Increase as China’s Economy Slows

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. This has been a year of change in China. The Chinese economy is slowing down. And many citizens are calling for social and economic reforms. For the past 30 years, economic growth in China has lifted millions of people out of poverty. The country is now a […]

South Africa’s Economy Has Expanded in the Past 20 Years

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. A new report is praising South Africa for its economic growth over the past 20 years. The investment banking company Goldman Sachs examined South Africa’s economic progress since the end of white, minority rule. The report says the value of goods […]

Gold Is Becoming a Major Conflict Mineral

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Researchers have produced a new map of mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The map shows mines under the control of the Congolese army and armed groups. The study suggests that the top “conflict mineral” from the area is now gold. A Belgian group, the International Peace Information […]

United Nations: Re-Think Ways to Help Least Developed.

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. A United Nations report says the world’s poorest countries should re-examine their economic policies. It says these countries are failing to create jobs for their citizens.The report says the policies will not reduce poverty because so few jobs are being created. And it warns of social unrest and growing numbers of immigrants if the situation […]