recession

Off the Deep End: A Look at the Decline of Dubai

Deserts have a way of reclaiming whatever is built upon them. In the case of Dubai, the global financial implosion has sent that process into overdrive. After six years of frenzied expansion, during which the population grew at 7% annually and nearly $600 billion went into construction, reality has come rushing into view.READ»

Infographic of the Day: Black Friday Might Be Pretty Good (Fingers Crossed!)

Mint.com's data shows that American consumers are finally waking up from economic hibernation, just in time for the biggest shopping day of the year.READ»

Job Market Giving You a Hard Time? Keep Your Pants On

The next time you're feeling frisky, consider the global job market. The World Watch Institute gave FastCompany.com a peek at the statistics from its new pay-per-view database, which stands to become a catchall for anyone interested ...READ»

Dow 10,000 and 10% Unemployment: A Dangerous Reciprocity That Signals Need for Change

Recently, both the Dow and the unemployment rate almost simultaneously broke historical milestones, one good (Dow 10,000) and one bad (unemployment 10%). The lock step ascent of these two metrics has continued since the beginning of ...READ»

Infographic of the Day: The Jobless Rate for People Like You

Some demographics have been hit hard by the recession--while others haven't.READ»

RentTheRunway.com: High-Fashion Party Frocks for Rent

There are some things to be thankful for, because of the recession: Web-based purveyors of discounted fashion are thriving, and even when the economy comes back, we'll still have them around. Recently there was Gilt Group, which has ...READ»

Not Disruptive...Destructive

 Whew! The recession is over. Well, that’s a reliefOr so said the Commerce Department. The 3.5% GDP growth in Q3 proves it. Right?The announcement has been greeted with understandable and almost universal skepticism. ...READ»

Infographic of the Day: The AP's Economic Stress Index

This interactive graphic just might be the web's best, most granular look at our recession.READ»

Nonsense At Work

Practice being suddenly successful:One thing this sudden economic collapse has taught many of us is just how right Ernest Hemingway was about going broke.  In his book “The Sun Also Rises” a character explains that he went ...READ»

Need an Economic Barometer? Check These Four Indicators

Some days, the economy's dips and rises rival Coney Island's Cyclone. Here are four unusual indicators of recession and revival.READ»

How to hire - in any economic environment

Hiring in this environment, I have to say, has been an experience unlike any other I've witnessed. My company, Red Door Interactive, is one of the lucky ones that have needed to fill new positions in order to keep up with our ...READ»

Turning Off Streetlights Saves Cash and Energy, but Is It Worth It?

When it comes to cost-cutting measures in local government, streetlights seem like a non-negotiable--after all, they usually do a bang-up job of keeping the elderly from falling down and preventing robberies from happening in the ...READ»

Universal Studios Dubailand: A Case Study on the Rise and Fall of Dubai

They had everything they needed: Space, money, time, workers, tourists, big brands, and, perhaps most importantly, hype. Just a few years ago, the developers of Dubailand--an enormous $64 billion, 107-square-mile mega-theme ...READ»

What Do Tiger Woods and the Dow Jones Index Have in Common?

In troubled times, investors are as desperate as ever to find a financial advisor they can trust. Good news--I found him! Warren Buffett? No. Jim Cramer? Please. I'm talking about Tiger Woods.READ»

Will Tech Buyers Ever Come Back?

Is the tech sector weaker than we think? Just last week, analysts were abuzz over buoying technology stocks: The tech-heavy Nasdaq hit 2,000 points on news that chip demand was once again rising. Philadelphia's Semiconductor Index, ...READ»

Off the Deep End: A Look at the Decline of Dubai

Deserts have a way of reclaiming whatever is built upon them. In the case of Dubai, the global financial implosion has sent that process into overdrive. After six years of frenzied expansion, during which the population grew at 7% annually and nearly $600 billion went into construction, reality has come rushing into view.READ»

Makers of Hyper-Expensive Doodads Declare: Recession's Over!

The $32,000 PC, $10,000 hot dog rocking chair and other design follies of the rich and famous.READ»

Why Games Are So Expensive, and Staying That Way

Recent earnings reports from Sony and Nintendo prove that the video game industry is not recession proof. So why do games still cost so much money?READ»

StarCraft 2 Latest Game Delayed--Why Are So Many Being Moved to 2010?

Blizzard has announced that the highly anticipated StarCraft II will be delayed this holiday season, to the first half of 2010. According to Blizzard, the extra time is needed to upgrade the multiplayer network Battle.net, "This extra ...READ»

Sign of the Times: Economy Forces Steelcase to Vacate Its Iconically Weird HQ

The company's infamous pyramid, once bustling, will soon be as empty as a tomb.READ»

How the Tech Boom Terminated California's Economy

While the pundits point to real estate speculation and bank insolvencies as the chief cause of California--and the nation's--financial distress, these are both direct results of the late 90's explosion of computer innovation and Internet proliferation. That's right: The Internet crashed the economy.READ»

Coupon clippers: care and feeding guide

A trendspotting firm recently asked me if I had any insights to share regarding customer service in a recession. No need for my second hand opinion - just stand in line anywhere in the city and you'll witness some elementary customer ...READ»

Goldman's Trading Formulae Leaked by Quant Spy

Star bank holding firm Goldman Sachs has been getting its fair share of antipathy this month. First it was Rolling Stone's polemic against the bank; then it was BusinessWeek's sobering review of how the 140-year-old firm will be ...READ»

Sony's Jack Tretton Talks PlayStation 3 and the 10-Year Console Cycle

Fast Company sat down with the President of Sony Computer Entertainment America recently to discuss his commitment to the PS3's 10-year life-cycle despite the recession, the industry's fixation on hardware price cuts, and the future of downloadable games.READ»

Why Your Gut Is More Ethical Than Your Brain

If you've ever been part of a discussion on ethics, in school or elsewhere, chances are you didn't spend much time talking about your feelings. It's believed that to live ethically, we must engage our reason, which reins in the ...READ»

• Three Lessons in "Rational" Prices Raising Ethical Questions