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Economy – Articles, Analysis, Opinion

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Until the late 19th century, patenting medicines was considered by some as controversial and even unethical. S. Vannini/De Agostini Editorial via Getty Images

The US drug industry used to oppose patents – what changed?

The pharmaceutical industry overall has been deeply opposed to waiving COVID-19 vaccine patents, but a historian of the industry explains that drug companies once opposed patents altogether.
The Postal Service has over 30,000 retail locations in the U.S, including off the Appalachian Trail in Caratunk, Me. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Postal banking could provide free accounts to 21 million Americans who don’t have access to a credit union or community bank

About a quarter of census tracts with a post office lack a credit union or community bank, making the US Postal Service an efficient way to help more Americans get low-cost bank accounts.
Graduates of Cal State Fullerton, one of many universities with nonwhite majorities that billionaire MacKenzie Scott is supporting. Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images

5 ways MacKenzie Scott’s $8.5 billion commitment to social and economic justice is a model for other donors

By not attaching any strings to the money, championing representation and generally taking care to respect nonprofit leaders, she’s following five best practices.
Factory robots could soon acquire a range of skills, including the ability to choose how to make things. studiostockart/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

Artisan robots with AI smarts will juggle tasks, choose tools, mix and match recipes and even order materials – all without human help

Custom fabrication involves taking measurements, choosing tools, deciding on sequences of steps and ordering from a menu of materials. AIs under development promise to take humans out of the loop.
Some extremely rich people are paying a much smaller share of their income on taxes than other folks. Nuthawut Somsuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

A new reason Americans are getting leery of billionaire donors

News about how little income tax some of the richest Americans reportedly pay is adding to questions about the value to society of their massive charitable donations.
New research estimates that underage drinkers consume $2.2 billion of Anheuser-Busch InBev drinks – like Budweiser – per year. AP Photo/Reed Saxon

Alcohol companies make $17.5 billion a year off of underage drinking, while prevention efforts are starved for cash

In the US, underage drinking accounts for a whopping US$17.5 billion worth of alcohol yearly. New research shows which companies take in most of this money and how little is spent on prevention.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank held a distribution event at the LA county library’s headquarters on Jan. 22, 2021. Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group via Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images

Why more public libraries are doubling as food distribution hubs

These efforts are growing due to the coronavirus pandemic. They involve partnerships with school districts, food banks and other institutions.