Topic: Employee Compensation

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Battle for women's votes: 6 flash points

The uproar over the Obama campaign’s 'Life of Julia' Web infographic – which made #Julia big on Twitter – highlights just how fiercely both parties are fighting for the women’s vote. The economy is by far the most important issue in November for both sexes. But there are other areas with special significance to women. Here are the main flash points.
Academy Awards: Which Best Picture nominee won at the box office?

Nine films will be vying for the Best Picture trophy at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards, taking place Sunday at 8 pm. The Best Picture Oscar won’t be announced until late in the evening, but when it comes to the box office, clear winners and losers have already emerged. While there was no runaway blockbuster among this year’s Oscar nominations, the films nominated ran the gamut in terms of profitability: Some made back nearly four times their filming budgets, while others failed to break even. Here’s all nine Best Picture nominees, ranked according to profit margin. Box office numbers are based on worldwide earnings. Can you guess which film was the best bang for its buck?
Pentagon budget: top 3 winners and losers

In Pentagon parlance, the word “cut” is a relative term. The Defense Department’s base budget decreases from $553 billion this year to $525 billion in 2013, but it rebounds steadily to $567 billion in 2017. With this in mind, here are the top three winners and losers:
Election 101: Where the GOP candidates stand on the economy

With more than 13 million Americans out of work and wage increases so modest they’re failing to keep up with inflation, voters have put the economy and jobs at the top of their checklist of presidential issues.
Why 'temporary' tax cuts never die: Payroll tax and 3 other examples

One last bit of business for Congress in 2011 is to extend the tax breaks or tax fixes that, though designated “temporary,” get renewed year after year. Sixty-seven tax provisions set to expire Dec. 31. About half are typically extended retroactively.

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Robert Reich
US wages and Europe's austerity: the perfect storm

What if Europe and the US converged on a set of economic policies that brought out the worst in both – European fiscal austerity combined with a declining share of total income going to workers? Given political realities on both sides of the Atlantic, it is entirely possible.
Typical CEO made $9.6 million last year

The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. The typical American worker would have to labor for 244 years to make what the typical boss of a big public company makes in one.
Battle for women's votes: 6 flash points

The uproar over the Obama campaign’s 'Life of Julia' Web infographic – which made #Julia big on Twitter – highlights just how fiercely both parties are fighting for the women’s vote. The economy is by far the most important issue in November for both sexes. But there are other areas with special significance to women. Here are the main flash points.
Stefan Karlsson
Double-dip recessions in Spain and UK. Which is worse?

Spain and the UK have both reported double-dip recession. One striking difference is the rates of real wages and employment. 
Stefan Karlsson
UK enters a double-dip recession

Today's preliminary GDP number from Britain showed that it has entered a double-dip recession as GDP has fallen two quarters in a row. 
Robert Reich
Citigroup shareholders revolt. Will CEO pay drop?

Citigroup's shareholders have said no to an exorbitant pay package for the bank's CEO, and why shouldn't they? Executive pay across American companies has ballooned to unacceptable levels, without the performance to back it up.
CitiGroup shareholder revolt: golden-rule capitalism

A shareholder revolt at banking giant CitiGroup that rejected a pay package for top executives marks a chance for a healthier relationship between investors and managers. It might also reduce the nation's income inequality.
Paper Economy
New construction weak in March

Single family housing permits declined a notable 3.5 percent from February to 462,000 single family units, but increased 17.6 percent above the level seen in March 2011.
The Reformed Broker
Bloomberg and Reuters: The Coke and Pepsi of journalism?

Bloomberg and Reuters are not only healthy: unlike most of the journalism industry, they're growing. That’s because the two publications have something no other player in the news business does: subscription-only financial data and services that pull in billions of dollars.
Stefan Karlsson
The warm weather job boost

The unusually warm weather in the United States boosted job creation temporarily by allowing things like more construction activity.
In Nicaragua, teachers make only half as much as market vendors

Nicaragua's Sandinista government vowed a 'battle for sixth grade' to combat one of the world's highest dropout rates. But their goals are not reflected in the budget.
Paper Economy
Housing permits jump, but housing starts plummet

Single family housing permits increased a whopping 4.9 percent from last month to 472,000 single family units, but single family housing starts plunged 9.86 percent to 457,000 units.
Stefan Karlsson
Average pay in the UK dropped 5 percent over 10 years

Compared to other European countries, Britain has had only a modest problem with unemployment, but earnings have dropped considerably.
Stefan Karlsson
Slowing US productivity growth is reducing profits

That productivity has stopped growing means that unless the trend is reversed or real wages continues to fall, profits can no longer grow.
Robert Reich
The American pie is growing, but most people aren't getting a slice

The good news is that the American economic pie is growing again. The bad news is that the share of growth going to American workers is at a record low, and that's bad news for everybody. 
WTO chief Pascal Lamy: Competitiveness must drive European growth

Europe is struggling to find its place in the new global economy because of 'domestic' issues, not external factors (like a rising China or trade disadvantages). On the contrary, the external climate favors European growth – if Europe can improve competitiveness and find its niche.
Academy Awards: Which Best Picture nominee won at the box office?

Nine films will be vying for the Best Picture trophy at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards, taking place Sunday at 8 pm. The Best Picture Oscar won’t be announced until late in the evening, but when it comes to the box office, clear winners and losers have already emerged. While there was no runaway blockbuster among this year’s Oscar nominations, the films nominated ran the gamut in terms of profitability: Some made back nearly four times their filming budgets, while others failed to break even. Here’s all nine Best Picture nominees, ranked according to profit margin. Box office numbers are based on worldwide earnings. Can you guess which film was the best bang for its buck?
AT&T CEO loses $2 million over T-Mobile breakup

AT&T chief takes a big pay cut, but the company lost $4.2 billion because of its failed deal to acquire T-Mobile USA. The AT&T executive still makes $18.7 million a year.
Stefan Karlsson
Unemployment gap in education shrinks in US

Unemployment gap based on levels of education is wide in the United states. That unemployment gap is still quite large, but it got smaller in 2011.
Paper Economy
Housing market mixed; still fragile

Single family housing permitsincreased 0.9 percent from last month to 445,000 single family units, but single family housing starts declined 1.0 percent to 508,000 units.
Rioting, fires break out in Athens amid protests against Greek austerity

Rioting broke out in Athens, with fires engulfing multiple buildings, as Greek citizens protested against a government plan to slash wages and eliminate government jobs in exchange for an international bailout.
Wages of sin in Greek debt crisis

Accepting a 22 percent wage cut is difficult when Greeks don't agree on responsibility for their debt crisis. Shared sacrifice would be easier if they owned up to their role.
Now Romania: Another European government falls amidst eurocrisis

Romania's government collapsed today – the latest European government to give way amid popular resentment toward austerity measures.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, made $30 million in 2011

Sheryl Sandberg, the No. 2 person at Facebook, pulled in a sterling salary last year. Even Mark Zuckerberg made only a small fraction of Sheryl Sandberg's total 2011 earnings.
CEO pay cut: Who saw pay halved in '11?

CEO pay of $84 million earned him the top spot in 2010, but dropped to $43 million in 2011. So who was tops in CEO pay last year? Apple's Tim Cook.