Darian Woods
Stories
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World
Diving into diaspora bonds, and how they keep Israel afloat
Israel's war with Hamas is squeezing the country's finances. That's where diaspora bonds come in.
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How Saudi Arabia is using its oil influence to fund fantastical plans for the future
For decades, Saudi Arabia's economy has been defined by its abundant oil reserves. But with a plan known as Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is trying to pivot away from that economic base.
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World
War in the Middle East usually makes oil prices spike. Why isn't that happening now?
During the Yom Kippur war, embargoes drove oil prices up. But oil prices have actually gone down since the Oct. 7 attack. In a time of upheaval in the Middle East, we explore why prices are falling.
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World
The story of an Indigenous woman in Colombia who fought back against Coca-Cola
The coca leaf has been a part of Andean culture for thousands of years. But when an indigenous woman used it in a drink she calls Coca Pola, her company entered into the crosshairs of Coca-Cola.
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National
The Explosive Growth Of The Fireworks Market
Over the last few decades, states and counties across America have liberalized the use of fireworks. It's just one reason why sales of fireworks have exploded.
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An indicator that often points to recession could be giving a false signal this time
There is an economic indicator that has predicted every recession since 1969, and it is flashing red right now. It's called the yield curve. But this time, it might be wrong.
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National
Do work requirements for SNAP assistance actually lead to economic self-sufficiency?
SNAP, a federal nutrition assistance program, will again require some recipients to work in order to receive aid. But new research raises questions about whether work requirements actually work.
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Could an equation do a better job at setting a target interest rate than the Fed?
The Federal Reserve meets regularly and sets a target interest rate to keep inflation low and jobs high. But what if an equation could do all the work — and even do a better job?
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National
When stocks are down, bonds hold steady or go up. So why are bonds down?
The U.S. stock market is down this year. When that happens, bonds typically go up. But right now, both stocks and bonds are down.
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National
It may be time to look at the I-bond, a savings bond that protects you from inflation
With inflation over 8.5%, it's perhaps time for a long-ignored investment option to shine: the I-bond. It's a U.S. Treasury savings bond, and its interest payments are linked to inflation.