Arithmetic Is on China’s Side

Eden Collinsworth / Truthdig Aug 9, 2017 Even before Donald Trump, the Asian giant was chipping away at U.S. dominance. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Economist Richard Wolff on Why All Debts Should Periodically Be Forgiven (Video)

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Mar 21, 2017 The former University of Massachusetts economics professor explains the historical role of credit in helping to preserve communities. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

No Conflict Here: 150 Wall Street Firms Own Over $1.5 Billion of Donald Trump’s Debt

By Lauren McCauley / Common Dreams Jan 6, 2017 An analysis published in The Wall Street Journal revealed the scope of Trump's web of debt and the financial institutions "in a potentially powerful position over the incoming president." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Older Americans Pushed Into Poverty as Feds Garnish Social Security for Student Debt

By Deirdre Fulton / Common Dreams Dec 22, 2016 Data from the Government Accountability Office showed that people over the age of 50 are the fastest-growing group with student debt, outpacing younger generations. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Trump Wants to Make the 1 Percent Even Richer—and Use Washington’s Deceptive Language to Do It

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Nov 28, 2016 Political economist Michael Hudson explains how economic terms such as “capital gains” are deployed to mislead the public about who is benefiting from economic policy and where the wealth is going. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

Funding California Schools: Proposition 51 Versus a State-Owned Bank

By Ellen Brown / Web of Debt Oct 20, 2016 By borrowing from its own state-chartered, state-owned bank, California could save over $10 billion on a $9 billion loan. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

The World Bank and the IMF Are Enabling the Next Crisis

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Oct 10, 2016 A fresh global economic disaster is brewing, and the authors of world financial policy don't acknowledge their role in creating it. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Photo of the Week: The Latest Devastation of Haiti

BLANK Oct 9, 2016 Why is Haiti so vulnerable to disaster? In addition to geography, there's a legacy of debt, poverty, political instability, foreign exploitation and negligence, corruption and violence. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Americans Are Drowning in Credit Card Debt, and It’s Not Because They Are ‘Irresponsible’

By Sarah Lazare / AlterNet Sep 13, 2016 Systemic inequalities play a key role in our alarmingly high level of credit card debt. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Puerto Rico in Crisis as Obama Authorizes Federal Financial Control (Multimedia)

Staff / Truthdig Jul 1, 2016 Puerto Ricans took to the streets Thursday to protest what they see as a return to colonialist policy after President Obama signed an emergency measure to put the island’s finances under the oversight of the federal government.Puerto Ricans took to the streets Thursday to protest after President Obama signed an emergency measure to put the island’s finances under the oversight of the federal government. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Debt Deflation — the Economic Concept That Proves Market Optimists Wrong

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2016 Western economies are shrinking as people are compelled to spend more and more of their income on credit card, mortgage and college debt, leaving less and less for goods and services, says financial economist Michael Hudson. Dig deeper ( 30 Min. Read )

John Oliver Bought Nearly $15 Million in Medical Debt to Prove a Point in an Incredible Way (Video)

Staff / Truthdig Jun 6, 2016 The "Last Week Tonight" host discovered just how easy it is to get into the debt collection business and then go after payment, something that often results in the persecution of innocent people. Oliver then made television history Sunday night. (Take that, Oprah!) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )