By Rachel Goldfarb, originally published on Next New Deal
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The Devastating, Lifelong Consequences of Student Debt (TNR)
Roosevelt Institute Fellow Mike Konczal points out that the student debt crisis isn't about monthly payments, as the Brookings Institution suggests, but the life choices necessitated by debt.
What if We Treated Labor Like a Startup? (The Nation)
David Rolf, president of SEIU 775NW, suggests that organizing labor movements like startup incubators would help to develop new projects to improve working conditions.
Why Government Pension Funds Became Addicted to Risk (NYT)
Higher-risk investments have become necessary if pension funds are to hit return targets, writes Josh Barro, but come at a price in management fees and hide the real cost of the pensions.
- Roosevelt Take: Roosevelt Institute Senior Fellow Rob Johnson considers how big money in politics affects pension investment choices.
Why the Gap Thinks a Higher Minimum Wage is Good for Business (Vox)
Danielle Kurtzleben speaks to a vice president at Gap about the company's attempt to retain skilled and educated staff by setting a higher minimum wage company-wide.
Making a Withdrawal: Banks Shut Branches in Poorer Communities (AJAM)
Ranjani Chakraborty and Sarah Hoye examine what happens to communities where banks have eliminated branches. Fees from payday lenders for cashing checks and other services add up fast.
Mortgage-Investor Group Asks DOJ to Leave It Out of Bank Settlements (WSJ)
When banks get credit in their settlements with the Justice Department for modifying loans, mortgage investors want the loans they own excluded, writes Christina Rexrode.
Congrats, America. You Have Less Economic Opportunity Than You Did in 1970 (WaPo)
A new study quantifies varies kinds of opportunity over 40 years and finds that decreasing opportunity overall in the past decade is mostly due to the economy. Jim Tankersley and Jeff Guo report.