Global Business / Economy
Is Contactless Payment Making You Spend More Without Realizing It — or Is That Just a Convenient Excuse for Poor Financial Discipline?Contactless payments now account for 40% of all card transactions — and some researchers say the tap-and-go ease is quietly making people spend more without noticing. Jean Chatzky, Ryan Sutton, and Barbara Weltman debate whether contactless payment is eroding financial awareness or whether blaming the method is just an excuse for poor discipline.
Global Business / Economy
Should You Ever Accept Equity in Lieu of Payment for Your Services — or Is That Just a Polite Way of Not Getting Paid?A startup offers you equity instead of cash — and suddenly you're weighing the dream of a big payout against the reality of working for free right now. Mark Suster, Barbara Weltman, and David Baker debate whether accepting equity in lieu of payment is a savvy bet on someone else's future or just a polite way of not getting paid.
Global Business / Economy
Is the 401(k) Still the Best Retirement Vehicle for the Modern Worker — or a Product Designed for a Career Path That No Longer Exists?The 401(k) was designed for a worker who stayed with one company for decades — but 56% of American workers are worried about retirement savings in a world where job-hopping is the norm. Ric Edelman, Liz Weston, and David Rae debate whether the 401(k) still works for the modern worker or was built for a career path that no longer exists.
Global Business / Economy
Is Your Digital Wallet Safer Than Your Physical One — or Are You Trading One Set of Vulnerabilities for a Completely Different One?73% of consumers say they're worried about the safety of digital payments — but is carrying cash and cards actually any safer? Kirk Landes, Susan Collins, and Michael Stone debate whether your digital wallet is a genuine security upgrade or just a different set of vulnerabilities with a better interface.
Global Business / Economy
Bailouts: A Necessary Evil or a Lesson in Fiscal Irresponsibility?When a company is too big to fail, the question isn't just whether to rescue it — it's who pays, who learns the wrong lesson, and what kind of economy gets built on the other side. Carmen Reinhart, Joseph Stiglitz, and Raghuram Rajan debate whether government bailouts are a necessary evil or a masterclass in fiscal irresponsibility.
Credit & Personal Finance
Is Your Credit Card Rewards Program Actually Rewarding You — or Engineering Your Spending Behavior Without You Noticing?73% of consumers report overspending because of rewards programs — which raises a question about whether those points are actually paying you back or just engineering you to spend more. Gerri Detweiler, Liz Weston, and Robert McKinley debate whether credit card rewards are a genuine financial benefit or a behavioral trap dressed up as a perk.
